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Candy Finnigan      

Nationally Recognized Interventionist, Speaker & Consultant

Candy Finnigan is a nationally recognized addiction specialist and interventionist and has been involved in all areas of recovery for over 25 years. She is a professional interventionist, regularly featured on the A&E show "Intervention."

She received her Certificate in Alcohol-Drug Counseling skills and her Certificate in Alcohol-Drug Abuse Studies from UCLA in 1993. Apart from being an interventionist, she is also involved in relapse prevention, holding a certificate in the Gorski method, and was trained in 1996 by Terence Gorski. Her 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. She has enjoyed professional relationships with many treatment centers nationally and internationally.

Finnigan has extensive experience in assessment, placement, and aftercare treatment. She has been a group facilitator for many years with both adults and adolescents. Finnigan worked with the students at Beverly Hills High School as a drug and alcohol specialist/counselor for 11 years, acting as a facilitator of the “Sober Lunch” program. She is a Certified Master Addiction Counselor III and a Board Registered Interventionist II. She belongs to the Association of Intervention Specialists.

Currently, she is one of the featured interventionists on the acclaimed A&E series “Intervention” and has been since the beginning of the show in 2004. “Intervention” has been widely praised as a groundbreaking example of how reality television and therapeutic efforts can be combined and has been recognized for its commitment to raising public awareness of the epidemic of alcoholism and drug addiction, as well as other mental health issues. Finnigan is also a proud recovering alcoholic with 33 years of sobriety.

Finnigan 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 is a daunting task each family faces. She has written a comprehensive guide on the subject in her book, "When Enough is Enough."

On a personal note, Finnigan is a graduate of the University of Kansas. She was married to Mike Finnigan, a musician and former basketball player, for over 45 years, and they have two children: a daughter named Bridget and a son named Kelly.

Speech Topics


The Face of Recovery: An Inside Look at Intervention

Candy Finnigan is not only a certified interventionist and addiction specialist, but she is also known as “The Face of Recovery” on the Emmy award-winning TV series Intervention. With many years of experience as a practicing interventionist, Finnigan gives audiences an exclusive look into the secrets of the show’s amazing successes, insightful stories from behind the scenes and the most frequently asked questions about the addicts on the show. Delving into her own personal story of addiction and recovery journey, Finnigan’s powerful speech will leave everyone wanting to learn more about the faces of addiction and recovery.

The Glamour of Addiction: Our Obsession with Celebrities in Crisis

Candy Finnigan’s take on the glamour of addiction and the public’s obsession with celebrities in crisis is a unique one. She brings the audience inside the rise and fall of celebrities in addictive situations, including the differences between the success of Britney Spears and the downfall of Lindsay Lohan. Finnigan also discusses why we as a society make excuses for celebrities and how their rock bottom is perceived differently than regular addicts. In this eye opening speech, the famous interventionist raises awareness about addiction in America.

The Many Faces of Addiction

For 25 years, Candy Finnigan has been a nationally and internationally recognized interventionist and addiction specialist. With incredible firsthand experiences, Finnigan has become the go to person for identifying the many faces of addiction. In this speech, she covers alcohol abuse, drug addiction, gambling addiction, eating disorders, and other dependencies. She helps audiences understand the mental state and denial people experience with addictive behavior as well as what should be done to support them. Sharing personal stories and examples of selecting the best options, Finnigan provides sound advice for those struggling through the cycle of addiction.

The Family Before, During and After a Crisis

Candy Finnigan has had many years of experience dealing with families before, during and after a crisis through the Emmy award-winning TV series Intervention. In this speech, Finnigan provides audiences with a comprehensive guide about how interventions can help during a crisis. By defining what a crisis is, deciding when it is best to take action, understanding the family’s role, and knowing if an intervention is essential are all lessons this well-known addiction specialist will teach your audience.

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