Dr. Louise Stanger is the author two books, Falling Up: A Memoir of Renewal and  The Definitive Guide to Addiction Interventions: A Collective Strategy. She was named by London’s DB Recovery Resources and Harvard’s McLean Hospital an affiliate of Harvard University as the 2019 Interventionist of the year. She is former University faculty at San Diego State University and University of San Diego. A frequent speaker she lives in Indian Wells , Ca with her husband  John and their two doodles Teddy and CoCo.

Dr. Louise can be reached at 619-507-1699 and www.allaboutinterventions.com

Q. If you are in recovery, what was your Drug of Choice and when did you discontinue its use?
A. I am an adult child of an alcoholic (ACA) and member of Alanon for over 35 years

Q. At which of the schools you attended did you learn the most?
A. San Diego State University School of Social Work. They taught be how to look always for goodness and discover strength in others

Q. Do you believe leaders are made or born?
A. I believe some folks have an innate sense of leadership however leaders can also develop  by having great mentors and by training. A great leader is selfless and allows other s to succeed 

Q. Which film have you watched the most?
A. Pretty Women  

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, or mountaintop, or penthouse?
A. Penthouse 

Q. What is your favorite hotel or resort? 
A. Sunset Marquis in West Hollywood

Q. Where do you go to “get away”?
A. La Jolla.  Right now during Covid -19, anywhere 

Q. What is your biggest or littlest pet peeve?
A. People posting on Facebook that they are off to do an intervention as it violates client confidentiality

Q. How do you measure success?
A. Success is how well you have lived your life. It is based on ego integrity. Success means having a life well lived, being kind, grateful, thoughtful, honest, vulnerable and transparent as well as being of service to others

Q. If you had an extra million dollars, which charity would you donate it to?
A. I would donate the money several places. 
• One I would offer scholarships to people who have substance abuse and mental health problems especially women with children. 
• I would also donate money so families could afford to have their children tested who are on the autism spectrum and get help necessary to thrive. 
• If there was a valid research program, I would donate money for SIDS death. 
• Lastly, I am greatly concerned about teen suicide and would donate there.

Q. Who was your biggest influence throughout your life?
A. My mentor Dr. Glen Haworth who was a professor at the School of Social Work. He has always had a strength-based approach and believed in my talents. At 91 he still does.

Q. What is your current hobby? A. I miss going to Soul Cycle and Writing is my other hobby.

Q. What prominent fe/male figure would you most like to date?
A. Morgan Freedman or Richard Branson

Q. If you were giving a dinner party for your 3 favorite authors, Living or dead, who would they be? (choose 4 if you think one might be too drunk or stoned to attend.)
A. Langston Hughes -poet
B. F Scott Fitzgerald
C. Agatha Christie as I am always trying to solve a mystery
D. Sheldon Kopp

Q. What is your FAVORITE Radio show, news show, podcast?
A. Wild Ideas Worth Living -Shelby Stanger

Q. What is your FAVORITE TV/cable/digital series?
A. Hollywood -running now and Little Big Shots with Melissa Mccarthy

Q. Who is your FAVORITE Director?
A. Quentin Tarantino

Q. What is your FAVORITE Museum?
A. Cayton Childrens Museum Santa Monica; I love all museums they need our help

Q. What is your FAVORITE Band/composer/musical artist?
A. Anything Country-Love Country Music- Blake Shelton, Keith Urban … and of course Tina Turner for some Proud Mary

Q. What is your FAVORITE Broadway musical/play?
A. Lion King

Q. What is your FAVORITE Sport to watch? To play?
A. Soccer – to Play;  I love to swim

Q. What is your FAVORITE Snack?
A. Potato Chips 

Q. What is your FAVORITE Cuisine?
A. Chinese food, In Covid 19 anything I do not have to cook!!!

Q. What is your FAVORITE Restaurant?
A. Kitchen 24, Mel’s Diner (I miss WEHO); Guiseppes, La Jolla; Sunset Marquis, WEHO.

Q. What is your FAVORITE City?
A. Los Angeles for its vibrancy

Q. Have you ever been arrested and, if so, what for? A. NO

Q. Do you have any children?
A. Yes. 3 Daughters, 2 stepsons, 7 grandchildren

Q. What books are you reading now?
A. I am writing a book so I am looking at other books for reaserch

Q. Do you take work home with you? A. I work from home

Q. What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
A. Don’t confuse temporary for permanent

Q. What is the best piece of advice you’ve given?
A. Don’t confuse temporary for permanent 

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

Q. What are five things you always carry with you?
A. Curiosity, Bravery, Integrity, Courage  

Q. What’s the greatest risk you’ve ever taken?
A. Being a widow, raising daughters and carving out a career.

Q. What is your biggest mistake?
A. Not standing up for myself and valuing myself

Q. What is the proudest moment in your life?
A. Seeing my daughters rise as adults to follow their dreams and their passions and being a grandparent

Q. Is there a favorite “Quote” you would like to share?
A. “Creativity is intelligence having fun “—Albert Enstein or “Don’t spend time beating on a wall trying to transform it into a door”. —Coco Chanel

Q. What is your favorite Weekly News Bulletin?
A. Yours of course