On Tuesday, October 13th 2026, six experts in the field came together to discuss what we felt made up the “essential spirit of CRAFT”.
This lively conversation was initially offered by and for the CRAFT-based providers in our Helping Families Help Provider Network (HFHPN), as a live panel on Zoom, but it’s such an interesting conversation we thought we’d share it with the larger community of concerned family members as well.
Please note the following:
Because the panel was initially intended for providers who are interested in CRAFT, there are some acronyms that are used that weren’t defined at the time, and we assume that the providers present know what CRAFT is, so we don’t offer an explaination here. Click here to learn more about CRAFT.
Abbreviations used in the discussion: CRAFT (Community Reinforcement And Family Training), ACRA (Adolescent Community Reinforcement Approach), CSO (Concerned Significant Other), IP (Identified Patient), REBT (Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy), MI (motivational interviewing).
As the event was offered as a live Zoom panel there are interactions that we have with attendees in the Zoom’s chat that you won’t be able to see as a part of the recording. Slido.com was used to create the word clouds during the panel discussion.
We hope you find this conversation as useful and enjoyable as we did!
Bios
Panelists
Michelle Kuecker, LCSW, LAC is a certified A-CRA and CRAFT trainer, supervisor, and clinician located in the Denver, Colorado area. She has worked with Dr. Meyers providing training and certification globally since 2014. It is her honor to help providers in honing their skills to support families struggling with substance use challenges.
George Charlton, MA, Dip Couns., Dip Ed., MBAC, is a Drug War Veteran with over 20 years of direct Lived Experience of Addiction. As the UK’s only independent CRAFT Trainer & supervisor, over the last 15 years George has gained recognition as the leading voice across the UK who promotes and trains individuals, practitioners & companies in the CRAFT approach. George received the prestigious accolade of UK Skills National Training Award winner for his continued commitment over many years to working with individuals and their families who are disenfranchised by addictions and wider social issues across the UK.
Heather Fulton, PhD, is a Clinical Psychologist with over 20 years of experience working and volunteering in mental health and substance use health across community, outreach, bed-based, and outpatient settings. Her clinical, teaching, and consultation work includes supporting families affected by substance use challenges and helping professionals use compassionate, evidence-informed approaches such as Motivational Interviewing, CBT, DBT, and CRAFT. Dr. Fulton is a Clinical Assistant Professor and Adjunct Professor at the University of British Columbia.
Kenneth M. Carpenter, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist with over 30 years of experience developing, implementing, and researching treatment strategies to help individuals make important lifestyle changes. He and his colleagues at CMC: Foundation for Change (CMC:FFC) developed the Invitation to Change Approach (ITC), an accessible set of understandings and practices for family members supporting a loved one struggling with substance use. He is the Director of Training at CMC:FFC and holds academic appointments at Columbia University's Department of Psychiatry and New York State Psychiatric Institute.
Moderators
Lara Okoloko, MSW, LICSW, is a certified CRAFT clinician and approved CRAFT trainer through Robert J Meyers & Associates, and a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT), and a lecturer at the University of Washington School of Social Work. She has twice received the school’s Student Choice Teaching Award. For the last fifteen years in her private practice, she has been providing psychotherapy, clinical supervision, and consultation, with a focus on families affected by substance use and mental health challenges and regularly provides CRAFT training to providers across the USA.
Cordelia Kraus, LPC, CADC-1, is an Invitation to Change Trainer through CMC:Foundation for Change, a Certified CRAFT Clinician through Robert J Meyers & Associates, and a SMART Recovery Family & Friends facilitator with a private practice in Portland, Oregon who started this work as a concerned mom. She is the owner and architect of HelpingFamiliesHelp.com, a CRAFT-based resource hub for concerned family members impacted by their loved one’s substance or alcohol use that also provides community and support for the CRAFT-based providers who serve them.