RECOVERY REIMAGINED!
A Three Day Live Conference in London
Hosted by Friendly Circle Berlin!
MAY 3-5, 2024
UNLOCK YOUR PATH TO LASTING FREEDOM
Recovery Reimagined: Where Healing and Transformation Converge
For members of 12-Step programs, those on other recovery paths, and professionals in the field, Recovery Reimagined bridges the latest research with the wisdom of lived experiences. This transformative event harmonizes spirituality, psychology, and neuroscience, offering a powerful journey toward emotional sobriety and trauma-informed healing.
Shaped by the insights of the recovery community, mental health experts, and spiritual teachers, our conference provides life-changing tools to renew your commitment to an addiction-free life. Daily workshops on emotional sobriety and the neuroscience of addiction. Discover holistic modalities like mindfulness, IFS therapy, EMDR, art therapy, yoga, and somatic practices.
Join us in this safe, peer-led space where those walking the recovery path can share insights, engage in open dialogue, and find mutual support. Embark on a journey of self-discovery and embrace the possibilities for profound personal growth.
Born from our daily online meetings and workshops since 2020, Recovery Reimagined reflects our commitment to accessible, compassionate healing. Unlock new possibilities and embrace lasting freedom from addiction.
Meet Presenters
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Ingrid Clayton, PhD
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Allen Berger, PhD
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Dr Judy Grisel
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Herb Kaighan
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Dr Samantha Duggan
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Claire van den Bosch
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Cece Sykes
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Frank Liddy
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Olivia Streater
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Paul Bayes Kitcher
Workshop Descriptions
Three dayworkshops:
Emotional Sobriety and Trauma Informed Recovery: “Honoring our authentic self”
With Ingrid Clayton, PhD
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In the majority of families, people have experienced some level of addiction, untreated mental illness, neglect, sexual abuse, physical abuse or rage, while on a societal level people are experiencing poverty, racism, and a lack of access to proper healthcare.
These pervasive cuts to one's psyche can be as detrimental as wartime experiences, natural disasters, or car crashes. Perhaps more so because they are less obvious to the naked eye, festering in the unseen abyss of "personal problems" one is meant to overcome through traditional methods of talk therapy, not knowing these solutions don't work with the areas of the reptilian body and brain where trauma is stored.
Not to mention, these traumatic events and relationships tend to be ongoing, so it's like fighting a war and attempting to overcome trauma from it at the same time. For so many of us, "healing" has meant living on a hamster wheel: trying harder, gaining insight, endeavoring to prove our worth, and going nowhere.
With a Masters in transpersonal psychology and a PhD in clinical psychology, Ingrid has a holistic approach to psychotherapy, incorporating trauma-informed modalities like Somatic Experiencing, EMDR and other experiential ways of working with the nervous system.
With her long-term recovery from addiction and complex trauma, Ingrid speaks to these topics in her memoir, Believing Me: Healing from Narcissistic Abuse and Complex Trauma and her talk will similarly provide personal and clinical insight about the overlap of trauma and addiction.
Join the journey with Ingrid as she discusses addiction as an aspect of the Flight Trauma Response, ways in which the Fawning Trauma Response is overlooked in recovery, and much more related to emotional sobriety and trauma healing.
In her memoir Believing Me: Healing from Narcissistic Abuse and Complex Trauma, Ingrid shares her long journey of recovery from addiction and complex trauma. In her three day workshop series in London, she will offer both personal insights and clinical perspective on the interconnection between trauma and addiction.
Ingrid will explore how addiction can manifest as part of the flight response to trauma. She will also discuss how the fawning trauma response often goes overlooked in recovery contexts. Throughout her talk, Ingrid will share wisdom garnered from her own healing process regarding emotional sobriety and trauma recovery.
Join Ingrid as she elucidates the relationship between trauma and addiction, drawing from her lived experience and clinical knowledge. Gain insight into the flight and fawn responses and their implications for recovery. Learn about pathways to emotional sobriety and whole-person healing after trauma.
