Buddhist Recovery - Advisory Council Members

The Advisory Council has been formed to maximise the breadth and diversity of the expertise the Network can draw upon. We are seeking to include Buddhists of all traditions, doctors, psychologists, psychotherapists, psychiatrists, neurologists, social workers, addiction counsellors, researchers, Dharma teachers, people both inside and outside of the AA, NA and Al Anon Fellowships (etc., etc.) The BRN stands at the intersection of many fields and traditions, and wishes to be a broad and inclusive forum for discussion.

Advisory Council Members as at July 2008

Christie Ackmann: Has knowledge and experience in the field of psychotherapy, practicing with court-ordered substance abuse clients in a non-profit community mental health setting.
William Alexander: Writer, teacher and storyteller. Author of the recovery classic Cool Water, Alcoholism, Mindfulness and Ordinary Recovery.
Ajahn Amaro: Born in England in 1956, Ven. Amaro Bhikkhu received his BSc. in Psychology and Physiology from the University of London. Spiritual searching led him to Thailand, where he went to Wat Pah Nanachat, a Forest Tradition monastery established for Western disciples of Thai meditation master Ajahn Chah, who ordained him as a bhikkhu in 1979. Since June of 1996 he has lived at Abhayagiri Monastery, California.
Jeff Bell: Jeff is the author of Rewind, Replay, Repeat: A Memoir of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, detailing his recovery from severe OCD through a combination of traditional cognitive-behavioral therapy and applied belief/mindfulness practices. He speaks on behalf of a number of mental health organizations, and makes his living as radio news anchor in San Francisco.
Jennifer Block: A Buddhist chaplain and teacher for Zen Hospice Project in San Francisco and the Sati Center for Buddhist Studies in Redwood City, California, where she creates curriculum, teaches workshops, and provides spiritual care to people in need.
Deirdre Boyd: CEO, Addiction Recovery Foundation; Co-founder UK/European Symposium on Addictive Disorders; Editor Addiction Today.
Tom Catton: In recovery since Oct. 20 1971, his personal story can be found in one of the recovery books, and he was on a committee in helping write one of the step books. Tom sponsors men world-wide and has been a daily meditator for over 36 years. He is the author of an up-coming book, The Mindful Addict. Tom is based in Hawaii.
Dr Chencho Dorji: The first Western trained psychiatrist in Bhutan, his credentials include: technical advisor to the Bhutan National Mental Health Program; serves on the teaching faculty of the Royal College of Health Sciences Thimphu; serves on a number of advisory boards and committees related health and welfare in Bhutan; won the prestigious Hubert Humphrey Fellowship in 2007; currently in residence at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (2008).
Virginia Franklin: Has personal recovery experience through participation in various programs, including AA, Yoga and Meditation as well as an Advisory Board member and volunteer for Family Crisis Centers.
David Gilmour (Lokapala): Has worked in a variety of roles in addiction services, both Abstinence and Harm Reduction focussed, in the UK and New Zealand over the last 25 years.
David Djaelani Gordon: Director, Yayasan Harapan Permata Hati Kita [YAKITA] Drug Recovery Center & Community, Indonesia
Joyce Djaelani Gordon: Director, Yayasan Harapan Permata Hati Kita [YAKITA] Drug Recovery Center & Community, Indonesia
Guy Holden: Guy is based in Sydney Australia. He has been in recovery since 1993 and is in the ordination process for the Western Buddhist Order. He facilitates meetings for those in recovery, including a 11th Step Workshop on Friday nights at the Sydney Buddhist Centre.
Rev. Alex Holt: Rev. Holt is a Unitarian Universalist minister, long time Zen student of Chozen and Hogen Bays of Great Vow Zen Monastery and is a recovering alcoholic. He is currently facilitating the first UU Addictions Ministry Task Force for North America. He also has led a regional addiction recovery project combining Buddhist and ecumenical formats for the last four years.
Ray Kemble: In stable recovery since 2001, and crediting the consistency of his sobriety to his Buddhist meditation practice, Ray is a playwright, actor, and the business manager of the Colorado Shakespeare Festival.
Kuladitya: A member of the Western Buddhist Order for 24 years; 12 years working in substance misuse, residential and community settings; Psychotherapist.
Dori Langevin (Psy.D.): Has a background in clinical and administrative work in addiction treatment settings, addiction treatment training in Russia, and is a Buddhist meditation/dharma teacher currently in the teacher training program at Spirit Rock Meditation Center and Insight Meditation Society. Her own addiction recovery began in 1980.
Jeffrey McIntyre
Lisa Dale Miller: MFT, mindfulness-based psychotherapist, vipassana psychotherapist.
Michael Poole: Co-founder of the www.buddhistrecovery.com website and member of AA, sober and clean since July 1992 and a practising Buddhist since October 1998. (Based in Sydney, Australia)
Judith Ragir: Byakuren Judith Ragir, Guiding Teacher at Clouds in Water Zen Center, St.Paul, Mn. Inspired 12 Step and Buddhism meetings and retreats in Mpls/St.Paul, with many 12 Step and Buddhism talks on www.judithragir.org.
Laura S.: Laura S. is the author of 12 Steps on Buddha's Path (www.soberkarma.com), which she wrote anonymously out of deep respect for the 12 Step Traditions. Under her own name, she is a well-known Buddhist teacher, a widely published author, and an active participant in the meditation and recovery communities.
Martin Salinsky: A neurologist (Professor of Neurology) and a grateful member of the Al-Anon fellowship.
Santikaro: Santikaro studied with Buddhadasa Bhikkhu for many years, translates his work into English, teaches Buddha-Dhamma to the best of his ability, and is building Liberation Park in rural Wisconsin.
Janet Surrey PhD: Founding Scholar, Jean Baker Miller Training Institute, Faculty of the Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy; co-Playwright of Bill W. and Dr. Bob: The Founding of Alchoholics Anonymous; and graduate of the Sprit Rock Community Dharma Leader Program.
Craig Vollmar: An attorney in Minneapolis practicing in the areas of taxation, general business matters and estate planning. Craig began 12 step recovery in December, 1991. He received the precepts, Jukai, from Dosho Port in August, 1993. He is actively engaged in local sanghas. In January, 2005, he initiated and continues to lead a weekly 12 step recovery and mindfulness meditation group at Common Ground Meditation Center in Minneapolis.
Sandra Weinberg LCSW, CASAC: Psychotherapist in private practice with both personal and professional experience with various addictions. Co-Founder and Buddhist meditation/Dharma teacher with New York Insight Meditation Center; graduate of the first Spirit Rock Community Dharma Leader Program.
Larry Yang, LCSW: Larry teaches meditation retreats nationally and has a deep interest in creating access to teachings of spiritual liberation for diverse multicultural communities. His teaching mentor is Jack Kornfield. Larry is a core teacher and leader of the East Bay Meditation Center in Oakland, CA and is trained as a psychotherapist with extensive experience in addiction treatment.