The ABCs of Recovery from Mental Illness

Carol A. Kivler of Lawrence, NJ, is the founder of Courageous Recovery, a division of Kivler Communications designed to raise awareness to remove the stigma of mental illness and to instill hope in those who live with it. Through Courageous Recovery, Kivler's goal is to change the way society and the medical profession views people living with mental illness. Her mission is to have society and medical professionals view individuals living with mental illness as courageous survivors who want to be accepted, not rejected; respected, not pitied; and admired, not feared. Carol considers herself a courageous survivor expert. First diagnosed with mental illness in 1990, Kivler suffers from periodic acute bouts of medication-resistant depression, which in her case is only responsive to ECT (electro-convulsive therapy). At the time of her diagnosis, Kivler was a 40-year-old mother of three healthy children and working as a part-time college professor. Since 1990, Carol has had four acute episodes each time requiring hospitalization and additional ECT treatments. Presently, Carol has been living in recovery for the last 11 years. She is a highly respected professional speaker (CSP), author, communications consultant, corporate trainer (CMT) and owner of Kivler Communications. Carol has an M.S. in Human Resource Education. Carol speaks to psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, social workers, counselors, medical/nursing students as well as associations, organizations, school systems and government agencies. This is a wonderful opportunity for medical and mental health professionals to view a former patient as a courageous survivor. These audiences have embraced Carol as her consumer perspective uniquely educates and inspires them. Carol also provides programs for consumers, who are motivated and empowered by her message. Carol's personal story has impacted the way these populations view mental illness. Carol has been interviewed nationally about her experience on television, radio, and in print. This fall, she appeared on Chicago Tonight and was recently interviewed by health reporter, Ali Gorman, RN for 6ABC News Philadelphia and by Maiken Scott with WHYY TV (NPR). After her last acute episode, Carol authored an interactive journal, "Blessings: My Journal of Gratitude". Her new book, "Will I Ever Be the Same Again? Transforming the Face of ECT (Shock Therapy)", was released in May 2010. The book is getting excellent reviews from mental health professionals and from consumers.