Michelle L. Dunbar

About Michelle

​Co-Author of The Freedom Model for Addictions, Co-Creator of the Non-12-Step Movement, and Executive Director of Baldwin Research Institute, Inc.

Michelle Dunbar co-founded Baldwin Research Institute, Inc. in 1992, and is currently its Executive Director. Michelle co-authored the revolutionary book, The Freedom Model for Addictions, Escape the Treatment and Recovery Trap with Steven Slate and Mark Scheeren, and authored The Freedom Model for the Family.

Michelle was first thrust into the addiction recovery world as a young child. At the time, she learned from family members who were immersed in the 12 step culture about the alleged supernatural powers of alcohol and drugs. As a result of those erroneous beliefs, her struggles with alcohol and drugs started in her teen years.

Thankfully, Michelle was blessed with an inquisitive mind and a skeptic’s heart. By 1990, then in her early twenties, these personal attributes proved to be a compass that guided her out of heavy substance use completely. She learned never to take anything at face value and was heard quite frequently saying, “Let’s look at the data.” This attitude and hunger for the truth pushed her past the addict/alcoholic self-image, and provided a firm platform to research and help others learn the truth; that addiction is not a disease, and that people can and do move past their addictions.

She began her career at Baldwin Research Institute, Inc. in 1992 as a volunteer helping women to solve their substance use problems. In 2002, she joined BRI full-time working with substance users and their families. During her tenure at BRI, she worked in nearly every division and capacity. She created and implemented training programs for Freedom Model Coaches as well as Freedom Model hospitality staff at our retreats. She co-authored and taught a program extension offered by BRI called Continuing Education (aka Life Movements) that was designed to help people to move on with their lives. She developed and facilitated the Freedom Model Family Workshop as well.

Michelle has seen first-hand the devastation caused in so many people’s lives by the massive propaganda and misinformation campaigns put forth by the multi-billion dollar treatment industry. That is why she continues to dedicate her life to BRI’s original mission which is to change the addiction treatment industry to a solution that works.