tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4845992337963104415.post2818656204636989257..comments2023-07-30T13:37:17.999+01:00Comments on the prof speaks out: Addictions Counselling DegreeDavid Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08173564089937759693noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4845992337963104415.post-34402035190936877812008-09-02T12:37:00.000+01:002008-09-02T12:37:00.000+01:00David,I have no doubt you’ll be sorely missed, nor...David,<BR/><BR/>I have no doubt you’ll be sorely missed, nor have I any doubt that the standard set by Action on Addiction, together with the course content is of the highest standard.<BR/><BR/>Formally studying a subject which one feels one knows well is an eye opening experience as I discovered some few years ago when I attended training at St. Georges. Apart from the demands of absorbing useful knowledge and information, together with the necessary production of essays for this academically challenged, (Oh alright, ‘thicko’) individual. I picked up a number of resentments:<BR/><BR/>(A) I was the oldest on the course. (B) It seemed that I was the only one from a non medical background. (C) I appeared to be the only self funding student, whilst simultaneously losing income as the result of reducing the number of clients I was handling, in order to ensure I submitted my work on time.<BR/><BR/>However all of that paled into insignificance when another student, a young, charming lady doctor, who appeared to have recently graduated from medical school, on learning the length of my unbroken, non medication assisted, cold turkey, recovery from alcohol and other exotic mind altering substances, assured me that I ‘would be alright now’. Given that I felt great, I assured her I was ok, at which point she clarified that what she had meant was that, I could now return to social/recreational use.<BR/><BR/>Having thanked her for her advice, I enquired if she would be available to ‘pick up the pieces’, should her opinion prove to be less than accurate. Sadly she declined, so I never did get the chance to conduct yet another valuable piece of ‘field research’, which is just as well. It may also have been purely coincidental that in the first session of the following lecture, conducted by Colin Drummond, who made it abundantly clear that addiction is an irreversible condition; thus the only question left, is whether or not I had developed addiction. Let me say that if I haven’t, I do have some very serious undiagnosed problems.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4845992337963104415.post-62859825818332317502008-09-02T08:40:00.000+01:002008-09-02T08:40:00.000+01:00Thanks Tim. The addiction recovery plane is being ...Thanks Tim. <BR/>The addiction recovery plane is being prepared for the runway with some talented engineers working behind the scenes. Let's hope that we can get the funding to facilitate takeoff - there is such an exciting journey ahead. <BR/>I like your personal ambition. I'll share that one!!David Clarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08173564089937759693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4845992337963104415.post-88569501857772600582008-09-02T08:25:00.000+01:002008-09-02T08:25:00.000+01:00It was a real privilege to work with you David. Yo...It was a real privilege to work with you David. You really appreciated what we were and are trying to do, which is to widen access to Higher Education in our field, to train talented and committed people as thinkers, so they can be part of the process of moving addiction recovery into the 21st century. What I am aiming at personally is to help build another bridge: between rigorous training in critical analysis, and the human business of being an empathic, responsible counsellor with both vision and humility.<BR/><BR/>Your belief in the Degree courses has helped sustain that ambition. I am looking forward to our future collaborations. with best wishes<BR/>TimAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13870947710496503940noreply@blogger.com