Don Grant has a PhD in Media Psychology with a specialization in addiction and mental health. He is also a Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor, board-certified California teacher, and nationally certified group facilitator. He received his B.A. with honors from the University of Michigan, an MFA from the University of Southern California, and both his MA and PhD (summa cum laude) in Psychology (with an emphasis in Media Psychology) from Fielding Graduate University in Santa Barbara. In addition to his work with substance abuse and dual diagnosis comorbidity, Don is also an internationally-recognized expert on technology addiction and its underlying co-occurring disorders.
Don received the 2015 American Psychological Association (APA) “Earlier Career Achievement Award. In 2012, he was awarded an international “Best of Show” prize in London for his addiction recovery research work. His recent keynote speaker and conference presentations included: The Young Adult Transitions Association Conference (U-C Boulder), The Admissions & Marketing Symposium (L.A), The Pop Culture Association Conference (New Orleans), the California Association for Alcohol/Drug Educators (CAADE) Conference (Los Angeles), and The California Unified Collegiate Recovery Conference (UCSB).
Don also recently presented at the American Psychological Association Convention in Toronto, where his research on technologically mediated vs Face-to-Face sobriety recovery support was hand-selected by the convention committee for special external promotion through a dedicated APA-sponsored press release distributed to all media, which upon publication in turn immediately went internationally “viral.” His current research explores how the use of technology affects/effects our biological, psychological, and sociological health.
In addition to his work with clients at Of One Mind, Don provides professional consulting, branding, program curriculum design/auditing, and content copywriting services to the mental health and addiction recovery community, and offers free education and recovery support to local schools. From 2001 through 2014 Don worked in dual-diagnosis treatment, serving for the last three years as Executive Director of a residential program for women which he also created. His writing, editing, and production experience extends across all media platforms, including film, television, and traditional literary. In 2002, he created and implemented the Literacy in Treatment program, which offers adult clients in recovery the opportunity to earn their high school diploma.
Don’s media credits as an expert recovery professional include: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Good Morning San Diego, Fox News Networks, The Michael Jackson Radio Show, The Associated Press, Extra!, National College Radio, Internet Talk Radio, APA Division 46 Media Psychology Podcast Series, The Australian Radio Network, the TV Guide Network, KTLA, John Wells Productions, and other local, national, and international news and radio programs. Print, interview, and author credits include: The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Hollywood Reporter, Forbes, Us, and People magazine. Academic publications include: The Sage Encyclopedia of Media Violence (Sage), Has Social Media Begun To “Sponsor” Addiction Recovery?: A Study of Face-To-Face Versus Online Sobriety Support (ProQuest), and The Digital Drug (APA Division 46 Amplifier Magazine).
Unplug to Reconnect
In this presentation, Dr. Grant will explain, explore, and expose this newest nemesis currently growing to pandemic global proportions, and offer strategies as well as solution.