Mind, Body, Social & Spiritual Approaches to Addiction Recovery: 40 World-Leading Pioneers Share Their Best Practices
Equip yourself with the most effective evidence-based approaches for understanding and healing addiction.
This online summit brings together 40 world-leading clinical psychologists, researchers, authors, and mental health practitioners, who will share with you their best practices for mind, body, social, and spiritual approaches to addiction treatment—enabling you to be at the forefront of evidence-based care.
Online Summit | Nov 27 – Dec 2, 2023
Join 20,000+ mental health professionals in revolutionising addiction treatment
Speakers Featured In:
Why Should You Attend?
We live in an addicted society.
A report from the United Nations found that 35 million worldwide suffer from substance abuse disorders, while drug use is directly and indirectly responsible for 11.8 million deaths each year.
Other statistics from the National Institute on Drug Abuse show relapse rates as high as 40-60% for those in treatment.
Despite these alarming figures and its widespread prevalence in our society, addiction remains an unsolved mystery.
Worse still, some see it as a moral failing; a choice addicts make because they are “weak-willed”.
While others view it as a “disease” of the brain.
However, a growing body of research is revealing that not only are these assumptions scientifically inaccurate, they are also obstacles to recovery.
Instead, the evidence is mounting that addiction is almost always a symptom of a deeper problem, and that it can only be properly understood when placed in light of the broadest possible context.
If we want to understand (and treat) addiction effectively, we have to take mind, body, social, and spiritual factors into consideration — otherwise we’re only seeing a tiny fragment of the full picture.
So, the purpose of this event is to provide mental health professionals with a comprehensive overview of the most essential ideas and approaches for understanding and treating addiction.
To achieve this, we’re bringing together 40 of the world’s leading pioneers in therapeutic practice, many of whom are revolutionising our understanding of how best to alleviate human suffering.
People like: Janina Fisher, Richard Schwartz, Stephen Porges, Iain McGilchrist, Anna Lembke, Pat Ogden, Steven Hayes, Andrew Tatarsky, Bruce Alexander, Laurel Parnell, Ned Hallowell, and 29 others!
You’ll learn how their insights, models, and approaches can shed light both on the causes of addiction, as well as how best to overcome it. By attending, you’ll be ensuring that your knowledge is at the cutting-edge of evidence-based care, which will enable you to provide transformative treatment for your clients.
What Will You Learn?
The sessions will be spread across a 6 day period, with each day covering a specific theme. Below, you can find a taste of what to expect on each day:
- New Paradigms: An overview of the foundational principles and core concepts that are vital in addiction treatment, such as: how attachment—particularly in early life—influences addiction (Dr Oliver Morgan), the role of dopamine in the addictive process (Dr Anna Lembke), the impact of culture and society on the individual (Prof. Bruce Alexander), reducing stigma and understanding the factors which put people most at risk (Dr Nzinga Harrison), the underlying neural mechanisms at work when an addiction is taking hold (Prof. Marc Lewis), and a paradigm shifting conversation on addiction as a state regulation strategy, and how Polyvagal Theory can offer a holistic and embodied approach to recovery (Dr Stephen Porges and Jan Winhall).
- Working with: this day focuses on working with specific types of addiction and explores the interplay between addiction and trauma, with topics such as: ADHD and Addiction (Dr Ned Hallowell), Trauma, TIST & Addiction (Dr Janina Fisher), Working with Ethnic Minorities in Addiction (Sohan Sahota), Treating Eating Disorders (Dr Helen McCarthy), Psychedelics:The Future of Addiction Treatment? (Dr Matthew Johnson), and using Harm Reduction Psychotherapy for Drug & Alcohol Problems (Dr Andrew Tatarsky). The day will conclude with a discussion on working with parts and accessing Self using IFS (Dr Richard Schwartz and Cece Sykes).
- Biology: The fourth day explores body and nervous-system informed approaches to recovery. You’ll learn: how polyvagal theory can be applied to heal addiction (Jan Winhall), the core principles of sensorimotor psychotherapy and how they can aid recovery (Dr Pat Ogden), the paradigm shifting Organic Intelligence approach and its application in treatment (Steve Hoskinson), the often underlooked role that Epigenetics play in addiction (Dr Evelyn Higgins), Mind-Body Tools for Substance Abuse Recovery and Relapse Prevention (Dr Stanley Block), and Somatic Experiencing & Addiction (Dr Joshua Sylvae).
- Psychology: On day three, we’ll turn our attention to the mind, and explore: Rewiring the Addicted Brain with EMDR (Dr Laurel Parnell), Using Internal Family Systems for a Holistic Recovery (Cece Sykes), Breaking Addictions with Motivational Interviewing (Dr Bill Matulich), Clinical Hypnosis and Recovery (Dr David Spiegel), and how Schema Therapy can be applied to identify the root causes underlying addiction and offer a powerful roadmap for recovery (Liz Lacy). This day will conclude with a discussion on the pivotal role that ACT and psychological flexibility can play in treating addiction (Prof Steven Hayes and Dr Kelly Wilson).
- Social: The penultimate day will focus on the social aspects of understanding and treating addiction. We will hear from: Dr. Iain McGilchrist on how his hemisphere hypothesis may shed light on the addiction crisis in modern society; Dr. Carl Hart on how outdated policies surrounding drug use may exacerbate the problem; Dr. Stephanie Brown on our culture’s addiction to speed and its effects on our well-being; Dr. Rachel Wurzman will discuss loneliness and addiction; and Dr. Sherif Darwish will outline a revolutionary recovery story from Egypt. The final session will be a discussion on Parts Work and Relational Neuroscience with Dr. Bonnie Badenoch and Liam O’Mahony.
