JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Dr. Carol Clark, author of Addict America: The Lost Connection
(Dr. Carol Clark)
Addict America: The Lost Connection helps readers become familiar with the concept of addiction as something in and of itself, regardless of the drug or behavior of choice. It is excessive stimulation that affects the brain, resulting in a chemical need for more of everything, such as drugs, alcohol, gambling, sex, technology, food, and stress, which results in a state of addiction. This ultimately leads to disconnection and lack of intimacy in all relationships.
An awareness of this process allows us to make a conscious decision to be more present and authentic, in order to find enjoyment in our daily lives. The simple daily exercises in the book will help us experience true intimacy and Connection in our relationships.
Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the inspiration to write Addict America: The Lost Connection?
Dr. Carol Clark: My personal journey as the daughter of an alcoholic and then my professional experience as a counselor has provided the background material for what I cover. But my true inspiration came when I realized that the accumulated knowledge that I pass on to my clients every day is applicable to everyone.
Not only did I want a book that I could give my new clients and that they could take home with them, but I felt compelled to share it with a wider audience. It’s a book that anyone who lives in the modern world and who uses technology and social media will want to use as a guide to cope successfully with the stresses of our modern-day society.
JP: What sets Addict America: The Lost Connection apart from other books in the same genre?
CC: There are books that talk about addiction to specific substances or behaviors and there are books that talk about spiritual connections or the oneness of all beings. This book defines addiction as a state of being that disconnects us from that oneness and explores the process of becoming aware of our Connection through living in recovery.
JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that led to Addict America: The Lost Connection getting out to the public?
CC: I try to live by what I’ve learned and written about and people get that from me. I’m a successful therapist and teacher because what I counsel and teach resonates with people, and the book does as well. I can easily slip into the addictive American lifestyle, but I find true peace and fulfillment when I am present and Connected. I get that from the Universe, and I give it back. That’s how the book is really getting out there.
JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take you to start and finish Addict America: The Lost Connection?
CC: It took about seven years to finish this book. I have discovered that in order to write, I need to clear a space and time for just doing that. I went long periods of time without doing any writing, although the ideas were always developing.
After spending a few years trying to write at a friend’s house on Mondays before class, then on Fridays in the mornings, I found myself on a trip to Norway devoting myself to writing. When I returned, I went a year before making a decision to go to a writer’s retreat in Tennessee with a wonderful woman who worked with me to consolidate, organize, and polish all my ideas. We continued to work by phone doing touch-ups over the next year and then I self-published.
JP: What’s next for Dr. Carol Clark?
CC: I want to do presentations about the book to addiction programs and therapists because the concepts really work in therapy. The book itself is easily readable for everyone, and I can see it being a staple in a counselor’s office. I want to continue teaching and counseling as well. I have a couple of ideas for new books, but I need to pace myself.
http://addictamerica.net
http://drcarolclark.com
http://sextherapytraininginstitute.com
Facebook – Carol L. Clark
Linked In – Dr. Carol Clark
Be In Light.
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