About the Author: Carol A. Kivler
Carol A. Kivler of Lawrence, NJ, is the founder of Courageous Recovery, a division of Kivler Communications designed to raise awareness to remove the stigma of mental illness and to instill hope in those who live with it. Through Courageous Recovery, Kivler’s goal is to change the way society and the medical profession views people living with mental illness. Her mission is to have society and medical professionals view individuals living with mental illness as courageous survivors who want to be accepted, not rejected; respected, not pitied; and admired, not feared. Carol considers herself a courageous survivor expert.
First diagnosed with mental illness in 1990, Kivler suffers from periodic acute bouts of medication-resistant depression, which in her case is only responsive to ECT (electro-convulsive therapy). At the time of her diagnosis, Kivler was a 40-year-old mother of three healthy children and working as a part-time college professor. Since 1990, Carol has had four acute episodes each time requiring hospitalization and additional ECT treatments. Presently, Carol has been living in recovery for the last 12 years.
Carol is a highly respected and experienced professional speaker (CSP), author, international executive coach/consultant, corporate trainer (CMT) and owner of Kivler Communications. Carol has an M.S. in Human Resource Education and previously worked as a college professor.
Carol speaks at all types of mental health conferences and events, Continuing Education Programs, Staff Professional Development, and CEU/CME courses. She provides programs to hospitals, medical and nursing schools as well to associations, organizations, corporations, school systems, and government agencies. Her personal story has impacted the way these populations view mental illness.
Carol has been interviewed nationally about her experience on television, radio, and in print. After her last acute episode, Carol authored an interactive journal, Blessings: My Journal of Gratitude. Her book, Will I Ever Be the Same Again? Transforming the Face of ECT (Shock Therapy), was released in May 2010 and was a finalist for two book awards. Her pocket guide, The ABCs of Recovery from Mental Illness was published in November 2011and was an Amazon.com best seller in the mental health category. Her new book, Mental Health Recovery Boosters was just published and is getting great reviews.
Mental Health Recovery Boosters is a book of inspiration and reflection designed to move readers from mental illness to mental wellness. The 68 short but powerful essays stand alone with messages of encouragement and personal accountability. Based on lessons the author learned during her journey out of mental illness, the essays encourage readers to reflect on daily choices and mental habits that affect their mental wellness. The author discovered during her own journey that what she needed was an attitude shift - a shift from illness to wellness in order to sustain her recovery.