John Bradshaw

John Bradshaw has been called "America's leading personal growth expert." The author of five New York Times bestsellers, Bradshaw On: The Family, Healing the Shame That Binds You, Homecoming, Creating Love, and Family Secrets, John's books have sold over four million copies in North America. He created and hosted four nationally broadcast PBS television series based on his best-selling books. John pioneered the concept of the "Inner Child" and brought the term "dysfunctional family" into the mainstream. He has touched and changed millions of lives through his books, television series, and his lectures and workshops around the country.

John has lived everything he writes about. Born in Houston, Texas, into a troubled family, abandoned by his alcoholic father, he became a high academic achiever who was also an out-of-control teenager. He completed his education in Canada, where he studied for the Roman Catholic priesthood, earning three degrees from the University of Toronto.

During the past twenty-five years he has worked as a counselor, theologian, management consultant, and public speaker, becoming one of the primary figures in the contemporary self-help movement. For more information about John's background, take a look at his curriculum vitae, prepared by Matthew Fox at Bradshaw Cassettes.

I was having dinner with John a few years ago. When I told him what I was doing by improving people's breathing he got real excited and said "In addition to helping them a great deal you are also giving them new hope" I had never thought about it that way but optimal breathing is definitely a doorway to possibilities and hope for better things to come.