About the Author

Richard (Rich) Whitman, with over 30 years of experience, is a trusted interventionist and respected leader in the field of addiction recovery. A pioneer in the industry, Rich has been instrumental in building some of the finest treatment programs in the nation and served as a primary treatment advisor to Dr. Phil McGraw for eight seasons of the Dr. Phil show. Rich is an Independent Consultant and the Founder of Whitman Recovery Service. In this role, he provides maximum service to hundreds of individuals and their families every year to access the best treatment options available. Rich is a Nationally Certified Intervention Professional. He has successfully conducted well over 500 interventions throughout the United States and has made numerous television appearances. Rich combines decades of clinical expertise with a no-nonsense style that quickly gains the trust of clients and families alike. He is professional, compassionate, and dedicated to help every individual and family struggling with addictive disorders. Melissa Deuter, MD is a board-certified psychiatrist and founder of Sigma Mental Health Urgent Care based in San Antonio, Texas. Dr. Deuter currently holds an appointment as Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, where she is actively involved in clinical research, teaching seminars, and supervising the work of medical students and psychiatry residents. She is a current member of the Texas Society of Psychiatric Physicians Ethics Council, and a current member of the South Texas Psychiatric Physicians Research Network's Executive Committee. Dr. Deuter has been recognized repeatedly for her clinical work and has been named a "Top Doctor" and a "Best of" Doctor as well as a Texas Super Doctor's "Rising Star." She also has received the American Registry "Patient's Choice Award." Dr. Deuter has a special interest in early-stage psychiatric care, differentiating serious illness from normal brain development and serving the unique mental health needs of emerging adults. She is a regular blogger and the author of STUCK in the Sick Role: How Illness Becomes an Identity ISBN 9781937985769