About The Book
A Life of Recovery is my own story, and a practical guide for every family battling the devastation of addiction and untreated mental health issues. In this deeply personal account, I open up about the trauma of losing my brother, my own descent into addiction, and the hard-won path that led me back to recovery.
Part memoir, part manual, this book offers both raw honesty and the practical insight I've gained over thirty years of clinical work, for parents, families, and loved ones struggling to understand and navigate the chaos of substance use disorder.
If you've read my story on this site, this book takes you even further into it.
The cover is a self-portrait painted by Woody.
The Audio book is narrated by Simon Kirke (Bad Company/Free)
About The Author
I am Woody Giessmann. Before I was an addiction specialist, before I ever sat across from a family in crisis, I was the drummer for The Del Fuegos, a Warner Brothers recording band, living a life a lot of people dream about.
Underneath that life, I was struggling with my own substance abuse. After losing my brother, Brian, and finally recognizing and confronting my own issues, I made a decision that changed everything. I got into recovery.
That experience gave me a firsthand understanding of what substance abuse and untreated mental health actually do to a person, and to the people who love them. I didn't learn it from a textbook. I learned it by living it.
In 1993, I became an Addictions Specialist and Interventionist, because I wanted to give other people and their families what I found for myself: a real way back. That belief still guides everything I do.
I'm a Licensed Counselor (LADC-I), a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC), and a Board-Certified Interventionist Professional (CIP). In 2003, I founded Right Turn, Inc., a nonprofit outpatient clinic in Watertown, MA, that ran for over 20 years.
There, I combined evidence-based treatment with creativity and connection to help people rebuild their lives. In 2016, Governor Charlie Baker appointed me to the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine.
But none of that is why I wrote this book. I wrote it because I know what it's like to be lost, and I know what it takes to find your way back. If you're holding this book, I hope it helps you find yours.
Reviews
Woody Giessmann’s memoir is one of the most powerful recovery stories I’ve ever read. His honesty about his own struggles, combined with the pain of losing his brother, makes this book both heartbreaking and inspiring. What I loved most is that it’s not just a story—it’s also a guide, full of tools and insights that families can actually use. A must-read for anyone touched by addiction.
I felt a deep sadness reading about the author’s brother. It’s truly heartbreaking to see what addiction can do to a person and their loved ones. My father struggled with addiction too, and because of it, we lost him. That pain still lives inside me — the constant thought of “I wish I could’ve saved him.” This book is a powerful reminder for anyone who doesn’t want to lose someone they love to addiction. A must-read for every family.
A Life of Recovery is brutally honest and deeply human. Woody Giessmann’s journey from rock-and-roll chaos to spiritual and emotional healing is both painful and inspiring. This book doesn’t just share his story—it offers hope, guidance, and real tools for families battling addiction. It reminds us that redemption is always possible through courage, faith, and love.
A Life of Recovery follows Woody Giessmann's journey from addiction, grief, and chaos to healing and purpose. With raw honesty, he shares his struggles and offers real tools for families affected by addiction. Part memoir, part guide, it is inspiring, compassionate, and deeply practical. It proves recovery is possible and inspires resilience, boundaries, and hope.