- Spiritual: The summit will conclude with a deep dive exploration into the relationship between spirituality and recovery. David Schoen will outline how Jungian psychology and dreamwork can offer a helpful lens for understanding the psycho-dynamic causes of addiction, Dr Fleet Maull will talk about Mindfulness, Radical Responsibility & Recovery, and Dr Eric Garland will outline his groundbreaking “Mindfulness Oriented Recovery” approach. You’ll also learn about the role that “spiritual habits” and community can play in preventing relapse (Eric Zimmer), and how Ken Wilber’s Integral Theory can be applied to ensure a holistic and lasting recovery (Guy du Plessis). In the final session, Rupert Spira and Bernardo Kastrup will explore materialism and nonduality, focusing on the role that worldview plays in addiction and recovery.
Plus, as a special bonus for claiming your access, you'll get:
The Holistic Recovery Reading List
For this summit, we interviewed 40 leading pioneers from a wide range of therapeutic disciplines, to uncover their best practices and their most essential ideas for understanding and treating addiction — people like Stephen Porges, Janina Fisher, Steven Hayes, Pat Ogden, Andrew Tatarsky, Anna Lembke, Richard Schwartz, Iain McGilchrist, and 32 others.
At the end of each discussion, we asked them to recommend three books that they think every mental health professional should read on the subject of addiction, and we’re now sharing them with you in this free guide.
If you want a “behind the scenes” glance at the ideas that have shaped the leading minds in the field, this is your best chance.
Who Will Be Presenting?
This summit brings together 35 of the world’s leading pioneers in evidence-based recovery. You can see the full lineup below:
Day 1 - New Paradigms
Dr Bruce Alexander
Culture: The Hidden Societal Origins of the Addiction Crisis
Dr Bruce K. Alexander is a renowned Canadian psychologist and professor emeritus at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia. He is best known for his groundbreaking work in the field of addiction and his influential theory known as the “Rat Park” experiment. Bruce Kenneth Alexander was born on December 13, 1939, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of British Columbia, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology. He then pursued graduate studies at the University of Oregon, earning his Ph.D. in experimental psychology. Throughout his career, Alexander focused on studying addiction and its underlying causes, challenging prevailing theories that viewed addiction as solely a result of chemical dependency. He sought to explore the social and environmental factors that contribute to addictive behavior. Alexander’s work highlighted the importance of social connections, environmental factors, and personal fulfillment in preventing and treating addiction. He argued that creating supportive communities and addressing the root causes of addiction, such as social isolation and psychological distress, are crucial for effective prevention and treatment strategies. Beyond his research, Alexander has been a vocal advocate for drug policy reform and has been critical of the war on drugs. He has called for a shift toward harm reduction strategies and the implementation of evidence-based approaches to address substance abuse. Bruce K. Alexander has published numerous articles and book chapters on addiction, psychology, and drug policy. His work continues to inspire researchers, clinicians, and policymakers in the field of addiction studies.
Dr Nzinga Harrison
Breaking the Stigma: Risk Factors & Recovery
Nzinga Harrison, MD, is a board-certified physician with specialties in psychiatry and addiction medicine. She is also the chief medical officer and cofounder of Eleanor Health, an innovative mental health and addiction treatment company. Dr. Harrison holds an adjunct faculty appointment at the Morehouse School of Medicine and sits on the Practice Management and Regulatory Affairs Committee for the American Society of Addiction Medicine.
Prof. Marc Lewis
Neuroscience: Addiction as Learning - The Missing Link?
Prof Marc Lewis, PhD is a neuroscientist, professor, bestselling author, and one of the world’s leading experts on the neuroscience of addiction. In his academic work, he has authored or co-authored more than fifty journal articles, and for many years was a professor of developmental psychology at the University of Toronto and then Radboud University (Netherlands) before retiring. For the last decade, he has focused on making his work more accessible to a wider audience through books for lay readers, pop science articles, public talks, and interviews. He is the author of two bestselling books on addiction: “Memoirs of an Addicted Brain” and “The Biology of Desire”, a book which Dr Gabor Mate argues “effectively refutes the disease model of addiction.” He is currently practicing psychotherapy as a clinical psychologist in Toronto, working with clients with addictive problems and other difficulties.
You can learn more about his work at https://memoirsofanaddictedbrain.com.
Dr Anna Lembke
Dopamine & Addiction: Understanding Neurobiology to Aid Recovery
Anna Lembke is professor of psychiatry at Stanford University School of Medicine and chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic. A clinician scholar, she has published more than a hundred peer-reviewed papers, book chapters, and commentaries. She sits on the board of several state and national addiction-focused organizations, has testified before various committees in the United States House of Representatives and Senate, keeps an active speaking calendar, and maintains a thriving clinical practice. In 2016, she published Drug Dealer, MD – How Doctors Were Duped, Patients Got Hooked, and Why It’s So Hard to Stop (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2016), which was highlighted in the New York Times as one of the top five books to read to understand the opioid epidemic (Zuger, 2018). Dr. Lembke recently appeared on the Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma, an unvarnished look at the impact of social media on our lives. Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence (Dutton/Penguin Random House, August 2021), an instant New York Times Bestseller, explores how to moderate compulsive overconsumption in a dopamine-overloaded world.
