ROKELLE LERNER – INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANT & LECTURER

ON RELATIONSHIPS AND CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY WILL BE A KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT THE 3^RD ANNUAL ART OF RECOVERY EXPO

Has Appeared on Oprah, Good Morning America, CBS Morning News and 20/20

SCOTTSDALE, Arizona (July 25, 2007) – In establishing the InnerPath Women and Relationships Programs for Cottonwood de Tucson, Rokelle Lerner felt a comprehensive curriculum was essential for men and women in recovery who needed to establish healthy boundaries, examine relationship patterns and strengthen their identity. “Recovery is much more than getting sober. Recovery means finding a way of living that works, emotionally, spiritually, mentally and physically. It’s much more difficult for individuals after sobriety than before,” said Lerner.

Rokelle Lerner is a psychotherapist, international consultant, author and lecturer on women, relationships, families and chemical dependency. Esquire Magazine recently honored her work by including Lerner as one of the “Top 100 Women in the US Who are Changing the Nation.” Her articles and interviews have also been featured in the Washington Post, New York Times, Newsweek, Time, People and Parents Magazine. Her published works include, “Affirmations for Adult Children of Alcoholics” and “Building Relationships that Last,” among many others.

Rokelle Lerner will be one of the keynote speakers at the 3^rd annual Art of Recovery Expo, September 29 in Hall E at the Phoenix Convention Center. There will be FREE admission for the general public. “We are delighted to have someone of Rokelle Lerner’s stature join us this year at the Art of Recovery Expo. Her valuable insight into relationships and families will prove to be a must see for people in need in the Valley of the Sun,” said Barbara Nicholson-Brown, Founder of the Art of Recovery Expo.

The other keynote speaker for this year’s event will be John Lee. A best-selling author, Lee has conducted private and group sessions on relationships and anger management for nearly 20 years. He has consulted and trained with numerous institutions, most notably, the Betty Ford Clinic.

“Families and spouses go through the most painful and difficult adjustments after treatment. Children of addicts/alcoholics are four times more likely to become alcoholics than the rest of the population,” added Lerner. “The potential of relapse because of personal and professional problems during sobriety are high. The Art of Recovery Expo helps to support people to find the kind of lives they long for in sobriety. So, at this event we are absolutely talking to the people who need it the most.”

The Art of Recovery Expo will provide positive wellness solutions to individuals who are currently facing challenges whether they are drug or alcohol addiction, eating disorders, marriage or relationship problems, gambling addiction, among many others. Over 125 exhibitors and over 5,000 attendees will be on hand and will be comprised of counselors, treatment facilities, out-patient clinics, family therapists and other prominent specialists from the Valley of the Sun. Additionally, workshops will be presented throughout the event covering numerous topics of interest.

While an event like the Art of Recovery Expo is an invaluable resource for people in need, many individuals don’t seek treatment or help because of the stigma that is often attached to alcoholism and drug addiction. “Women in particular enter treatment at much later stages of addiction because of this stigma. If a man has a drunken binge, he can stand at the coffee machine at work and laugh about yet another drunken episode,” said Lerner. “Society doesn’t have nice names for women who drink excessively or display alcoholic/addicted tendencies. Women go untreated because they are often in charge of childcare and don’t have the resources to get help. Research shows that eight out of ten women will remain with men who are alcoholic while only one out of ten men will remain with women who have the same problem.”

Education and prevention are important catalysts in the field of recovery and while some progress has been made there is still much room for improvement. “I have worked in this field for the last 30 years and we have made great strides in reaching out to people who need help,” said Lerner. “However, there is much that needs to be done in terms of outreach. The changes that need to occur are both political and educational in nature. Schools need to provide prevention and outreach programs for every child as well as run student assistance programs for those trying to stay clean.”

One of the most powerful messages people can receive and be encouraged to get help is through example. “Every participant who comes to the Art of Recovery Expo has friends, colleagues and loved ones who are suffering. Remember that Alcoholics Anonymous was spread throughout the world by word of mouth and by witnessing others thrive without alcohol,” said Lerner.

For more information on the 3^rd annual Art of Recovery Expo, visit the event web site at www.artofrecoveryexpo.com or call (480) 767-7880.

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