Dr. Louise Stanger LCSW, CDWF, CIP CILC is a preeminent clinician interventionist, author and thought leader in the behavioral health and addiction treatments industry. She is the Founder of All About Interventions. She has performed thousands of family interventions in the US and abroad, gives presentations around the globe on various topics related to mental health, trauma, addiction, process disorders and chronic pain. She has received prestigious awards from her fellow industry colleagues for her clinical expertise. Dr. Louise also serves as the Director of Family Programming for Youth Prevention Mentors whose worldwide goal is crisis mitigation with mentors so that your child and young adult can learn to thrive and allow families to be families. She is the author of 4 books and over 500 blogs. Her latest Book, “Reflections on Aging from The Sunset Marquis” will be available mid-November 2024.

www.allaboutinterventions.com

Q. If you are in recovery, what was your drug(s) of choice and when is your sobriety date?

A. Feb 23, 1986. Al-Anon and ACA.

Q. What do you like most about 12-step meetings?

A. Connection and wisdom.

Q. Do you think addiction is an illness, disease, a choice, or a wicked twist of fate?

A. Disease.

Q. Who is your favorite celebrity in recovery?

A. Tina Turner.

Q. If you ever retire, would you prefer to live by the ocean, lake, river, mountaintop, desert, or penthouse?

A. By the ocean near a walking town, and at The Sunset Marquis.

Q. Is there anything special in your sobriety Toolkit that helps keep you sober?

A. Gratitude list, morning mediation, meetings, and being around others.

Q. How do you measure success?

A. By knowing I have done the best I could do with the resources I have and being open to feedback.

Q. What is your biggest pet peeve?

A. Folks that do not take responsibility for their actions.

Q. If you had an extra million dollars, which charity would you donate it to?

A. Miriam’s House LA and Defy Ventures.

Q. Who has been the biggest influence throughout your life?

A. Dr. Glenn Haworth.

Q. From what school of thought or teacher did you learn the most from?

A. Existential-Everyone no matter who, is worthy of dignity and authenticity.

Q. Where are you from and where do you reside now?

A. Pittsburgh PA, now I live in Rancho Santa Fe, CA.

Q. If you were giving a dinner party for your 3 favorite authors, living or dead, who would they be?

A. Tom Wolfe, T.J. Elliot, and John Dunne.

Q. What’s your concept of a Higher Power?

A. That there is something greater than me.

Q. What book(s) have you read more than once?

A. Cather in the Rye, The Electric Cool-Aid Acid Test, Radical Chic and Mau-Mauing and the Flak Catchers, The Art and Science of Portraiture, and If You Meet the Buddha on the Road, Kill Him.

Q. Which film have you watched the most?

A. The Godfather, The Wizard of Oz, and The Birds.

Q. Who is your favorite film director?

A. Alfred Hitchcock.

Q. What surprised you most about living sober?

A. Being in Al-Anon and ACA, how I can change and how much I was responsible for.

Q. If you could give advice to your younger self what would it be?

A. Take risks, be adventuresome, and you are good enough.

Q. What books are you reading now?

A. Proofing my own book, “Reflections on Aging from The Sunset Marquis.”

Q. What is your favorite App?

A. Claude.

Q. Are you binge watching any TV series?

A. Lincoln Lawyer.

Q. What is your favorite play or musical?

A. Rent.

Q. Who is your favorite performer, living or dead?

A. Tina Turner playing “Proud Mary.”

Q. What is your favorite musician and or band?

A. Country Music Like Jelly Roll, “I Am Not Okay.”

Q. What is one word you would use to describe yourself?

A. Resilient.

Q. What is your favorite city?

A. West Hollywood.

Q. What sport(s) do you like to play or watch?

A. Pickleball, and soccer.

Q. What is your favorite restaurant?

A. Cavatina located in Sunset Marquis.

Q. What is your favorite cuisine?

A. American.

Q. What is the best piece of advice someone has given you?

A. Don’t confuse temporary for permanent.

Q. What is the best piece of advice you’ve given someone else?

A. There is always hope and a blueprint for success.

Q. What is one thing that always makes you smile?

A. Babies cooing, and grandchildren.

Q. What was the proudest moment in your life?

A. Being a mom to three daughters.

Q. What is a style trend you wish would come back?

A. Preppy.

Q. What do you love most about yourself?

A. Curiosity, my sense of humor, being open to meeting all folks from anywhere and everywhere and granting authenticity to all.

Q. What are five things you always carry with you?

A. Gum, cough drops, business cards, and a medallion.

Q. What is your biggest fear?

A. That I will no longer be relevant.

Q. Where do you go when you want to be alone?

A. My office.

Q. What is your biggest regret?

A. That I did not take more risks.

Q. What is the greatest risk you’ve ever taken?

A. Having my fourth child after my third child died of SIDS.

Q. What is something you are currently curious about?

A. What I will do next.