Dr Oliver Morgan
Addiction, Attachment, Trauma and Recovery: The Power of Connection
Dr. Oliver Morgan is a distinguished Professor of Counseling & Human Services in the Panuska College of Professional Studies at the University of Scranton in Scranton, PA. With a diverse educational background, he holds a Bachelor’s degree in English and Philosophy from Fordham University, a Master’s degree in Marital and Family Therapy, and a doctoral degree in Pastoral Psychotherapy from Boston University. Dr. Morgan’s expertise lies in the fields of addiction studies, marital and family counseling, and pastoral care. He has made significant contributions to the academic community through his teaching and publications. As a faculty member since 1990, he has taught various courses in undergraduate and graduate programs, shaping the curriculum in Addiction Studies and Marital and Family Counseling. Dr. Morgan also served as the Department Chair from 1997 to 2009. His publications include an acclaimed book titled “Addiction, Attachment, Trauma and Recovery: The Power of Connection,” published in 2019 by W.W. Norton. Additionally, he has co-edited five books covering topics such as Addiction Studies, Catholic Intellectual Thought, and Counseling & Spirituality. Dr. Morgan has authored or co-authored numerous book chapters, proceedings, and peer-reviewed articles on subjects ranging from addiction and pastoral care to spirituality and clinical practice. Beyond his academic endeavors, Dr. Morgan has been involved in service and leadership activities both within the university and the wider community. He has held important roles in university-wide task forces focused on student lifestyles and corporate mission and identity. Furthermore, he co-founded a psychosocial oncology practice in Northeast Pennsylvania, offering support to cancer patients, their caregivers, and loved ones. Dr. Oliver Morgan’s contributions to counseling, addiction studies, and his commitment to compassionate care have established him as a respected educator, researcher, and practitioner in the field of counseling and human services.
Jan Winhall, MSW, FOT
Dr Stephen Porges
The Polyvagal Paradigm: Addiction as a State Regulation Strategy
Jan Winhall, MSW, FOT is an author, teacher, and psychotherapist in Toronto, Canada. She is author of “Treating Trauma and Addiction with the Felt Sense Polyvagal Model”, by Jan Winhall, Routledge, 2021. Jan is an adjunct lecturer in the Department of Social Work, University of Toronto and Co-Director of Borden Street Clinic, a psychotherapy and teaching centre. Jan is a Coordinator with The International Focusing Institute and Director of Focusing on Borden, a psychotherapy and training centre. Jan presents internationally on trauma and addiction.
Dr Stephen W. Porges, Ph.D. is Distinguished University Scientist at Indiana University where he is the founding director of the Traumatic Stress Research Consortium. He is Professor of Psychiatry at the University of North Carolina, and Professor Emeritus at both the University of Illinois at Chicago and the University of Maryland. In 1994 he proposed the Polyvagal Theory, a theory that links the evolution of the mammalian autonomic nervous system to social behaviour and emphasises the importance of physiological state in the expression of behavioural problems and psychiatric disorders.
Day 2 - Working With..
Dr Andrew Tatarsky
Harm Reduction Psychotherapy for Drug and Alcohol Problems
Andrew Tatarsky is an internationally recognized leader in the treatment of problematic substance use and other potentially risky behaviors. He has specialized in the field of substance use treatment for 35 years working as a counselor, psychologist, program director, trainer, advocate and author. He has devoted his career to developing a comprehensive psychobiosocial understanding of the broad spectrum of substance use problems and an integrative harm reduction psychotherapy approach to treating this spectrum. This treatment is described in his book, Harm Reduction Psychotherapy: A New Treatment for Drug and Alcohol Problems, and several professional papers that extend the approach. The book has been released in paperback and Kindle, published in Poland by the Polish Office of Drug Prevention and has been translated into Spanish and is available in a free pdf.
Dr. Tatarsky is Founder and Director of the Center for Optimal Living in NYC, a treatment and professional training center based on Integrative Harm Reduction Therapy (IHRP) for the spectrum of substance misuse and other high-risk behaviors. He earned his doctorate in clinical psychology from the City University of New York and is a graduate of New York University’s Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis. He is a member of the medical and clinical advisory panels to the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services of New York State. Dr. Tatarsky is a founding member and twice past-president of the Division on Addiction of New York State Psychological Association.
Dr Helen McCarthy
Overcoming Emotional Eating with the New Science of Behaviour Change
Dr. Helen McCarthy is a Clinical Psychologist and author of How to Retrain Your Appetite. As an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society and a Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Bristol, she seamlessly merges research on eating psychology and clinical techniques. Driven by a passion to empower individuals, she applies practical psychology to conquer food-related challenges and foster transformative changes in eating habits.
You can learn more about her work at www.theappetitedoctor.co.uk.
Dr Matthew Johnson
Psychedelics & The Future of Addiction Treatment
Dr. Matthew W. Johnson, Ph.D., is a distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins University. He is internationally renowned for his prolific research on the human effects of psychedelics and his groundbreaking work in the behavioral economics of drug use, addiction, and risk behavior. In 2008, Dr. Johnson published psychedelic safety guidelines, contributing to the resurgence of psychedelic research. He led groundbreaking studies on the psychedelic treatment of tobacco addiction and cancer distress, as well as investigating psilocybin for opioid dependence and PTSD. Dr. Johnson’s research extends beyond psychedelics, with influential studies on various psychoactive substances. As President of the International Society for Research on Psychedelics and a respected NIH-funded Principal Investigator, he continues to be a leading figure in the field. Learn more at www.hopkinsmedicine.org/profiles/details/matthew-johnson.
Dr Ned Hallowell
Exploring ADHD and Addiction
Edward (Ned) Hallowell, M.D. is a board-certified child and adult psychiatrist and world authority on ADHD. He is a graduate of Harvard College and Tulane Medical School, and was a Harvard Medical School faculty member for 21 years. He is the Founder of The Hallowell ADHD Centers in Boston MetroWest, New York City, San Francisco, Palo Alto and Seattle.
He has spent the past four decades helping thousands of adults and children live happy and productive lives through his strength-based approach to neurodiversity, and has ADHD and dyslexia himself.
Dr Hallowell is a New York Times bestselling author and has written 20 books on multiple psychological topics. The groundbreaking Distraction series, which began with Driven to Distraction, co-authored with Dr John Ratey in 1994, sparked a revolution in understanding of ADHD.
Dr Hallowell has been featured on 20/20, 60 Minutes, Oprah, PBS, CNN, The Today Show, Dateline, Good Morning America, The New York Times, USA Today, Newsweek, Time Magazine, the Los Angeles Times, the Boston Globe and many more. He is a regular columnist for ADDitude Magazine.
