Brad Lamm
Encyclopedia
Brad Lamm is an American interventionist, educator, and author of How to Change Someone You Love: Four Steps to Help You Help Them (2009), which details the theory and practice of a system of psychosocial intervention
he designed and named “Invitation2Change” which trains, and then utilizes, the friends and family of the addict as an ongoing support group or “circle of change.” Lamm is also the author of Just 10 Lbs: Easy Steps to Weighing What You Want (Finally) (2011), a self-help book on compulsive overeating.
, in 1966, the youngest of four brothers. His father was a minister and he grew up in a religious home. The family moved to Eugene, Oregon
, in 1968 where he attended public school until the middle of his sophomore year at Winston Churchill High School. In 1982 the family moved to Yorba Linda, California
, where his father became Senior Pastor of Yorba Linda Friends Church, the largest Friends Church in the nation.
Lamm graduated from Whittier Christian High School
and attended the University of California at Los Angeles.
in a ceremony officiated by novelist Alice Walker
.
where he worked producing television news programs and writing music. Dubbed the "once reigning king of the late night party scene," he wrote for and hosted the syndicated entertainment TV show "Party Talk" seen in New York, Los Angeles, and other large US markets. In 1994 he relocated to work as a weatherman in Boise, Idaho
and then Washington, D.C.
where he worked as a network television weather anchor, working while abusing both drugs and alcohol.
Lamm opened nightclubs in Washington, D.C.
and Denver in 2001, but entered a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program in February 2003. His subjective experiences of his own rehabilitation combined with his acquaintanceship with the work of Boulder, Colorado, psychiatrist Judith Landau to convince him of the efficacy of the family-centered process in helping addicts overcome addiction.
Lamm has asserted that substance abusers with strong familial and social support systems are five times as likely to succeed in their goal of sobriety as persons lacking support. He calls this supportive system a “firewall.”
Lamm is a member of Mehmet Oz
’s “Experts” panel
and has presented to the UK-European Symposium on Addictive Disorders. Lamm also speaks and works on issues of food and obesity with individuals and organizations.
With the consent of the addict, Lamm’s program works with family members, co-workers, partners, employers and friends to develop and implement a plan of change and a recovery model
. He gives seminars and workshops in his method of intervention.
He is a proponent of the notion that, for the person with a serious problem, loving peer groups and family members are vitally important for effective personal change.
In 2011 Lamm created and produced the docu-series, "Addicted to Food," for Oprah Winfrey
's "OWN" network. His book on lifestyle intervention and food addiction, Just 10 Lbs: Easy Steps to Weighing What You Want (Finally) was published along with the accompanying workbook.
", "Good Morning America
", The Nancy Grace Show, and lists Dr. Mehmet Oz, Nancy Grace
, Alice Walker, Roseanne Barr
, and Mariel Hemingway
among his endorsers.
Lamm is a regular columnist on DoctorOZ.com and Oprah.com as well as a contributor to The Huffington Post
.
Intervention (counseling)
An intervention is an orchestrated attempt by one, or often many, people to get someone to seek professional help with an addiction or some kind of traumatic event or crisis, or other serious problem. The term intervention is most often used when the traumatic event involves addiction to drugs...
he designed and named “Invitation2Change” which trains, and then utilizes, the friends and family of the addict as an ongoing support group or “circle of change.” Lamm is also the author of Just 10 Lbs: Easy Steps to Weighing What You Want (Finally) (2011), a self-help book on compulsive overeating.
Early life
Lamm was born in Wenatchee, WashingtonWenatchee, Washington
Wenatchee is located in North Central Washington and is the largest city and county seat of Chelan County, Washington, United States. The population within the city limits in 2010 was 31,925...
, in 1966, the youngest of four brothers. His father was a minister and he grew up in a religious home. The family moved to Eugene, Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
, in 1968 where he attended public school until the middle of his sophomore year at Winston Churchill High School. In 1982 the family moved to Yorba Linda, California
Yorba Linda, California
Yorba Linda is a suburban city in northeastern Orange County, California, approximately northeast of Downtown Santa Ana, and southeast of Downtown Los Angeles....
, where his father became Senior Pastor of Yorba Linda Friends Church, the largest Friends Church in the nation.
Lamm graduated from Whittier Christian High School
Whittier Christian High School
Whittier Christian High School is a non-profit, non-denominational, Christian high school located in La Habra, California. It was founded in 1958. The high school has recently built a new gymnasium dubbed the Leon Davis Event Center, after the school spirited worker Leon Davis. The school has...
and attended the University of California at Los Angeles.
