The Contribution of Clinical Psychologists to Recovery Focused Drug & Alcohol

Treatment Systems

Dr. Christopher WhiteleyBritish Psychological Society

Division of Clinical Psychology. Faculty of Addiction.East London NHS Foundation Trust

Recovery and change

“Many of the barriers / facilitators to change are psychological” (World Health Organisation)

Building recovery capital: evidence based psychological interventions

Psychological therapies for anxiety and depression

Managing chronic health conditions; e.g. pain

Facilitating access to ETE; building confidence

Maintain accommodation by sustaining recovery;

Relapse Prevention

Help resolve ambivalence; Motivational techniques

Building on strengths and resilience's – Solution Focused

Therapy

Sustain and improve relationships; family therapy, BCT

Facilitate engagement with community resources; SBNT, CRA

Competences of a clinical psychologist

Service Users

PSYCHOLOGICAL

THEORY

Governance of psychological interventions

Organisational change; fostering recovery oriented services

Multiple therapeutic orientations

Staff training & supervision in PSI

Direct interventions for complex problems

Innovations from new research evidence

Evaluate the effectiveness of services, feedback & change

Family, peers

Organisations

Communities

Could do more……