Dr. Hallowell lives in the Boston area with his wife Sue and they have three children, Lucy, Jack and Tucker.
To book Ned as a speaker, please go here
Dr Janina Fisher
Trauma, TIST, and Addiction
Janina Fisher, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist and a former instructor, Harvard Medical School. An international expert on the treatment of trauma, she is an Advisory Board member of the Trauma Research Foundation and the author of three books, Healing the Fragmented Selves of Trauma Survivors: Overcoming Self-Alienation (2017), Transforming the Living Legacy of Trauma: a Workbook for Survivors and Therapists (2021), and The Living Legacy Instructional Flip Chart (2022). She is best known for her work on integrating mindfulness-based interventions into trauma treatment, and she is also the creator of Trauma-Informed Stabilization Treatment (TIST) therapy.
Sohan Sahota
Working with Ethnic Minorities in Addiction
Sohan Sahota is the Managing Director/Co-founder of BAC-IN CIC, a Nottingham based, peer-led drug & alcohol support service for individuals, families and young adults from Black, South Asian and Minoritised Communities. An award winning, grass roots service inspired and founded in 2003 by Black & South Asian individuals in recovery.
BAC-IN approach to recovery is holistic, culturally sensitive and inclusive, enabling individuals to receive support with addiction recovery, mental health and additional well-being services including gambling. BAC-IN offers an alternative to mainstream service provision which acknowledges diversity, values difference and embraces a choice of cultural, faith-based and spiritual perspectives to addiction recovery and rehabilitation.
Sohan is also a BACP Accredited Counsellor/
He has recently authored – ‘Shades of recovery’ a book that focus on culturally tailored approaches to treatment and recovery. He has also co produced ‘Race for recovery’ a BAC-IN film series with Donovan Pennant addressing issues related to addiction recovery, mental health, including culture, ethnicity, faith, identity and spirituality.
Dr Richard Schwartz
Cece Sykes, LCSW, ACSW
IFS: Healing Parts and Accessing Self in Recovery
Richard Schwartz, PhD., began his career as a systemic family therapist and an academic. Grounded in systems thinking, Dr. Schwartz developed Internal Family Systems (IFS) in response to clients’ descriptions of various parts within themselves. He focused on the relationships among these parts and noticed that there were systemic patterns to the way they were organized across clients. He also found that when the clients’ parts felt safe and were allowed to relax, the clients would experience spontaneously the qualities of confidence, openness, and compassion that Dr. Schwartz came to call the Self. He found that when in that state of Self, clients would know how to heal their parts. A featured speaker for national professional organizations, Dr. Schwartz has published many books and over fifty articles about IFS. Learn more at: www.ifs-institute.com.
Cece Sykes, LCSW, ACSW; IFS Senior Trainer, US and international. Contributed to Levels 1 and 2 IFS training manuals and teaches L1 as well as L2 Trauma and Addiction. Cece has over thirty years of clinical experience working with individuals, couples and families, specializing in work with the effects of trauma and addiction. Her chapter on compassionate approaches to addictive process appears in IFS: Innovations and Elaborations, 2016, Routledge. Cece also has special interests in spiritual practices intersecting with therapy and in the impact of psychotherapy upon the life of the therapist and she lectures, consults and leads workshops on all of these topics. Cece lives and works in the city of Chicago.
Day 3 - Mind
Elizabeth Lacy, LCSW, PLLC
Schema Therapy for Deep Recovery
Liz Lacy is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Psychotherapist and Trainer, who is widely recognised as a leading authority on applying Schema Therapy in the treatment of addiction, aside from treating addictive disorders, she also assesses anxiety disorders, couples, and personality disorders in adults and adolescents. Emotional pain can be caused by various reasons, including recent life events, unresolved past events, and biological reasons. Liz’s assessment approach considers all possibilities to develop an effective plan for clients to achieve their life goals. She is an expert in her field and is focused on helping clients achieve their goals, and she also acknowledges that emotional pain can be caused by various reasons and takes a holistic approach to assessment and treatment.
You can learn more about Liz’s work and upcoming training by going to www.elizabethlacy.com.
Dr David Spiegel
Clinical Hypnosis: The Future of Addiction Treatment?
Dr. David Spiegel is Willson Professor and Associate Chair of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Director of the Center on Stress and Health, and Medical Director of the Center for Integrative Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine, where he has been a member of the academic faculty since 1975, and was Chair of the Stanford University Faculty Senate from 2010-2011. He has published thirteen books, over 400 scientific journal articles, and 170 chapters on hypnosis, psychosocial oncology, stress physiology, trauma, and psychotherapy. His research has been supported by the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Cancer Institute, the National Institute on Aging, the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Fetzer Institute, the Dana Foundation for Brain Sciences, and the Nathan S. Cummings Foundation. He was a member of the work groups on stressor and trauma-related disorders for the DSM-IV and DSM-5 editions of the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. He is Past President of the American College of Psychiatrists and the Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, and is a Member of the National Academy of Medicine. In 2018, Dr Spiegel was invited to speak on hypnosis at the World Economic Forum in Davos in 2018.
Cece Sykes, LCSW, ACSW
Internal Family Systems Therapy for Addictive Processes
Cece Sykes, LCSW, ACSW; IFS Senior Trainer, US and international. Contributed to Levels 1 and 2 IFS training manuals and teaches L1 as well as L2 Trauma and Addiction. Cece has over thirty years of clinical experience working with individuals, couples and families, specializing in work with the effects of trauma and addiction. Her chapter on compassionate approaches to addictive process appears in IFS: Innovations and Elaborations, 2016, Routledge. Cece also has special interests in spiritual practices intersecting with therapy and in the impact of psychotherapy upon the life of the therapist and she lectures, consults and leads workshops on all of these topics. Cece lives and works in the city of Chicago.
