The Contribution of Clinical
Psychologists to Recovery
Focused Drug & Alcohol
Treatment Systems
Dr. Christopher Whiteley
British 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
Facilitating access to ETE;
building confidence
Managing chronic health
conditions; e.g. pain
Help resolve ambivalence;
Motivational techniques
Human
Capital
Physical
Capital
Cultural
Capital
Social
Capital
Building on strengths and
resilience's – Solution Focused
Therapy
Maintain accommodation
by sustaining recovery;
Relapse Prevention
Sustain and improve
relationships; family therapy,
BCT
Facilitate engagement with community
resources; SBNT, CRA
Competences of a clinical psychologist
P
S
Y
C
H
O
L
O
G
I
C
A
L
Leadership:
T
H
E
O
R
Y
Service
Users
Governance of psychological
interventions
Organisational change; fostering
recovery oriented services
Family,
peers
Multiple therapeutic orientations
Practitioner:
Researcher
Staff training & supervision in PSI
Organis
ations
Direct interventions for complex
problems
Innovations from new research
evidence
Evaluate the effectiveness of
services, feedback & change
Commun
ities
Could do more……
Family &
peers
Organisations
Community
• Behavioural Couples Therapy
• 5 Step Intervention
• Recovery focused risk taking
• Build constructive relationships with
external organisations (e.g.
Educational providers)
• Reducing stigma, challenging myths in
employers
• Support the development of peer &
community networks