

Mary Ellen Copeland, PhD, developed Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) with a group of people with lived experience who were attending a mental health recovery workshop in 1997. She is the original author of the WRAP Red Book, as well as dozens of other WRAP books and materials. She has dedicated the last 30 years of her life to learning from people who have mental health issues; discovering the simple, safe, non-invasive ways they get well, stay well, and move forward in their lives; and then sharing what she has learned with others through keynote addresses, trainings, and the development of books, curriculums, and other resources. Now that she is retired, and that, as she intended, others are continuing to share what she has learned, she continues to learn from those who have mental health issues and those who support them. She is a frequent contributor to this site.

Reflections on 20 Years of WRAP
Twenty years ago this month, WRAP was developed by an amazing group of peers in northern Vermont. WRAP’s 20th birthday has made me think a lot about my own WRAP and what it has meant to me in my own life. Of course, it has been absolutely thrilling to see WRAP spread...My Recovery Journey: Mary Ellen's Reflections, Part IV
You and I have been on a journey, not just the past four weeks, but for more than three decades. Our journey of recovery has traversed valleys of despair and taken us atop hillsides of hope. There have been unpleasant detours and unexpected surprises. There have been...My Recovery Journey: Mary Ellen’s Reflections, Part III
Were you ever an impatient youngster, riding in the backseat of the family car, kicking the seat in front of you and asking, “Are we there yet?” If so, you likely heard in response, “Don’t make me turn this car around.” Today, we’re not turning around—we’re still on...My Recovery Journey: Mary Ellen's Reflections, Part II
by Mary Ellen Copeland Last week we started a journey down memory lane, you might say. As we grow older, memories feel soft around the edges, like fading photographs filled with people you no longer remember. This journey is different. It’s filled with memories of...