John Craven graduated 1982 with a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Western Ontario - and completed specialty training in Psychiatry at the University of Toronto in 1987.
From 1987 to1992, Dr. Craven worked as a Research Fellow and then Psychiatric Consultant with the Psychosomatic Medicine Program and Consultation Liaison Psychiatry Service of The Toronto Hospital.
His interest in writing developed during these early years - having various academic articles published on the psychiatric aspects of serious and life threatening physical illness.
Dr. Craven also wrote an academic article titled Meditation and Psychotherapy - attempting to integrate his personal interest in yoga, budhism and meditation with what he was learning as a psychiatrist.
But Dr. Craven's writing quickly shifted from the academic - to an interest in writing directly to medical clients. 'Surviving Transplantation' was a first effort at writing an educational support handbook for persons requiring major organ transplantation.
From 1992 to 1998, Dr. Craven returned to London and the University of Western Ontario - as Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry.
His various work during these years included Postgraduate Training in Consultation and Acute Care Psychiatry - and various Administrative positions with the Department of Psychiatry and St. Joseph's Health Care of London.
Dr. Craven's condition of health required him to be entirely away from work throughout the year of 1998.
During this year, Dr. Craven's life and health was salvaged by the Addiction Rehabilitation Service of Homewood Health Centre (Guelph, Ontario) - and when Dr. Craven successfully completed their 28 day program - in a mere 81 days.
During the remainder of the 1998 year, Dr. Craven lived in St. Steven's Recovery House here in London, attended the Aftercare Program and the Family Treatment Program at Westover Treatment Centre (Thamesville and London, Ontario). He also participated in about six hundred recovery support meetings throughout the London and area community.
The events of that one year - the people he met - the things that he saw and heard - determined a new direction for his life and career.
Dr. Craven now works as Associate Director for Clinic 528 - a program of Methadone Maintenance Treatment in London, Ontario.
His 'Handbook of Recovery - For Clients of Methadone Maintenance Treatment, their Family, Friends and Caregivers' was published by SupportNet Studios Inc. in 2005.
The Handbook answers questions and offers a guide to recovery from severe opiate addiction - integrating traditional recovery principles with Methadone Maintenance Treatment.
In the first paragraph of the Handbook, Dr. Craven writes - I have had remarkable opportunity to associate with people in recovery from severe states of addiction. Recent years have been a path of learning what works, what lasts and what does neither.
Dr. Craven's current writings are published by SupportNet Studios Inc. - and made available through the web site SupportNet.ca - Resources for Your Recovery.
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