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 drug use in elite level sports

    by

    John McKeown

    on

    With the Olympic Games Paris 2024 held in July and August and the Paris 2024 Paralympicscurrently happening, we look back at this blog from 2020…….
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  • Is sex addiction real?

    by

    John McKeown

    on

    In the second season of the Emmy award winning HBO series, “The White Lotus”; the former-Sopranos actor, Michael Imperioli plays Dominic Di Grasso, a successful…
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  • Three stars who share 100+ years of sobriety

    by

    John McKeown

    on

    Alcoholism and addiction can happen to anyone. Being famous, or rich does not give you immunity to the deadly disease. Here are three well-known celebrities…
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  • World Suicide Prevention Day

    by

    John McKeown

    on

    World Suicide Prevention Day, September 10th, 2024 – ‘Changing the Narrative on Suicide’ Since 2003 the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Federation for Mental…
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  • What to expect when entering a rehab centre

    by

    John McKeown

    on

    Accepting that you need help, whether it is for drug and alcohol misuse, addiction, or a mental health problem such as depression and anxiety, is…
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  • What is ‘pink cocaine’? Why is it so dangerous?

    by

    John McKeown

    on

    In August, Ibiza Calm’s Clinical Manager, Lluc Acero Martínez spoke with ITV News about the latest party drug to hit the streets in Ibiza, “pink…
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  • Addiction and mental health care; what to look for in a rehab

    by

    John McKeown

    on

    Choosing the right place for treatment. Accepting that you may have, or that someone you love, has; a substance use disorder or a mental health…
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  • International Overdose Awareness Day

    by

    John McKeown

    on

    August 31st is International Overdose Awareness Day. A global event that is held annually with the aim of raising understanding around overdoses, reducing the stigma…
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  • What is Fentanyl? And why is it so dangerous?

    by

    John McKeown

    on

    Fentanyl has been making the headlines again in recent weeks. The drug first came toworldwide public attention back in 2016 when it was reported that…
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  • What is prescription medicine dependency?

    by

    John McKeown

    on

    For many, the idea of drug addiction is illicit drugs, such as cocaine and heroin, obtained from a dealer. Drug abuse comes in many forms,…
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  • Dopesick – OxyContin, opioids and addiction

    by

    John McKeown

    on

    In the hard-hitting Disney+ drama “Dopesick,” despite there being several fictional characters, the narrative is centred on real life people and a true story, which…
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  • Is your job affecting your mental health?

    by

    John McKeown

    on

    It is extremely rare to find someone who enjoys work 100% of the time. Even those of us who love what we do for a…
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You’re not alone on this journey.

The path to recovery starts with a small first step.