Trauma, Addiction and Recovery

Trauma, Addiction and Recovery

Course
Monday, January 24, 2022 - 19:00 to Monday, February 7, 2022 - 20:30
Personal Growth
Wellbeing
Alternatives says: 
An exploration of the causal factors of addictive disorders and how to treat them
Description: 

Chula Goonewardene was a successful musician in his 20’s and fell foul himself to the perils of addiction. He came into recovery in 2003 and has remained abstinent ever since. He is now a clinical consultant and Harley St psychotherapist and lectures on the Addiction Psychology & Counselling MSc at London Southbank University.

In this online course, Chula will take you on a journey to explore the causal factors of addictive disorders, what they really are, and how to treat them.

Trauma – Monday 24 January  7pm-8.30pm

We will start by exploring the word trauma, what it means in its broadest sense, how Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and traumatic life experiences, when left untreated, may cause us to develop coping mechanisms that become addictive disorders, which can then feed into our unconscious patterns of relating.

Addiction – Monday 31 January  7pm-8.30pm

In this session we will consider the differences and similarities of mind, mood and process addictions within the context of there being a variety of perspectives and approaches that can be taken, to understand exactly what addiction is, in all it’s different permutations.

Recovery – Monday 7 February  7pm-8.30pm

Finally, we will explore what recovery really means with regards to the common treatment models of the statutory and private sectors, and examine how we recover from addictive disorders. Chula will share his tried and tested method of therapeutic interventions to support addicted individuals through a treatment process and into long-term, lasting recovery.

 

These are strong sessions on intense subjects. They have an educational focus, so that any anxious or trauma-related feelings that could be triggered, are less likely to be, to support a safe, learning experience for us all. Please do not disclose details of personal trauma or share anything in the discussions that could potentially trigger yourself or others.

 

About the speaker, Chula Goonewardene

Chula Goonewardene MBACP was a successful musician in his 20s and fell foul himself to the perils of addiction. He came into recovery in 2003 and has remained abstinent ever since.

He joined the voluntary sector of the Substance Misuse field in 2005 and worked (1:1 and in group) with over 600 clients in community-based treatment. He moved into Management & Training in 2010, in partnership with the NHS, and recently spent three years as the Operations Manager & Senior Counsellor of Steps2Recovery; a charity providing free residential rehabilitation.

Chula has a thriving psychotherapy private practice (CM Therapy) at 15 Harley Street, where he specialises in working with music and media professionals, and he informs Public Health and the Home Office on best practice, with regards to national treatment strategy for addictive disorders (via the CSJ and RGUK) constructing policy recommendations.

As Consultant and Service Director for Kairos+ Counselling Service, he provides clinical consultancy to The Pocressi Initiative, and for the Music Support charity, BAPAM, HMUK and Parker Consulting. He provides clinical consultancy, recruitment of clinicians, therapeutic assessments, and clinical supervision, alongside the writing and delivery of addiction-focused training.

He lectures on the Addiction Psychology & Counselling MSc at London Southbank University, and still finds time to play the drums for the ‘Council of Neptune’. He comes from a Buddhist family and uses this philosophy to enhance both his personal and professional life.

 

 

Timetable: 
7pm
Online starts
8.30pm
Online ends
Venue: