About Michael Pearlman, M.D.
Physician Save Thyself -
How A "Healer of The Soul" Battled Alcoholism
Dr. Michael Pearlman is a well known Boston area psychiatrist and Personal Life Strategist who has dedicated his professional practice to helping others overcome their addiction to alcohol. He has a keen awareness of this cunning and sly adversary that is alcohol dependence. Michael Pearlman, M.D. has fought his own battle with alcohol abuse and emerged from the conflict fortified by a spiritual awakening that was life altering in its clarity.
Michael realized he could help others who suffered from alcoholism and problem drinking through his own experiences, combined with his therapeutic counseling. The healing provided by Michael Pearlman has evolved through time and experience into a comprehensive personal alcohol treatment program known as The Freedom From Alcohol Method.
Michael's Alcohol Problem Manifests Itself
By all accounts Michael Pearlman led a rather normal youthful existence. He was outgoing, fun to be around with many friends. He was admittedly "perhaps a bit wild" but his life ambition was to become a doctor and he worked toward that goal. He began drinking alcohol while in high school as many people do and his drinking continued into college unabated. The fact he was drinking more and might have a problem never entered the equation.
His first recollection of problematic behavior occurred in college when writing an exam when he possibly suffered from a "gray out", a condition where one may not remember very recent actions until they are reminded. Still it wasn't enough of a warning sign to become concerned.
He continued his habitual drinking, alone in bars in the evenings and with friends when in his challenging third year of medical school, his life to that point threatened to unravel. Alcohol was literally consuming his life and as the disease progressed it threatened to wreak havoc on him.
Michael's brother, upon his return from a tour with the navy, brought him a bottle of gin. One night when sleep was once again evasive, he began drinking and after finishing nearly a quarter of the bottle, as it neared his lips again he was suddenly struck by the insanity of his actions. He realized something wasn't right if he needed to numb himself in order to sleep, to shutdown his racing mind. To his credit he knew he had to do something.
Though at that time Alcoholics Anonymous wasn't going to be an option, wisely he chose to seek psychiatric assistance. Inevitably this would have a dramatic effect on his life since because of this experience he would change his medical focus from being a healer of the body to a healer of the soul. He would become a psychiatrist hoping that this training would help him to better deal with his own fears, anxieties and the ultimately underlying issues of alcoholism.
His Condition Becomes Progressive and Serious
As his alcoholism worsened and he began to lose control over his life he was asked to take the year off from medical school and repeat his third year. This was devastating for him but he obliged. When he resumed medical school and completed his training as a psychiatrist he controlled his drinking to the best of his ability by "white knuckling it" as many alcoholics do, only to eventually succumb to the addiction.
The Final Struggle
Michael continued his battle with alcohol until a family intervention hastened his final surrender to the disease of alcohol and since a recovery stint in rehabilitation 22 years ago, Michael has never looked back. In fact he knew he was indeed making progress when he was finally able and willing to actually talk about his experience and endeavored to be of service to others faced with alcohol problems, as well.
His Professional Accomplishments
For the past twenty-five years he has been a board-certified psychiatrist, in private practice, specializing in the treatment of addictions and personal coaching after completing his training at Harvard Medical School's McLean Hospital.
For more than fifteen years he had been a Harvard Medical School faculty member and for seven years, the Medical Director of Addiction Programs at the Arbour Hospital in Boston. Michael also served as Medical Director of ContrAl America, a program which treats alcohol craving and as Medical Director of Charles River Hospital in Wellesley, Massachusetts.
His Service to Others
Doctor Michael Pearlman founded the FreedomFromAlcohol™Method program in 1998, basing it on the work of David Sinclair, who originated the ContrAl program in Finland.
Both programs utilize the medication, naltrexone. Additionally, he will prescribe Campral (acamprosate), as well as other supportive medications as indicated, which can reduce alcohol cravings when taken prior to drinking.
Medications are just one part of the FreedomFromAlcohol™Method program. His ongoing, comprehensive counseling and consultative life strategy sessions help connect his patients with the core of troublesome emotional, psycho-social issues which have prevented them from achieving happy, productive lives.
Michael Pearlman's FreedomFromAlcohol™Method program looks beyond controlling cravings. It is a way out of self-imposed limitations; a successful recipe for personal enlightenment and final healing which most recovering alcoholics strive for in their lives.
His Hope For Others
For Michael, his FreedomFromAlcohol™Method is like hitting a home run. The "game plan" addresses the biological, psychosocial, spiritual components of who his clients are. It is a full, multi-faceted approach to individual healing. Treating alcoholism has deep personal and professional meaning for him. He developed this program to help others hit the ball out of the park, too! It is Dr. Michael Pearlman's great privilege to be able to support others to take their lives back from the painful grip of alcohol, take charge of their lives and return to freedom, health and choice!
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