Personal life
In 2008 Lamm was married to television and theatrical producer Scott Sanders (producer)Scott Sanders (producer)
Scott Sanders is an American television producer and theatrical producer. He is best known for the theatrical musical version of Alice Walker’s novel The Color Purple, of which he was Lead Producer along with Oprah Winfrey, Quincy Jones, and Harvey Weinstein, for producing Elaine Stritch: at...
in a ceremony officiated by novelist Alice Walker
Alice Walker
Alice Malsenior Walker is an American author, poet, and activist. She has written both fiction and essays about race and gender...
.
Career
After college Lamm lived in Kamakura, Japan for over a year before settling in New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
where he worked producing television news programs and writing music. Dubbed the "once reigning king of the late night party scene," he wrote for and hosted the syndicated entertainment TV show "Party Talk" seen in New York, Los Angeles, and other large US markets. In 1994 he relocated to work as a weatherman in Boise, Idaho
Boise, Idaho
Boise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,...
and then Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
where he worked as a network television weather anchor, working while abusing both drugs and alcohol.
Lamm opened nightclubs in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and Denver in 2001, but entered a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program in February 2003. His subjective experiences of his own rehabilitation combined with his acquaintanceship with the work of Boulder, Colorado, psychiatrist Judith Landau to convince him of the efficacy of the family-centered process in helping addicts overcome addiction.
Lamm has asserted that substance abusers with strong familial and social support systems are five times as likely to succeed in their goal of sobriety as persons lacking support. He calls this supportive system a “firewall.”
Lamm is a member of Mehmet Oz
Mehmet Oz
Mehmet Cengiz Oz , also known as Dr. Oz, is a Turkish-American cardiothoracic surgeon, author, talk show host, and commentator for The Dr. Oz Show, a daily television program focusing on medical issues/personal health....
’s “Experts” panel
and has presented to the UK-European Symposium on Addictive Disorders. Lamm also speaks and works on issues of food and obesity with individuals and organizations.
With the consent of the addict, Lamm’s program works with family members, co-workers, partners, employers and friends to develop and implement a plan of change and a recovery model
Recovery model
The Recovery Model as it applies to mental health is an approach to mental disorder or substance dependence that emphasizes and supports each individual's potential for recovery...
. He gives seminars and workshops in his method of intervention.
He is a proponent of the notion that, for the person with a serious problem, loving peer groups and family members are vitally important for effective personal change.
In 2011 Lamm created and produced the docu-series, "Addicted to Food," for Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey is an American media proprietor, talk show host, actress, producer and philanthropist. Winfrey is best known for her self-titled, multi-award-winning talk show, which has become the highest-rated program of its kind in history and was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2011...
's "OWN" network. His book on lifestyle intervention and food addiction, Just 10 Lbs: Easy Steps to Weighing What You Want (Finally) was published along with the accompanying workbook.
Media
Lamm is "Dr. OZ's Interventionist" and is a regular on The Dr. OZ Show. He has been interviewed, and makes frequent appearances, on television and radio programs including "The Today ShowThe Today Show
Today is an iconic American morning news and talk show airing every morning on NBC. Debuting on January 14, 1952, it was the first of its genre on American television and in the world. The show is also the fourth-longest running American television series...
", "Good Morning America
Good Morning America
Good Morning America is an American morning news and talk show that is broadcast on the ABC television network; it debuted on November 3, 1975. The weekday program airs for two hours; a third hour aired between 2007 and 2008 exclusively on ABC News Now...
", The Nancy Grace Show, and lists Dr. Mehmet Oz, Nancy Grace
Nancy Grace
Nancy Ann Grace is an American legal commentator, television host, television journalist, and former prosecutor. She frequently discusses issues from what she describes as a victims' rights standpoint, with an outspoken style that has won her both praise and condemnation...
, Alice Walker, Roseanne Barr
Roseanne Barr
Roseanne Cherrie Barr is an American actress, comedian, writer, television producer and director. Barr began her career in stand-up comedy at clubs before gaining fame for her role in the sitcom Roseanne. The show was a hit and lasted nine seasons, from 1988 to 1997...
, and Mariel Hemingway
Mariel Hemingway
- Early life :Hemingway was born in Mill Valley, California, the third daughter of Byra Louise Hemingway and Jack Hemingway, a writer. Her sisters are Joan Hemingway and Margaux Hemingway...
among his endorsers.
Lamm is a regular columnist on DoctorOZ.com and Oprah.com as well as a contributor to The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post is an American news website and content-aggregating blog founded by Arianna Huffington, Kenneth Lerer, and Jonah Peretti, featuring liberal minded columnists and various news sources. The site offers coverage of politics, theology, media, business, entertainment, living, style,...
.