Jean Kirkpatrick
Founder created a powerful path to sobriety for women
Jean Kirkpatrick’s revolutionary recovery program for women seeking sobriety reaches around the world to help women build the New Life they were intended to live. An American sociologist, Kirkpatrick created a program for women uniquely tailored to help them reshape their thinking from negativity and shame to a new focus on their strengths and self-worth.
“We create our own world. No one else does. We are responsible for ourselves and our choices.”
— Jean Kirkpatrick, Ph.D.
In Turnabout: Help for a New Life, Kirkpatrick describes her transformation from devastating alcohol abuse and suicide attempts to a groundbreaking philosophy that resulted in not only her own sobriety, but the sobriety of thousands of other women.
Gathering insights from Ralph Waldo Emerson and others, she created a framework of statements focusing on changing patterns of thought in order to change one’s outlook and achieve a “new life” in sobriety.
Kirkpatrick used the path she took to recovery to create the New Life Program. In 1975, she established the nonprofit Women For Sobriety, Inc., and published the 13 Acceptance Statements — the core of the program. Articles published by Kirkpatrick offer guidance in living the program day to day and the organization continues to share her vision with women around the world.
On June 19, 2000, she passed away at the age of 77.
Established Women for Sobriety, Inc.: 1975
Books: A Fresh Start (1977), a biographical account of her journey, Turnabout: Help for a New Life (1978), Goodbye Hangovers, Hello Life Self Help for Women (1986), and On the Road to Sell Recovery (1991).
Education & Honors: Master’s degree in English from Lehigh University; University of Pennsylvania’s doctoral program and was awarded the Frances Sargent Pepper Fellowship, Bloomfield Moore Fellow, Joseph M. Bennett Fellowship, the University Women’s Fellowship, the Fels Fellowship, and was named the University of Pennsylvania’s Woman of the Year in 1958. In June of 1978, the Moravian College Alumni Association awarded her its highest honor — The Raymond Hauper Humanitarian Award for her “outstanding service in the cause of human welfare.”
Media: Kirkpatrick appeared on “The Today Show”, “Good Morning America”, “To Tell the Truth”, and “The Phil Donahue Show.” The New Life Program was featured in “Woman’s Day” magazine.
More: (Wikipedia)
“ We begin by being in charge of our actions through our thoughts. We no longer react but now begin to act .. We end game playing. We become our whole person by learning independent thinking. ”