John McKeown

Managing Director

John McKeown is a highly qualified Clinical Psychotherapist and Addiction Counsellor, who trained at the Guy’s, St Thomas’s and King’s School of Medicine in London. With over 38 years’ experience in the addiction and mental health recovery field, he has helped to develop many inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation clinics across the UK.

John ran a successful private practice in Harley Street, London, providing services to several premier league football clubs, working clinically and delivering education programmes. He was instrumental in setting up the first drug and alcohol rehabilitation project in the British prison system.

In 2007, John co-wrote a self-help autobiographical book with Paul Gascoigne (Being Gazza, my journey to hell and back). John, alongside actress Finty Williams, presents “The Wagon”, a podcast about mental health and addiction. Each episode has a special guest and is a unique story about what struggling with mental health can feel like, what being an addict means, what happens in treatment, and what recovery feels like.

More Articles

  • Mental health and substance use: responding to changing needs

    by

    John McKeown

    on

    Mental health difficulties and substance use often influence one another, making sustained recovery more complex. When progress stalls despite ongoing treatment, reassessing individual needs and…
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  • Why understanding the whole person matters in treatment

    by

    John McKeown

    on

    The difficulties that lead someone to seek treatment do not always tell the whole story. Anxiety, depression and addiction can be influenced by personal experiences,…
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  • How seasonal change can affect our minds

    by

    John McKeown

    on

    Seasonal changes can influence our mood, sleep, energy and daily routines, particularly as daylight hours become shorter. Explore the connection between seasonal changes and mental…
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  • When difficult experiences stay with us

    by

    John McKeown

    on

    Difficult experiences can continue to affect how we think, feel and respond long after they have ended. Explore how trauma can influence memory, the differences…
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  • Why we avoid things that make us uncomfortable

    by

    John McKeown

    on

    Avoidance can provide immediate relief from anxiety, shame or emotional discomfort, which can make the behaviour more likely to be repeated. Explore the psychology behind…
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  • Could residential treatment offer something different?

    by

    John McKeown

    on

    Residential treatment is not only for people in acute crisis. When mental health or substance use difficulties persist despite community-based support, a more structured environment…
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  • When coping becomes dependency

    by

    John McKeown

    on

    Coping mechanisms can offer temporary relief from stress, anxiety or emotional pain, but over time, some can develop into unhealthy patterns or dependency. Learn how…
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  • When summer ends, what does it reveal?

    by

    John McKeown

    on

    As summer ends and everyday routines return, September can reveal changes in our mental health, wellbeing and coping habits that were easier to overlook during…
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  • Is your relationship with alcohol changing?

    by

    John McKeown

    on

    For some people, concerns about alcohol do not begin with a dramatic event or obvious crisis. They develop gradually, often against the backdrop of an…
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  • A broader approach to treatment and wellbeing

    by

    John McKeown

    on

    At Ibiza Calm, we have always believed that there is value in creating opportunities for clients to engage with recovery in different ways. Alongside individual…
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  • Finding connection on the water

    by

    John McKeown

    on

    Taking clients out on the water gives them an opportunity to practise some of those skills in a relaxed and very different environment, while also…
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  • Supporting someone who doesn’t think they need help

    by

    John McKeown

    on

    Watching someone you care about struggle with their mental health or an addiction can be one of the most difficult experiences a family member or…
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You’re not alone on this journey.

The path to recovery starts with a small first step.