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

  • Beyond the bet: how gambling problems often hide in plain sight in UK communities

    by

    John McKeown

    on

    Unlike alcohol or drugs, gambling problems leave no visible traces. Losses are financial, emotional, and relational. Many people continue working, parenting, and socialising, all while…
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  • Inside the Ibiza Calm experience: a day in treatment

    by

    John McKeown

    on

    Entering treatment is a significant step towards change, and one that deserves to be met with compassion and clarity. At Ibiza Calm, we recognise that…
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  • Ecotherapy: Healing through nature at Ibiza Calm

    by

    John McKeown

    on

    At its heart, ecotherapy is based on the idea that humans are part of nature, not separate from it. When we immerse ourselves in natural…
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  • Why ibiza is the ultimate destination for mental health and addiction treatment

    by

    John McKeown

    on

    For too long, the journey to recovery has been cloaked in secrecy, stigma, and the cold, clinical feel of institutions that lack warmth. At Ibiza Calm,…
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  • Ketamine in the UK: Escalating use, rising deaths, and the growing need for support

    by

    John McKeown

    on

    This shift in the cultural and clinical picture of ketamine poses serious challenges for public health and addiction services. Understanding the scale of the problem…
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  • The importance of sleep in mental health and addiction recovery

    by

    John McKeown

    on

    There is a strong, bidirectional relationship between sleep and mental health. Untreated mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are all…
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  • Why early intervention matters in mental health and addiction recovery

    by

    John McKeown

    on

    Learn why early intervention is key in mental health and addiction recovery, helping prevent escalation and supporting long term healing.
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  • Exploring our different programme types at Ibiza Calm

    by

    John McKeown

    on

    Every client’s journey into treatment is unique, and the right programme is the one that best reflects their needs and circumstances. At Ibiza Calm, our…
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  • High-functioning anxiety: The hidden struggle behind success

    by

    John McKeown

    on

    Perhaps the most powerful step for anyone living with high-functioning anxiety is to redefine what success means. True success is not built on sleepless nights,…
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  • What self-care really means in a fast-paced world; And 5 key areas to focus on

    by

    John McKeown

    on

    At Ibiza Calm, we believe self-care is far more than a buzzword. It is a vital, ongoing practice, especially important for those in recovery from…
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  • The spiritual side of Ibiza

    by

    John McKeown

    on

    Here at Ibiza Calm, we are often asked what it is like to run a world-class mental health and addiction treatment centre on a Balearic…
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  • Planes, trains and sobriety: A guide to travelling in addiction recovery

    by

    John McKeown

    on

    At Ibiza Calm, we understand that recovery is not just about what happens inside a treatment centre – it is about living life fully, and…
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You’re not alone on this journey.

The path to recovery starts with a small first step.