Dr Bill Matulich
Motivational Interviewing: How to Achieve a Lasting Recovery
Dr. Bill Matulich is a licensed clinical psychologist who has lived and worked in the San Diego area and Southern California for over 25 years. He has worked with people from all walks of life including military personnel, homeless people, hospitalized patients, and private practice clients helping them overcome psychological problems ranging from addictions to severe mental illness. Dr. Matulich is a consultant and trainer and he continues to work clinically with veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Dr. Matulich was introduced to Motivational Interviewing in 2004 and quickly became impressed with the approach as a way to work with all kinds of psychological and medical issues. He was approved to offer training and workshops in Motivational Interviewing by the international Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) in 2006 and has since trained hundreds of people of many different disciplines. Dr. Matulich is approved to offer continuing education credits to psychologists, social workers, MFTs, and addiction counselors, People who have benefited from Dr. Matulich’s workshops include psychologists, psychiatrists, psychotherapists and mental health counselors of all kinds, medical doctors, addiction counselors, health counselors, dietitians, pharmacists, nurses, life coaches, and at least one acupuncturist.
Information about Dr. Matulich can be found at his website:
http://www.motivationalinterviewingonline.com.
Dr Laurel Parnell
EMDR, Attachment & Addiction: A Revolutionary Approach
Dr. Parnell is a leading expert on the therapeutic tool, eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing which is more widely known as EMDR. While Dr. Parnell has trained thousands of clinicians in EMDR both nationally and internationally, Dr. Parnell has also taught transpersonal psychology at California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco and was core faculty at John F. Kennedy University in the Graduate School for the Study of Human Consciousness. Currently, Dr. Parnell teaches EMDR through Alliant International University, Omega Institute, Esalen Institute, ID Institut in Kassel Germany, and the The New York Open Center.
You can learn about Dr Parnell’s work and forthcoming trainings by visiting: www.drlaurelparnell.com.
Prof. Steven Hayes
Dr Kelly Wilson
ACT, Psychological Flexibility & Addiction
Steven C. Hayes, Ph.D., is a professor of psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno. The author of forty-three books and more than six hundred scientific articles, he has served as president of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy and the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science, and is one of the most cited psychologists in the world. Dr. Hayes initiated the development of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and of Relational Frame Theory (RFT), the approach to cognition on which ACT is based. Most recently, he has been focused on developing Process Based Therapy along with Prof Stefan Hofmann.
Kelly G. Wilson, Ph.D. is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Mississippi, co-author of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): An Experiential Approach to Behavior Change and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Chronic Pain, which he has been developing for the past twenty five years. Former Chair of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science and the Society for a Science of Clinical Psychology. Recipient of the prestigious Elsie M. Hood Outstanding Teacher Award, granted by the University of Mississippi. Author of eleven books and over ninety articles and chapters in group publications. Founder of OneLife Education and Training. His work includes the investigation of acceptance, mindfulness, and values-oriented strategies in the treatment of a variety of problems in living as well as in the basic behavioral science underlying therapeutic change. He conducts training sessions, workshops, and consultations around the world, so far in thirty two countries.
Day 4 - Body
Jan Winhall M.S.W. F.O.T.
Using Polyvagal Theory to Transform Addiction Treatment
Jan Winhall, MSW, FOT is an author, teacher, and psychotherapist in Toronto, Canada. She is author of “Treating Trauma and Addiction with the Felt Sense Polyvagal Model”, by Jan Winhall, Routledge, 2021. Jan is an adjunct lecturer in the Department of Social Work, University of Toronto and Co-Director of Borden Street Clinic, a psychotherapy and teaching centre. Jan is a Coordinator with The International Focusing Institute and Director of Focusing on Borden, a psychotherapy and training centre. Jan presents internationally on trauma and addiction.
Dr Stanley Block
Integrating Mind and Body for Lasting Recovery
Stanley H. Block, M.D., is Adjunct Professor of Law and Psychiatry at Seattle University of Law, Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Utah School of Medicine, and a board-certified psychiatrist and psychoanalyst. He has worked in private practice and has had academic and clinical appointments at a number of other medical schools, including his alma mater, UCLA. He lectures and consults with treatment centers nationwide and is the author of the academic book Bridging the I-System: Unifying Spirituality and Behavior. Stan and his wife, Carolyn Bryant Block, live in Copalis Beach, Washington. They have been an inseparable duo in the discovery and creation of the Identity System theory and technique.
Dr Evelyn Higgins
Epigenetics & The Biology of Addiction
Dr. Evelyn Higgins, a distinguished expert in epidemiology, specializing in substance use disorders and mental health, holds degrees from the State University of New York and postgraduate studies at Harvard Medical School. She is a certified addictionologist and chiropractor, known for her patent-pending panels in Wired For Addiction® and the Neurotransmitter Reset Program®. With a career spanning three decades, Dr. Higgins advised the U.S. Surgeon General and the South African government for the 2004 Olympics bid. She hosts The Dr. Evelyn Higgins Show, a nationally syndicated radio program, and has been a keynote speaker at prominent international conferences. Additionally, she is an accomplished author and passionate advocate for holistic well-being.
Steve Hoskinson
Organic Intelligence: A New Paradigm for Healing
Steven Hoskinson is an author and teacher in Post-Trauma Growth. He founded Organic Intelligence® (OI™) and has trained thousands of therapists, coaches and helping professionals worldwide. Steve is Adjunct Faculty for JFK School of Psychology at National University, International Transformational Resilience Coalition, Advisory Board Member for The Trauma Foundation, former Senior International Instructor for the SE® Trauma Institute, and has presented at professional conferences worldwide. Dedicated to empowering healers and teachers, he has created a host of programs for Post-Trauma Growth, including the OI Coach Certification program, the End of Trauma™ Course for personal resilience, and The End of Trauma Podcast.
