Dan Anderson (psychologist)
Encyclopedia
Dan Anderson was an American psychologist and head of Hazelden
between 1961 and his retirement in 1986. He was the pioneer of the Minnesota Model for alcohol and drug addiction treatment, based in part on the twelve-step program
of Alcoholics Anonymous
.
Anderson was born in Minneapolis and studied at the College of St. Thomas, where he received a B.A. degree in 1950. Starting in 1952 he worked at Willmar State Hospital. After having graduated in 1956 as a M.A. in clinical psychology from Chicago's Loyola University
, he began consulting and lecturing at Hazelden
in 1957. In 1961 he left Willmar
and became vice president of Hazelden. In 1966 he received the Ph.D. degree from the University of Ottawa
. In 1971 he advanced to president of Hazelden, a position he held until his retirement in 1986.
Hazelden
The Hazelden Foundation is a non-profit organization based in Center City, Minnesota. Hazelden has alcohol and drug treatment facilities in Minnesota ; Newberg, Oregon; Chicago, Illinois; Naples, Florida and New York City, New York...
between 1961 and his retirement in 1986. He was the pioneer of the Minnesota Model for alcohol and drug addiction treatment, based in part on the twelve-step program
Twelve-step program
A Twelve-Step Program is a set of guiding principles outlining a course of action for recovery from addiction, compulsion, or other behavioral problems...
of Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous is an international mutual aid movement which says its "primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics achieve sobriety." Now claiming more than 2 million members, AA was founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith in Akron, Ohio...
.
Anderson was born in Minneapolis and studied at the College of St. Thomas, where he received a B.A. degree in 1950. Starting in 1952 he worked at Willmar State Hospital. After having graduated in 1956 as a M.A. in clinical psychology from Chicago's Loyola University
Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago is a private Jesuit research university located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1870 under the title St...
, he began consulting and lecturing at Hazelden
Hazelden
The Hazelden Foundation is a non-profit organization based in Center City, Minnesota. Hazelden has alcohol and drug treatment facilities in Minnesota ; Newberg, Oregon; Chicago, Illinois; Naples, Florida and New York City, New York...
in 1957. In 1961 he left Willmar
Willmar, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 18,351 people, 7,302 households, and 4,461 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,549.9 people per square mile . There were 7,789 housing units at an average density of 657.8 per square mile...
and became vice president of Hazelden. In 1966 he received the Ph.D. degree from the University of Ottawa
University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is a bilingual, research-intensive, non-denominational, international university in Ottawa, Ontario. It is one of the oldest universities in Canada. It was originally established as the College of Bytown in 1848 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
. In 1971 he advanced to president of Hazelden, a position he held until his retirement in 1986.