Professor Wendy Dossett and I share a love Eryri [Snowdonia], and its beaches, valleys and mountains where we both live. We have a shared interest in recovery and recovery communities, and have completed some collaborative work.
Wendy has so much insight into the process of recovery. She is honest and thoughtful when reflecting on her own recovery journey. She has a rich understanding of the 12-Step Fellowship and in particular the role that spirituality plays in recovery. Many years of navigating obstacles within systems, and supporting meaningful actions and change, have helped enhance Wendy’s wisdom.
In the films edited from our interview, Wendy describes reaching out for help 18 years ago at a time when she was in absolute agony due to her drinking problem. She has not had a drink of alcohol since that time. In our conversation, we cover a wide range of topics, including the nature of addiction, a wide variety of aspects related to the 12-Step Fellowship, foundations of recovery, grassroots community, recovery advocacy and the system, and recovery friendly universities. Through generosity, insight and warmth, Wendy gives us a rich set of reflections.
We edited 16 short films, totalling over 85 minutes, from Wendy’s interview in April 2023. Here is her Film Teaser.
Biography
Wendy Dossett is Emeritus Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Chester and Principal Investigator of the Higher Power Project. Wendy’s research explores religious, spiritual and secular language in addiction recovery modalities, including Twelve Step and Buddhist approaches. She’s also an activist for Visible Recovery, and she contributes to the ‘Recovery-Friendly University’ movement in the UK. She’s a person grateful to be in recovery herself.