The Neuroscience and Experience of Addiction
With Dr Judith Grisel
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Overview of the core of the book Never Enough including Judith story and:
• A summary of how and why the brain adapts to regular drug use by creating an “opponent process”
• Explain how the hallmarks of addiction - tolerance, dependence and craving – are tied opponent processes
• Discuss the critical role of dopamine signaling in all substance use disorders
• Explain how genetic, environmental and developmental factors lead to substance use disorders
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• List effects brought about by both of these drugs as well as the profound neural adaptations that counteract these effects and lead to disordered use
• Explain the relationship between alcohol and opiate use disorders, as well as significant differences (i.e., alcohol is much more toxic)
• Provide an overview of historical and current trends in use, and what recent changes signify in terms of the social-cultural context
• Explain how neural circuits related to stress and suffering give rise to alcohol and opiate addiction
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• Describe how abused drugs co-opt brain circuits that are critical for normal development
• Explain why robust brain plasticity in adolescents enhances their risk for addiction
• Explain how and why cannabis exposure during adolescence is so detrimental to mental health
• Consider what the pandemic of ‘using’ has to teach us about living full and flourishing lives
Emotional Sobriety: “Living in the 4th Dimension”
With Allen Berger, Ph.D. (Clinical Psychologist) and Herb Kaighan (12-Step Guide)
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Bill Wilson coined the term "emotional sobriety" in the 1950s, envisioning it as the next frontier in recovery. Unfortunately, this concept did not gain traction until now. Emotional sobriety has emerged as a significant development in the recovery process, addressing the root causes of emotional suffering and offering a path to emotional freedom by fostering an appropriate and honest relationship with reality. It helps individuals transcend an overdependence on external circumstances and cultivate the capacity for self-support without selfishness. This workshop presents a unique opportunity to experience the work of two pioneers in this new movement, Dr. Berger and Mr. Kaighan.
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• Discussion of Bill Wilson's Grapevine article on emotional sobriety
• Exploration of key concepts: Steps 10, 11, and 12
• Unpacking Step 10 as a tool for sustaining awakening and aligning with reality
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• Understanding the impact of emotional dependency on life and its role in creating emotional suffering and pain
• Identifying underlying unhealthy dependencies and their triggers
• Preparing to cope with challenging experiences through daily consciousness expansion practices
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• Examining the evolution of consciousness from "I am OK if ____" to "I am OK even if ____"
• Exploring the nature of mature love and personal authenticity
• Creating a daily practice of emotional sobriety
Single session workshops:
Friday, May 3th; 1:30pm - 5:00pm, UK Time
Internal Family Systems (IFS) for Addiction
A depathologising, nonjudgemental, compassionate approach for treating addiction
With Cece Sykes & Claire van den Bosch, Room 2
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So often, addiction is viewed as a disease or an uncontrollable habit that signals a lack of willpower. The Internal Family Systems (IFS) model introduces a paradigm shift. Rather than viewing addiction as a pathology, IFS proposes that it reflects the behaviour of polarised protective parts of us struggling to manage underlying emotional pain.
In this workshop, Cece will:
* present the IFS model of addictive struggles;
* set out the pathway for both befriending the protective parts of ourselves who engage in addictive processes and for healing the vulnerable, wounded parts of us that our addictions are trying to protect;
* field our technical questions;
* introduce us to the IFS "triangle" for mapping the addictive system by leading us in a guided deep reflection exercise, and unpack our reflection experiences with us;
* demo or "real play" a therapy session with a client followed by fielding our questions;
* introduce us to a "conference table" tool we can all start using immediately to assist in building better relationships with all parts of ourselves.
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We are delighted to introduce Cece Sykes, IFS lead trainer and author of “Internal Family Systems Therapy for Addictions.” Cece will join us over Zoom, hosted by London-based IFS therapist Claire van den Bosch.
Friday, May 3th; 3:30pm - 5:00pm, UK Time
Mindfulness-Based Emotional Sobriety
With Frank Liddy, Room 1
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Introduction to Mindfulness Principles
* Cultivating present-moment awareness
* Learning mindful breathing and meditation techniques
Managing Recovery with Mindfulness
* Understanding how mindfulness interrupts automatic reactions to triggers
* Promoting thoughtful responses instead of impulsive ones
Fostering Self-Compassion
* Practicing non-judgmental awareness of thoughts and emotions
* Developing self-compassion to overcome obstacles
Experiential Exercises
* Incorporating group discussions and activities
* Guidance on integrating mindfulness into daily life
Takeaways
* Enhanced awareness of thoughts and emotions
* Skills to manage triggers and cravings
* Foundation to continue developing mindfulness practices for long-term recovery
The workshop provides an introduction to using mindfulness techniques for addiction recovery. Drawing on decades of personal practice, Frank gives participants practical tools to manage challenges and set the stage for further practice.
