My Story

So what makes me skilled in helping people with problematic drug and alcohol use and recovery? 

I started working to help people experiencing problematic drug or alcohol use back in 1999, with an NHS run arrest referral scheme. This was to provide a route from police custody cells into drug treatment services. For several years I was practicing in the criminal justice system, working in partnership with probation, prisons and with the police. This role expanded into working with the police on a targeted offender scheme, with people who had been labelled as prolific offenders. A group of people traditionally viewed as challenging and difficult to help because of the complexity of offending behaviour, drug dependency and often trauma. Working in this area still influences my practice today, as it consolidated a fundamental belief that everybody can sustain change and improve their quality of life, irrespective of how stuck or hopeless they may feel. I also spent nine years working in the charitable sector before returning to NHS substance misuse and currently in NHS community and in-patient mental health services, in the role of Dual Diagnosis Practitioner. That is, I work directly with people receiving a community or in-patient mental healthcare service and they are also experiencing problematic drug or alcohol use.  

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I completed my BSc (Hons) degree in psychology in 2001, returning to The University of Central Lancashire to gain a MSc in Forensic Psychology in 2008. I hold Advanced Practitioner status with Addiction Professionals (voluntary regulatory body) and I’m accountable to their Standards of Conduct and Ethics and requirement for continuous professional development. I have enhanced DBS clearance and insurance cover for private practice.  

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So why did I set up a private practice? 

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Cheshire Sobriety Clinic was born from 21 years of frustration of working in the drug/alcohol treatment sector which provides the same approach to people which hasn't worked, from an individual, family, clinical and societal perspective. These services in the main, focus almost entirely on the problematic behaviour, without resolving the underlining cause. Within private practice there is much more autonomy to do things differently. To find a better, more effective way to help people achieve their recovery goals. With combining RTT® with specialist therapy session, we are treating both the conscious and subconscious mind, which is why our programme is so effective. 

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So how do I help and what do I do?  

The process will initially start with a free 30-minute consultation, which we feel is important to establish confidence in our approach and ability to provide effective help. We will complete a brief assessment so I can better understand your circumstances and then we will negotiate and implement your solutions. For some people, this may be preparing for change, supporting and developing a structured reduction plan with a period of abstinence and resolving the controlled use versus abstinent dilemma, which is reflective of your reality. My approach is to help you find the missing psychological pieces of the jigsaw, master your emotional self-regulation and developing a better understanding of yourself. We will provide the knowledge and help you develop the skills to allow for successful long-term self-management.  

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If this is an area of your life with which you or a loved one struggles, let’s spend a little time together where we will navigate you through the change process. I have often met people when they are experiencing high levels of distress and really struggling. Negative emotions such as embarrassment and fear, combined with physiological and psychological dependency all contribute to becoming stuck and get in the way of progress. All we ask, is that you give us the opportunity to see you at your best, as together, we can achieve great things.  

If you would like to discuss further how we may be able to help, John can be contacted by email: john@cheshiresobrietyclinic.co.uk or you can call him on 01925 500385, where you can leave a message and he will return your call.  

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Many Thanks