Dr. Don Grant is an internationally award-winning media psychologist, researcher, addiction specialist, and Chair of the American Psychological Association (Division 46) “Device Management” Committee. He is also a certified chemical dependency counselor, nationally certified group facilitator, and clinician/educator trainer. Don received his B.A. with honors from the University of Michigan, an MFA from the University of Southern California, and both his MA and Ph.D. (summa cum laude) in Psychology (with an emphasis in media psychology) from Fielding Graduate University in Santa Barbara. In addition to his work with substance abuse and dual diagnosis comorbidity, Don is the Founder/CEO of “(un)BOOT CAMP,” a treatment program for teens, young adults, and families struggling with technology, Smartphone, video gaming, online pornography, and other technologically-mediated platform/device dependence and negotiation.
Don was recipient of the 2015 American Psychological Association “Early Career Achievement Award.” In 2012 he was awarded an international “Best of Show” prize in London for his addiction recovery research work. His recent keynote speaker and conference presentations include: The International Conferences on Addiction and Associated Disorders (London), 2018 DFW Behavioral Health Symposium (Dallas), 2018 Thelma McMillen Center “Frontiers In Addiction” Lecture Series, 2017 American Psychological Convention (Washington D.C.), “A Joyous Day To Unplug and Unwind” (Malibu), 2017 Advance L.A./Help Group Conference, “13 Reasons Why… ONE Reason Why Not” Panel Discussion, 2017 CiR Addiction & Mental Health Symposium at UCLA, One Recovery “Technology & Device Management” Town Hall (Newport Beach), Young Adult Transitions Association Conference (U-C Boulder), Admissions & Marketing Symposium (Los Angeles), Pop Culture Association Conference (New Orleans), California Association for Alcohol/Drug Educators (CAADE) Conference (L.A.), One Recovery Launch and Town Hall Symposium (Newport Beach), and the California Unified Collegiate Recovery Conference (UCSB). Don has also designed, presented, and facilitated CEU training workshops for clinicians and educators in the U.S. on behalf of Vyne Education.
In 2015 Don was invited to present his research at the 2015 APA Convention in Toronto. His global study on technologically mediated vs Face-to-Face sobriety support and communities was hand-selected by the convention committee for individual external promotion through a dedicated APA-sponsored press release distributed to the media, which immediately went internationally “viral.” His current research explores how the use of technology/online media platforms/devices affect/effect our biological, psychological, and sociological health and relationships-especially cyberbullying.
Don counsels individuals, couples, and families through his private practice, and offers free education and recovery support to local schools. From 2001 through 2014 he worked in residential dual-diagnosis treatment, serving for the last three years as Executive Director of a program for women which he also created. His writing, editing, and production experience extends across all media platforms, including film, television, and traditional literary. In 2002, he created and implemented the Literacy in Treatment program, which today still offers adult clients in recovery the opportunity to earn their high school diploma.
Don’s media credits as an expert recovery professional include: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Good Morning San Diego, Fox News Networks, The Michael Jackson Radio Show, The Associated Press, Extra!, National College Radio, Internet Talk Radio, APA Division 46 Media Psychology Podcast Series, Addicted To Addicts; Webtalk Radio, The Australian Radio Network, the TV Guide Network, HER Radio, KTLA, John Wells Productions, and many other local, national, and international news, radio programs and podcasts-including his current series “The Unfiltered ONE” (Brigade-Radio-One).
Print, interview, and author credits include: The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, APA Monitor On Psychology, The Hollywood Reporter, Forbes, Us, and People magazine.
Academic publications include: “Using Social Media for Sobriety Recovery: Beliefs, Behaviors, and Surprises from Users of Face-to-Face and Social Media Sobriety Support” (Psychology of Popular Media Culture; January 2017), “Internet Gaming Disorder In Children and Adolescents;” (Pediatrics; November 2017), “The Sage Encyclopedia of Media Violence” (Sage), “Has Social Media Begun To “Sponsor” Addiction Recovery?: A Study of Face-To-Face Versus Online Sobriety Support” (ProQuest), and “The Digital Drug” (APA Amplifier Magazine).
Don’s upcoming keynote presentations focusing on learning and practicing “Healthy Device Management” and “Good Digital Citizenship” include the 2018 American Psychological Association Convention in San Francisco.