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

  • Why do so many men only seek help at breaking point?

    by

    John McKeown

    on

    When people think about mental health difficulties, they often imagine someone who is visibly struggling, openly distressed and unable to cope with the demands of…
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  • Are you functioning or flourishing? Thriving or surviving? The hidden cost of high-performance living

    by

    John McKeown

    on

    Many people associate mental health difficulties with an obvious crisis. They imagine a point at which stress becomes unmanageable, relationships begin to break down, daily…
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  • Why environment matters in mental health recovery

    by

    John McKeown

    on

    Research continues to show that access to nature and green spaces helps reduce stress, supports emotional regulation, and improves overall wellbeing. Calm outdoor environments can…
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  • What meaningful mental health support should actually look like

    by

    John McKeown

    on

    Meaningful mental health treatment is not defined by a single therapy model or intervention. More often, it emerges through emotional safety, skilled clinical care, trusted…
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  • Ibiza Calm in Barcelona: Building connections in mental health and wellbeing

    by

    John McKeown

    on

    Today, Thursday 21st May, Ibiza Calm hosted an introductory lunch at Restaurant Windsor, bringing together professional contacts and respected colleagues from the fields of psychiatry,…
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  • Action and awareness: what helps mental health recovery?

    by

    John McKeown

    on

    Recovery is rarely linear. Progress often involves setbacks, and individuals do experience periods of uncertainty and frustration. However, small, repeated actions can create the conditions…
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  • Postnatal Depression, Anxiety, Trauma and Addiction

    by

    John McKeown

    on

    Maternal Mental Health Week, held from 4 to 10 May 2026, offers an opportunity to look beyond the idealised image of early parenthood and consider…
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  • The value of stepping away to support your mental health

    by

    John McKeown

    on

    Deciding to take time out for mental health is not always easy. It may come with uncertainty, particularly when life appears to be continuing as…
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  • High-functioning drinking & why it often goes unnoticed

    by

    John McKeown

    on

    High-functioning drinking is not a formal clinical diagnosis. It is a term often used to describe individuals who appear to function well in their personal…
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  • Recognising when stress is no longer manageable

    by

    John McKeown

    on

    Stress can become normalised, particularly in environments where high levels of responsibility are expected. It is common for individuals to minimise their experience or assume…
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  • Why bipolar disorder is often misdiagnosed

    by

    John McKeown

    on

    Understanding why bipolar disorder is often misdiagnosed can help reduce frustration, support earlier intervention, guide individuals towards more appropriate, effective care, and improve overall wellbeing.
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  • Protecting your mental health in the age of constant news

    by

    John McKeown

    on

    Whilst staying informed about world events is important, constant engagement with distressing information can have a significant impact on psychological wellbeing.
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You’re not alone on this journey.

The path to recovery starts with a small first step.