Dr Joshua Sylvae
Somatic Experiencing & Addiction
Joshua Sylvae has been involved in Somatic Experiencing® since 2004. His study of nervous system regulation has incorporated inquiry into many disparate fields including ecology, philosophy, and neurobiology. He holds a master’s degree in clinical psychology (with an emphasis in somatic psychology) and is a marriage and family therapist. Joshua’s clinical practice is grounded in SE™, and he also integrates psychodynamic perspectives, mindfulness approaches, a systemic orientation, and a good deal of humor in his work. Joshua’s background includes participation in social change efforts, movements for social equality and ecological sustainability, and he maintains a passion for encouraging and assisting communities working toward the creation of a just and healthful society. He envisions Somatic Experiencing becoming an integral part of healing and transforming our world, and feels greatly inspired when helping professionals integrate these simple principles for treating and transforming trauma and distress. Joshua resides in Portland, Oregon, where he maintains a private therapy and consulting practice and shares life with his partner and young daughter. Together, they enjoy music, unstructured play, and spending time outdoors.
Dr Pat Ogden
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy: Healing the Nervous System to Overcome Addiction
Pat Ogden, PhD, is a pioneering figure in somatic psychology, renowned for creating Sensorimotor Psychotherapy and founding the Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute. With over 45 years of experience, she blends various somatic and psychotherapeutic approaches. As co-founder of the Hakomi Institute and former Naropa University faculty (1985-2005), Dr. Ogden excels as a clinician, consultant, and esteemed international lecturer. She authored two groundbreaking books on somatic psychology: “Trauma and the Body: A Sensorimotor Approach to Psychotherapy” and “Sensorimotor Psychotherapy: Interventions for Trauma and Attachment.” Her latest book, “The Pocket Guide to Sensorimotor Psychotherapy,” released in 2021, reflects her dedication to advancing this field further. Dr. Ogden continues exploring topics like complex trauma, Embedded Relational Mindfulness, and the relational nature of shame.
Day 5 - Social
Dr Iain McGilchrist
A Divided Brain and an Addicted World: The Missing Link?
Dr Iain McGilchrist is a Psychiatrist and Writer, who lives on the Isle of Skye, off the coast of North West Scotland. He is committed to the idea that the mind and brain can be understood only by seeing them in the broadest possible context, that of the whole of our physical and spiritual existence, and of the wider human culture in which they arise – the culture which helps to mould, and in turn is moulded by, our minds and brains. He was formerly a Consultant Psychiatrist of the Bethlem Royal and Maudsley NHS Trust in London, where he was Clinical Director of their southern sector Acute Mental Health Services.
Dr McGilchrist has published original research and contributed chapters to books on a wide range of subjects, as well as original articles in papers and journals, including the British Journal of Psychiatry, American Journal of Psychiatry, The Wall Street Journal, The Sunday Telegraph and The Sunday Times. He has taken part in many radio and TV programmes, documentaries, and numerous podcasts, and interviews on YouTube, among them dialogues with Jordan Peterson, David Fuller of Rebel Wisdom, and philosopher Tim Freke. His books include Against Criticism, The Master and his Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World, The Divided Brain and the Search for Meaning, and Ways of Attending. He published his latest book: The Matter With Things, a book of epistemology and metaphysics.
You can keep up to date with his work at https://channelmcgilchrist.com.
Dr Stephanie Brown
Speed Addiction: Our Invisible Mental Health Threat
Stephanie Brown, PhD, is a clinician, teacher, author, researcher and consultant in the field of addiction. She founded the Alcohol Clinic at Stanford University Medical Center in 1977 and served as its director for eight years, developing the dynamic model of alcoholism recovery and its application to the long-term treatment of all members of an alcoholic family. Dr. Brown served on the California State Alcoholism Advisory Board and was founding member of National Association for Children of Alcoholics, now National Association for Children of Addiction (NACoA).
She received the Bronze Key Award (1983) and the Humanitarian Award (1984) from the National Council on Alcoholism and the Community Service Award from the California Society for the Treatment of Alcoholism and other Drug Dependencies in 1986. In 1991 she received an Academic Specialist Award from the U.S.I.A. to teach in Poland. More recently, she received the Norman Zinberg Memorial Award from Harvard University (2000), the Clark Vincent Award from the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (2001), the Janet Geringer Woititz award from Health Communications, Inc. (2005) and the Miracles Breakfast Constellation Behavioral Health Hope Tribute Award (2013).
You can learn more about her work at https://www.stephaniebrownphd.com/about.
Dr Carl Hart
Drugs, Addiction, and Social Justice: The Uncomfortable Truth
Dr. Carl L. Hart, a distinguished neuroscientist and psychologist, conducts groundbreaking research on psychoactive drugs’ effects in humans. He aims to understand drug use behaviors to develop more effective treatments for substance dependency. As chair of Columbia University’s psychology department and a Dirk Ziff professor, Dr. Hart holds a significant position as one of the first tenured African-American professors in an Ivy League institution. With a PhD in neuroscience from the University of Wyoming, he also serves as a research scientist at the New York State Psychiatric Institution, exploring drug-related effects. Dr. Hart’s expertise extends to advocacy, testifying before Congress and influencing drug policy worldwide. His impactful contributions to psychopharmacology and substance abuse earned him a Div. 28 fellowship.
Dr Rachel Wurzman
Loneliness & Addiction
Rachel Wurzman, Ph.D., is a neuroscientist and neuroethicist by training. In addition to her work with the SeekHealing project, Dr. Wurzman has given her advice and insights into neurocognition while serving as a neuroscience and neuroethics advisor to the Pentagon, an intern in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy under the Obama administration, and through her involvement with the International Neuroethics Society. Wurzman completed her doctoral and postdoctoral training at Georgetown University and the University of Pennsylvania, respectively.
