ABOUT US
Our mission is to continually improve the health and well-being of individuals by facilitating a seamless implementation of evidence-based programs.
George A. Parks, Ph. D.
President, Founder
George A. Parks, Ph.D. is a Clinical Psychologist licensed to practice in the State of Washington.
Dr. Parks received his Ph.D. in social and clinical psychology from the University of Washington in 1981. From 1976 to 2011, George served the University of Washington as an Award Winning Psychology Lecturer, Student Counselor, and Clinical Researcher. From 2001 to June 2011, Dr. Parks was Director of Community Training and Program Dissemination in the Department of Psychology's Addictive Behaviors Research Center (ABRC) under the direction of his mentor, colleague and best friend, ABRC founder and Director Emeritus, the late G. Alan Marlatt, Ph.D.
Dr. Parks has been providing practitioner training and program implementation consulting for college and university wellness and counseling centers, community substance abuse treatment agencies and correctional agencies such as Federal and State Prisons, Drug Courts and Probation Departments throughout the United States and Canada for over 20 years. He is responsible for translating evidence-based practices into prevention and treatment programs that can be delivered with fidelity. He trains practitioners to deliver these programs by conducting workshops throughout the country or via videoconference. George is known for his informative and engaging presentations.
G. Alan Marlatt, Ph. D.
Mentor, Originator
Gordon Alan Marlatt Ph.D. (November 26, 1941 – March 14, 2011) was Professor of Psychology at the University of Washington and Director of the Addictive Behaviors Research Center at that institution. After serving on the faculties of the University of British Columbia (1968-1969) and the University of Wisconsin (1969-1972), Dr. Marlatt joined the University of Washington faculty in the fall of 1972. His major focus in both research and clinical work is addictive behaviors. In addition to over 200 journal articles and book chapters, he has published several books in the addictions field, including Relapse Prevention (1985; 2005), Assessment of Addictive Behaviors (1988; 2005), Harm Reduction (1998), Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students (BASICS) (1999) and Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (2010).
Throughout his life, Marlatt labored to bring empathy and compassion into a field that had historically advocated harsh and coercive techniques that were not effective. Marlatt also developed techniques to reduce harm associated with college binge-drinking, and his most recent studies had explored the use of mindfulness meditation in recovery from addictions and depression. Alan Marlatt died on March 14, 2011 of kidney failure in Seattle, Washington. His friends, family, colleagues and students remember him with great affection and admiration.
Compassionate Pragmatism represents Alan's vision that alcohol and drug prevention and treatment services should meet people "where they are" with evidence-based programs delivered with empathy and acceptance. Alan Marlatt was George's mentor, collaborator and best friend.