Certificate in Working with Addiction 24-hrs online: Jan-Feb 26

The Certificate in Working with Addiction is a 24-hour online course providing an overview of working with addiction and the psycho-social-neurobiological factors to be considered.

Online Addiction Counselling Training:

Approaches to working with Individuals and groups who experience addiction are ever evolving, and generally depend on the beliefs and evidence identified within a given culture or larger society. In the Western world, services that provide support differ, and are often outcome led to meet financially commissioned expectations whereby service user needs can often be missed. Similarly, medical services and community projects tend to view treatment in a rigid manner leading to the uniqueness of the individual often being discounted to a ‘one size fits all’ model. It can be said that we are moving away from a model of genetic determinism to begin to understand and explore more the relationship between addiction and the experience of stress and trauma in early development. Issues around Intersectionality, socially constructed identities, and Systemic Violence are still yet to be fully understood in relation to the development of addictive behaviours.

Course content:

This 24-hour Certificate in Working with Addiction aims to provide an overview of addictions from these perspectives, with an emphasis on how these ideas are relevant to clinical practice, be that from a reflective, intellectual, or directive stance as practitioners. Attendees will be offered some take-away ideas and skills that can be readily transferred to their clinical work, as well as an understanding of what may be needed to build and maintain a positive relationship with those who come to us for help.

Content from the course will be delivered using a range of didactic, experiential and discussion-based teaching styles to support attendees integration of the material, including opportunities to discuss case material that aim at bringing these ideas to life.

The theoretical and philosophical underpinnings of the course will combine ideas from a broad base of contemporary and traditional thinking around the topic of addictions.

Participant Numbers: There will be a maximum of 20 participants on this course.

Pre-Course requirements: Participants should be qualified counsellors or psychotherapists or in training and ideally seeing clients in placement.

There is no pre-course work required.

Course Delivery: Live, interactive online sessions delivered via Zoom. (Sessions will not be recorded).

Assessment: The certificate is gained through attendance. To earn your certificate, you will need to actively engage in breakout sessions and keep your camera on during the course.

Dates: Fortnightly Friday evenings 6-9pm and Saturday mornings 10am-1pm in January and February 2025.

• Friday 16th and Saturday 17th January 2026
• Friday 30th and Saturday 31st January 2026
• Friday 13th and Saturday 14th February 2026
• Friday 27th and Saturday 28th February 2026

Course Cost: £495. A non-refundable deposit of £35 is to be made on early bookings with the balance of £465 payable by 10th November 2025. Payment plans are available.

Refund Policy: The deposit and Eventbrite fees are non-refundable. 50% of the balance will be refunded for cancellations with more than 7 days’ notice.

Course Tutor: Mike Meleady (PTSTA)

Mike Meleady is a Transactional Analyst (PTSTA) who is in private practice as a Psychotherapist & Supervisor. Mike has a background in education. He has worked within the LGBTQI+ community focusing on mental health and wellbeing. As Deputy Manager of the Antidote drug & alcohol service, he gained expert experience working with those who engaged in Chemsex, ran a NHS Chemsex clinic and worked alongside the criminal justice system, supporting those who offended in a substance use context. He also worked alongside organisations such as Turning Point & CGL to train and support staff with delivering group interventions for substance use.

Mike feels that the privilege he holds as a white man, allows him to provide a voice to issues around discrimination, and to have power ‘with’ people, and be a good ally for all. He is also reflective of the oppression he and other’s experience because of living a life of identifying as queer, or holding difference. He works within an intersectional framework whereby he keeps difference, power, and oppression at the forefront of his working practice. Mike is a trainer, delivering content around drug & alcohol use, LGBTQ+ Awareness, Chemsex, LGBTQ+Mental Health, Allyship & Service Inclusion. He is also a Primary Tutor at TA East.