Dr Sherif Darwish
A Revolutionary Recovery Story from Egypt
Dr. Sherif Darwish Abdalla is a consultant psychiatrist and addiction therapist from Egypt. His main area of focus in both work and research is addiction rehabilitation. He is a co-founder of the Recovery Centers for Addiction and Recovery, a prominent treatment and rehabilitation chain in Egypt. Dr. Darwish has published in many international journals, including the European Journal of Psychiatry. He will discuss the motivational challenges that therapists commonly face with their patients, and strategies for early identification and effective management.
Dr Bonnie Badenoch, PhD
Liam O’Mahony
Relational Neuroscience, Parts Work, & Recovery
Dr Bonnie Badenoch, PhD, is the co-founder of the Nurturing the Heart with the Brain in Mind, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering awareness of the brain, mind, and relationships in the service of creating a more awake and compassionate world. She is the author of Being a Brain-Wise Therapist: A Practical Guide to Interpersonal Neurobiology (W. W. Norton, 2008), and is an active member of the Global Association for Interpersonal Neurobiology Studies (GAINS). You can learn more about her work at www.nurturingtheheart.com.
Liam O’Mahony is an accredited Psychotherapist and Addiction Counsellor with over nine years of experience working with adults and adolescents. He is associated with the Centre for Self-Leadership Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS), a member of the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP) and Addiction Counsellors of Ireland (ACI). He is a graduate of University College Cork and the Cork Institute of Technology with particular expertise in areas such as Trauma and Addiction. His main interest is the related fields of Attachment, Neuroscience and Trauma and he is particularly passionate about how research from these areas can be integrated into the work of psychotherapists and addiction counsellors.
Day 6 - Spiritual
Dr Fleet Maull
Mindfulness, Radical Responsibility & Recovery
Fleet Maull, PhD, CMT-P, is the founder and CEO of Heart Mind Institute, Windhorse Seminars & Consulting and also a senior partner and principal in New Line Consulting. He is an IMTA certified professional mindfulness teacher and an Acharya (senior meditation teacher) in the Tibetan tradition and Roshi (Zen master) in the international Zen Peacemaker Community.
Fleet has written many articles and has given numerous interviews on a variety of mindfulness and leadership related topics in Inc Magazine, Lion’s Roar, Tricycle, Tikkun, and Turning Wheel. He is a frequent contributor to The Huffington Post and Forbes Magazine and made guest appearances on NPR’s Fresh Air program and the national syndicated E-Town.
He is the author of Radical Responsibility: How to Move Beyond Blame, Fearlessly Live Your Highest Purpose and Become an Unstoppable Force for Good and Dharma In Hell, the Prison Writings of Fleet Maull. Fleet leads prison programs, meditation retreats, chaplaincy and hospice trainings, leadership trainings, bearing witness retreats and transformational seminars throughout the world.
David Schoen, LCSW, MSSW
Jung, Archetypes & AA: A Psychodynamic View of Addiction
David Schoen, LCSW, MSSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Jungian Analyst practicing in Covington, Louisiana, near New Orleans. He has a background as an alcoholism chemical dependency counselor. He is senior analyst in the Inter Regional Society of Jungian Analysts, cofounder and coordinator of the New Orleans Jungian Training Seminar and advisor to the C. C. Jung Society of Baton Rouge. David lectures and teaches nationally, has published internationally, and is a Louisiana poet. His books include Divine Tempest: The Hurricane as a Psychic Phenomenon (1998), and The War of the Gods in Addiction: C. G. Jung, Alcoholics Anonymous and Archetypal Evil (2009), and Always a Fighting Tiger: Memoirs of one Ordinary LSU Football Fan(2014).
Eric Zimmer
Integrating Behavioural Science & Spirituality to Achieve Lasting Recovery
Eric Zimmer is a Certified Interfaith Spiritual Director, behavior coach, writer, and podcast host, driven by a profound curiosity about the human mind and the art of purposeful living. Despite facing homelessness and heroin addiction at 24, he overcame these challenges, transforming his life into one of purpose and fulfillment.
As a behavior coach for two decades, Eric has empowered countless individuals worldwide to make meaningful changes and develop habits aligned with their aspirations. Hosting the acclaimed podcast, The One You Feed, inspired by a timeless parable, Eric engages experts from diverse fields, including science, spirituality, and thought leadership, to share practical wisdom for a life of reduced suffering and heightened fulfillment.
His journey and transformative work have garnered media recognition, appearing on platforms such as TedX, Mind Body Green, Elephant Journal, the BBC, and Brain Pickings.
Dr Eric Garland
Mindfulness Oriented Recovery Enhancement: A Revolutionary Approach
Dr. Eric Garland, PhD, LCSW is Distinguished Endowed Chair in Research, Distinguished Professor, and Associate Dean for Research in the University of Utah College of Social Work and Director of the Center on Mindfulness and Integrative Health Intervention Development (C-MIIND). Dr. Garland is the developer of an innovative mindfulness-based therapy founded on insights derived from neuroscience, called Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement (MORE). He has published more than 230 scientific articles and received more than $80 million in research grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Department of Defense (DOD) develop and test novel mindfulness-based treatments for addiction, stress, and chronic pain. In 2019 was appointed by NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins to the NIH HEAL Multi-Disciplinary Working Group comprised of national experts on pain and addiction research to help guide the nation’s $2 billion HEAL initiative to use science to halt the opioid crisis. In addition to being a clinical researcher, Dr. Garland is a licensed psychotherapist and Distinguished Fellow of the National Academies of Practice, with more than 20 years of clinical experience treating addiction. In a recent bibliometric analysis of mindfulness research published over the past 55 years, Dr. Garland was found to be the most prolific author of mindfulness research in the world.
