Can you be in recovery without God? What is a ”higher power”? Addiction recovery, holistic healing, and the history of AA with Dr. Peg O’Conner Ph.D.

addiction recovery

[Episode 94 of The Intentional Clinician Podcast]

Dr. Peg O’Conner Ph.D. is interviewed by Paul Krauss MA LPC about the addiction recovery community, the challenges with the Christian-centric God that is a component of many Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, how to engage in recovery and grasp the concept of a “higher power,” etc. Dr. Peg talks about her own road to recovery as well.

For those who have experienced issues with the “higher power” of AA’s 12-step program, Dr. Peg O’Conner’s book Higher and Friendly Powers (Wildhouse Publications / September 1, 2022) offers a thorough alternative. It imparts a sense of morality, human decency, and even a better version of oneself.

Professor of Philosophy at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota, Peg O’Connor holds a Ph.D. She received training in feminist philosophy, moral philosophy, studies of addiction, and the writings of Ludwig Wittgenstein. She thinks philosophy has helped her become and stay sober. She avoided AA for the first 20 years of her sobriety due to the idea of a “higher power,” and now she is focused on employing some of the greatest canonical philosophers of western thought to shed light on various aspects of addiction. She further shares this in her new book, Higher and Friendly Powers: Transforming Addiction and Suffering (Wildhouse Publications, 2022).

Paul Krauss MA LPC is the Clinical Director of Health for Life Counseling Grand Rapids, home of The Trauma-Informed Counseling Center of Grand Rapids. Paul is also a Private Practice Psychotherapist, an Approved EMDRIA Consultant , host of the Intentional Clinician podcast, Behavioral Health Consultant, Clinical Trainer, and Counseling Supervisor. Paul is now offering consulting for a few individuals and organizations. Paul is the creator of the National Violence Prevention Hotline (in progress) as well as the Intentional Clinician Training Program for Counselors. Paul has been quoted in the Washington Post, NBC News, and Wired Magazine. Questions? Call the office at 616-200-4433. 

If you are looking for EMDRIA consulting groups, Paul Krauss MA LPC is now hosting weekly online and in-person groups.  For details, click here.

For general behavioral and mental health consulting for you or your organization.

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Original Music:

”Shades of Currency” [Instrumental] from Archetypes by PAWL (Spotify)

“Taking Flight (feat. Brandee Younger)” from Resavoir by Resavoir (Spotify)

Learn more about the Trauma-Informed Counseling Center of Grand Rapids

Learn more about Counseling and Therapy services at Health for Life Counseling Grand Rapids

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