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Frank is a mindfulness teacher and Zen Buddhist practitioner with over 30 years of experience in 12 Step Recovery. He is the co-founder of the Belfast Northern Ireland Zen Center. In Frank's two-hour mindfulness-based recovery workshop, participants can expect to acquire foundational tools for navigating the journey of recovery with a mindful approach.
Saturday, May 4th; 1:30pm - 3:00pm, UK Time
Fallen Angels Dance Theater, Room 2
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Film, Talk and Movement Workshop
Artistic Director Paul Bayes Kitcher who has lived experience has been working with people in recovery since 2009
Join us for a unique experience that will take you on a journey of self-discovery and liberation. Through the power of breath work and movement meditation, we will unlock the hidden potential of the body, allowing you to tap into your inner strength and creativity.
We will explore geometric structures that will ignite your imagination and release stagnant energy that will allow us to embrace a new sense of freedom as you connect with your body in new ways.
Don't miss this opportunity to break free from the confines of the mind and unlock the true power within you. Join us for our movement workshop and embark on a journey of physical and emotional liberation!
Saturday, May 4th; 4:00pm - 5:00pm, UK Time
Dance - the original stim: unlocking our rhythms to support neurodivergent recovery
with Olivia Streater, Room 2
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Film, Talk and Movement Workshop
Welcome to the ”Dance - the Original Stim" workshop! How might dance/movement be a supportive adjunct in recovery, from managing daily living all the way to our individual/collective liberation?!
Join Olivia for this immersive and inclusive session, in which we will delve into the profound connection between dance and neurodivergent individuals' well-being.
Drawing from the rich history of dance as a primal form of expression and stimulation, we will explore how movement can serve as a powerful tool to enhance comfort in our bodies, our coping and our positive identity.
We will play with rhythmic exercises, guided movements and creative expression to discover the innate therapeutic potential of dance in navigating the unique challenges and celebrating the strengths of the neurodivergent community.
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Olivia Streater (she/her) is a dancer/choreographer, dance movement/EMDR therapist and teacher. She is multiply neurodivergent (including AuDHD) and her artistic work currently explores identity, shame and stigma through the lens of lived body experience and movement expression. She is particularly interested in the potential of dance to validate being, language forms and to move through, above and beyond internalised oppression (including weaponised use of diagnostic labels). In 2023 she won a choreographic award to make LATE! (about ADHD).
Saturday, May 4th; 3:30pm - 5:00pm, UK Time
TAPPING into healing and a Higher Power for all parts of us
With Claire van den Bosch, Room 1
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Can trauma therapy support my spiritual growth? Could EMDR help me let go of resentments and heal past wounds? Can EMDR help integrate the different parts of myself I'm discovering? If EMDR didn't seem to work for me before, can Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy help me understand why and unlock its benefits? Are there EMDR self-care tools I can use?
In this 90-minute workshop, Claire will explore these questions and unpack an Internal Family Systems-informed approach to EMDR therapy, which she practices, receives, and teaches.
In addiction recovery herself for twenty years, and working regularly with clients suffering with addictive struggles, Claire will share:
* Her personal experience with addiction recovery and implementing EMDR
* Strength and hope as both a member and therapist in recovery communities
* An interactive 90-minute workshop for everyone in recovery - those recovering and those professionally supporting them (and those in both camps!)
* Experiential exercises to take home and integrate
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Claire started receiving treatment for complex trauma in 1997 and has been in addiction recovery since 2004. In 2009 she commenced her training as a transpersonal psychotherapist. She specialises in treating complex trauma, addiction, and addictive and dissociative processes.
Claire is an EMDR Practitioner and has completed the IFS Institute’s Level 1, 2 & 3 trainings.
As well seeing clients four days a week Claire teaches on a diploma programme for trainee therapists and trains qualified EMDR therapists to integrate IFS into their EMDR practice. She is a cofounder of IFS Peers, an international online peer-led trauma and addiction recovery community. She is also cofounder of EMDR for All Our Parts, which offers training to therapists and also a live guided meditation programme for anyone in trauma and/or addiction recovery.
In her leisure time, Claire loves being outdoors open water swimming or riding her beloved motorbike, Duffer. Indoors Claire loves to be cuddling her cat and her partner, and watching snooker.
Link to Claire’s website: https://atimetoheal.london