Guy du Plessis
An Integral Guide to Recovery
Guy du Plessis, a distinguished South African addictions specialist, academic, and author, holds psychology and philosophy degrees from the University of Cape Town, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, and the University of South Africa. With 25+ years of mental health experience, he’s been a counselor, director, and key figure in developing inpatient addiction treatment programs. Registered as a psychological counselor, he’s also trained in psychotherapy at Loyola University Chicago and certified as a philosophical practitioner. His impactful research on addiction treatment has influenced university curriculums and appeared in academic books. Guy co-developed resiliency-based interventions, contributing to evidence-based programs listed by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration. An accomplished author, he’s written influential books and continues to advance knowledge in his field.
Dr Bernardo Kastrup
Rupert Spira
Materialism & Nonduality: The Role of Worldview in Addiction & Recovery
Bernardo Kastrup is the executive director of Essentia Foundation. His work has been leading the modern renaissance of metaphysical idealism, the notion that reality is essentially mental. He has a Ph.D. in philosophy (ontology, philosophy of mind) and another Ph.D. in computer engineering (reconfigurable computing, artificial intelligence). As a scientist, Bernardo has worked for the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) and the Philips Research Laboratories (where the ‘Casimir Effect’ of Quantum Field Theory was discovered). Formulated in detail in many academic papers and books, his ideas have been featured on Scientific American, the Institute of Art and Ideas, the Blog of the American Philosophical Association and Big Think, among others. Bernardo’s most recent book is Science Ideated: The fall of matter and the contours of the next mainstream scientific worldview. For more information, freely downloadable papers, videos, etc., please visit www.bernardokastrup.com.
From an early age, Rupert Spira was deeply interested in the nature of reality, beginning to meditate at the age of seventeen and studying the teachings of the classical Advaita Vedanta tradition over the next twenty years. In 1997 he met his teacher, Francis Lucille, who introduced him to the Direct Path teachings of Atmananda Krishna Menon and to Jean Klein and the Tantric tradition of Kashmir Shaivism. More importantly, Francis directly indicated to him the true nature of experience. Rupert lives in the UK and holds regular meetings and retreats in Europe and the US.
You can learn more about his work at www.rupertspira.com.
Register for Your Free Pass.
As can be seen from the lineup above, this is a rare opportunity to learn directly from the world’s leading pioneers from a wide range of therapeutic disciplines.
By registering for a free ticket, you can access all 37 sessions (100% free), enabling you to be at the forefront of evidence-based addiction treatment.
Why Should I Sign Up For
The Holistic Recovery Summit?
Be at the Cutting Edge - Achieve Mastery in Your Therapeutic Work
Never before have the leading minds from such a wide range of disciplines been brought together for one event. This will give you a “big picture” overview of the most essential ideas and frameworks you’ll need for treating addiction, so you can offer the best possible service to your clients and be at the forefront of the field.
World-Class Quality Content
This is not your ordinary online event. We’ve brought together the leading pioneers— people like Janina Fisher, Bruce Alexander, Steven Hayes, Pat Ogden, Stephen Porges, and Anna Lembke to provide a once-in-a-lifetime educational experience.
You Don’t Even Need To Leave Home — Attend From Your Computer, Phone or Tablet
There’s no flight or hotel room to book… saving you money, unpaid work leave, and time away from your family.
Who is this For?
This summit is for anyone interested in understanding the root causes driving the addiction epidemic in modern society and the most effective, evidence-based solutions.
You might be:
- A mental health professional; e.g., a psychologist, psychotherapist, counsellor or coach, attending to ensure your knowledge base is at the forefront of evidence-based care, so that you can offer the best possible service for your clients.
- A student of psychology seeking to broaden your learning in different areas of the subject.
- A member of the general public who wants to understand what works (and what doesn’t) when it comes to understanding and treating addiction.
- Someone who struggles with addiction or maybe you have a family member you’d like to help.
Register for Your Free Pass.
As can be seen from the lineup above, this is a rare opportunity to learn directly from the world’s leading pioneers from a wide range of therapeutic disciplines.
By registering for a free ticket, you can access all 37 sessions (100% free), enabling you to be at the forefront of evidence-based addiction treatment.
What Past Speakers are Saying About The Weekend University:
"I have been delighted to be invited to give talks on Compassion Focused Therapy and Evolutionary Psychology at The Weekend University in 2018. These events are very well organised, and an excellent initiative for furthering the public's understanding of psychology."
Professor Paul Gilbert OBE — Founder of Compassion Focused Therapy
"The Weekend University is always very well-organised and Niall (McKeever) is a great host. He really puts his heart into The Weekend University and its shows in the quality of the speakers he brings in."
Professor Mick Cooper — Co-Developer of Pluralistic Therapy
"The Weekend University attracts hundreds of interested learners to their fascinating monthly psychology sessions in London. I have enjoyed teaching for them several times, as have many of my colleagues."
Professor Emmy van Deurzen — Founder of the New School of Psychotherapy and Counselling.
"I was impressed by Niall McKeever’s professionalism and courtesy – and I enjoyed very much presenting, with enough time to go into some depth and still leave time for questions. It was an excellent experience."
Dr Iain McGilchrist — Psychiatrist and Author
Meet Your Host
The Weekend University.
The Weekend University’s mission is to make the best education in psychology more accessible, so that people can use the knowledge to improve their quality of life.
To do this, we organise live conferences and interviews with world leading psychologists, professors, and authors.
Since 2017, we’ve hosted over 60 conferences, as well as over 230 talks and interviews with world-leading experts, which we’ve released via our YouTube and Podcast.
The Holistic Recovery Summit is our attempt to bring together 40 of the world’s leading experts in evidence-based addiction treatment, and make them accessible to you in one single live event.
This means you’re getting the highest quality material from the best and brightest in the field – all in one place.
Register for Your Free Pass.
As can be seen from the lineup above, this is a rare opportunity to learn directly from the world’s leading pioneers from a wide range of therapeutic disciplines.
By registering for a free ticket, you can access all 37 sessions (100% free), enabling you to be at the forefront of evidence-based addiction treatment.