Lucia Meijer is a nationally-known specialist in the field of addictions and other hard-to-change behaviors. Over 25 years ago, as the Director of a treatment program for heroin addicts in Chicago's inner city, Lucia realized two things: First - many people seeking help for their addictions do not benefit from treatment; and second - giving up on these people is not an option.

Lucia began to study human behavior from a different point of view. Habitual harmful behaviors are no different from other abusive relationships. They are held together by attachment and important human needs and beliefs. In fact, some dysfunctional needs and beliefs related to addiction were actually perpetuated by traditional treatment programs.

Lucia takes a practical, compassionate approach to addiction and other high-risk behavior This makes it possible for professionals in criminal justice, addiction treatment, and health care fields to have positive results. And these results occur with individuals who had been written off as hopeless! Lucia's risk reduction curriculum for substance abusers, (developed for a University of Washington regional AIDS prevention program) is in use throughout the USA.

As a surprising side effect, these same professionals found that her approach worked for them personally as they struggled with their own difficult habits.

Lucia has trained thousands of health care professionals in her addictions management and recovery model. She consulted widely with criminal justice professionals on matters of addiction through the Council of State Governments and the American Probation and Parole Association. She has published articles in the Journal of Alcoholism Studies and the American Jail Association Journal.

When asked once if she ever gets "burned out" working with addicts Lucia replied, "How could I be burned out? I know everyone has the capacity to change for the better". Lucia continues to seek out and incorporate elements from other intervention models - some ancient and some new. All her techniques can improve, expand and deepen the positive changes we seek - especially for those of us who have tried before and failed.

Her personal interest in the mind-body connection as it forms the human experience took her to a Vipassana meditation course (www.dhamma.org) where Dr. Henderson was serving as a volunteer manager. Their friendship and professional collaboration began shortly after and has led naturally to what is now Mind Longevity.

Lucia is firmly anti-ageist and believes in the pursuit of excellence for every individual throughout the life span. Her intention is for Mind Longevity programs to provide a systematic yet flexible method to help people overcome barriers and realize their full potential. Lucia's hopeful and realistic approach is key to Mind Longevity.