About

Candy Finnigan is a nationally recognized author, addiction specialist and interventionist, who is currently one of the featured interventionists on the acclaimed A&E series “INTERVENTION”. The show has been widely praised since 2004 as a groundbreaking example of how reality television and therapeutic efforts can be combined. Critics and viewers agree that this show is riveting, positive and educational TV. Candy says she enjoys being a part of this series as it shows a commitment to raising public awareness of the epidemic of alcoholism and drug addiction, as well as other mental health issues.

Personally in recovery for 34 years, Candy states, “I was inspired to go into this work because I saw that as a recovering woman, I might be able to connect and bring help and hope to suffering people in a way that others couldn’t.” “It’s not just my work, it’s my life.” She has been honored by many organizations for her work and dedication in the recovery field.

She has been involved in all areas of recovery for over 30 years, not only as an interventionist, she is also a relapse preventionist, holding a certificate in the Gorski method, having been trained 1996 by Terence Gorski. Additionally, she has extensive experience in assessment, placement, family programs and aftercare treatment. She has been a group facilitator for many years, with both adults and adolescents. Candy has worked with the students at Beverly Hills High School as a drug and alcohol specialist/counselor for 11 years, acting as facilitator of the “Sober Lunch” program.

One of the original co-founders of M.A.P (Musicians Assistance Program -Musicares), Candy continues to educate and facilitate through a variety of efforts in the recovery community.

She continues to be active in the recovery community as a mentor and lecture speaker. It has been her experience, across the board, that the nature of addictions and interventions are a daunting task each family faces. She states that it is, “we must never forget this is a family disease and it treatable.”

Candy’s book, When Enough is Enough: A Comprehensive Guide to Successful Intervention, published by Penguin/Avery in April 2008, aims to help loved ones with the process of intervention. It is available at all major bookstores and Amazon.

Candy received her Certificate in Alcohol-Drug Counseling skills and her Certificate in Alcohol-Drug Abuse Studies from UCLA in 1993. Internships were done at Cedars-Sinai Hospital where she worked in Addiction Services and C.P.C. Westwood Hospital. She was certified in Sex Addiction by Dr. Patrick Carnes in 1997 and attended Post Induction training with Pia Mellody, R.N. in 1997 at the Meadows. She received her intervention training in 1991, from Dr. Vernon Johnson, when intervention was relatively new. In 2001 she was trained in Systemic Family Intervention. Candy also completed co-dependency training with Pia Mellody, a well-known author and authority on co-dependency and it’s role in addiction and alcoholism treatment. She has done extensive workshop training in the fields of dual diagnosis and psychiatric treatments , pain management, eating disorders and other process addictions. She is a Certified Master Addiction Counselor III and a Board Registered Interventionist II and belongs to the Association of Intervention Specialists and is a Certified Intervention Professional.

Candy has been married for 50 years to her husband, Mike. They are blessed to have two grown children: daughter, Bridget and son, Kelly.