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November 2026

A New Chapter for Choices Rehabs: A Stronger Voice for Residential Addiction Treatment

By Penny Williams, Chair of Choices Rehabs

When Choices Rehabs was established in 2013, its purpose was clear: to promote ethical, high-quality residential addiction treatment and protect some of society’s most vulnerable people from poor practice.

At the time, the residential rehabilitation landscape faced significant challenges. Choices was formed to champion professional standards, transparency and quality in a sector that was too often misunderstood and, in some cases, exploited by organisations seeking to profit from people at their most vulnerable.

More than a decade later, that mission remains just as important.

Today, Choices Rehabs represents 25 residential addiction treatment providers across the UK and has evolved into a powerful collaborative network, bringing together expertise from across the addiction treatment field, covering substances and gambling, to improve access, influence policy and ensure that residential rehabilitation remains an essential part of the recovery pathway.

More than a membership organisation

What has changed most significantly over recent years is the strength of the relationships between our members.

We have moved beyond simply being a network of organisations. Members increasingly support one another, share best practice, develop collective solutions and work together to ensure people can access the most appropriate treatment for their needs.

A good example is what we often refer to as the “treatment loop“. Recent conversations between members have seen organisations seeking support with specialist referrals, accessibility needs and alternative treatment placements. Other providers have responded by sharing expertise, identifying suitable services and helping ensure people are not left without options.

This spirit of collaboration is transforming what Choices can achieve together.

Championing ethical treatment

The need for that cohesive voice remains critical.

Choices continues to challenge practices that risk exploiting vulnerable people, including tackling referral websites that generate income by directing individuals towards treatment providers while often giving the impression they are treatment services themselves.

We have welcomed recent action requiring greater transparency from such organisations and continue to advocate for ethical pathways into treatment. People seeking help for addiction deserve clear information, informed choice and access to services based on need, not financial arrangements.

Residential rehab remains underused

One of the biggest challenges facing the sector is not proving that residential rehabilitation works. The evidence for that already exists.

The challenge is ensuring that residential rehabilitation is recognised, funded and offered as a realistic treatment option within local systems. Everyday there are empty beds across the Choices membership.

Too often, access depends on where someone lives. The postcode lottery that has existed for many years continues to prevent people from accessing potentially life-saving treatment.

Choices Rehabs are working with government, national bodies and decision-makers to increase awareness of the role residential treatment plays within a modern treatment system and to advocate for more equitable access across the country.

Responding to changing needs

The case for residential treatment is becoming even stronger as the complexity of need increases.

Recent public attention on ketamine use, including the issues highlighted in Stacey Dooley’s BBC documentary, Down the K-Hole, has exposed the significant physical and psychological impact addiction can have on younger people. Many are living with chronic pain, severe mental health challenges and increasingly complex clinical presentations.

For some, residential rehabilitation provides the first safe environment in which recovery can begin. It offers time away from harmful influences, intensive therapeutic intervention, peer support and the opportunity to address the underlying trauma, mental health difficulties and emotional pain that often sit behind addiction.

The sector is also adapting to support increasing levels of co-occurring mental health difficulties, acquired and alcohol-related brain injury, gambling harms and other emerging challenges that require specialist responses.

At the same time, there is growing recognition that earlier access to treatment can reduce pressure elsewhere in the system, including within healthcare, homelessness and criminal justice services.

Opening the doors

One of the most exciting developments this year has been Open Houses, a national initiative developed collaboratively by Choices Rehabs and Phoenix Futures.

Working in partnership with Phoenix Futures CEO Karen Biggs, Open Houses has created opportunities for commissioners, health professionals, policymakers and referral agencies to visit residential services and see their work first hand.

The results have been encouraging. Twenty events have already taken place, attracting hundreds of registrations and generating significant engagement across the sector. More importantly, they have created conversations.

For many attendees, Open Houses has challenged outdated perceptions of residential rehabilitation and demonstrated the quality, professionalism and effectiveness of modern residential treatment services.

The forthcoming Open Houses directory builds on this momentum, providing professionals with a practical resource for understanding and accessing the residential treatment options available across the country.

Building the Future

The next stage of this work is the launch of the new Open Houses directory, providing a practical resource for commissioners, professionals and referral agencies seeking information about residential treatment providers.

Alongside continued engagement with policymakers and partners, the directory represents another step towards improving awareness, accessibility and understanding of residential rehabilitation.

More broadly, it reflects the direction of travel for Choices Rehabs.

The organisation is entering a new chapter: one in which collaboration is replacing competition, specialist knowledge is being shared across the sector, and a stronger collective voice is advocating for people who need access to residential treatment.

Looking ahead

The partnership itself continues to grow. The recent addition of organisations such as Gordon Moody, bringing specialist expertise in gambling addiction treatment, reflects the breadth of services now represented across the network.

This growth has helped shape a new identity and positioning for the organisation under the banner of Residential Addiction Treatment. The refreshed identity recognises that addiction treatment continues to evolve and that residential services must work together to demonstrate their value within a modern treatment system.

Importantly, the rebrand is not about changing who we are. It is about better expressing what we represent and why residential treatment remains a critical component of recovery pathways

As Choices Rehabs enters its next chapter, our ambition is simple.

We want residential addiction treatment to be recognised as an essential part of the recovery system, not a last resort. We want people to have access to treatment based on clinical need rather than geography. We want commissioners and policymakers to understand the value residential rehabilitation brings to individuals, families and communities.

Most importantly, we want to ensure that anyone who needs the safety, structure and therapeutic intensity that residential rehabilitation can provide has the opportunity to access it.

The rebrand marks more than a new identity. It reflects a growing movement of providers working together to improve standards, strengthen pathways and ensure that residential addiction treatment remains a vital part of the solution to some of society’s most complex challenges. Importantly, the rebrand is not about changing who we are. It is about better expressing what we represent and why residential treatment remains a critical component of recovery pathways.

Because recovery changes lives and offers lasting recovery. And everyone deserves the chance to access it.

October 2026

New Partnership with Bosence

Residential treatment is out of reach for most people who need it. Andy Jackson, Head of Residential Services at The Forward Trust, on why Forward’s new detox partnership with Bosence depends on relationships as much as bed spaces.

When two organisations announce a partnership, people see the logos and the launch date. What keeps it working is harder to see. It is the call that rescues a referral before it falls through, and knowing a partner well enough to be honest with them when something has gone wrong.

I started out on the frontline as a recovery support worker, and I learned early that a good outcome often depends on someone at another service picking up the phone. I have carried that into every role since, and I treat those relationships as core leadership work.

Our new partnership with Bosence is a good example. It gives people coming to Clouds House and The Bridges a joined-up route from detox into residential treatment. I have come to believe that when residential treatment is this hard to reach, no provider can hold the whole pathway on its own.

Two in every hundred

Residential treatment is recommended for people with more severe or complex needs, but very few people get the chance to try it. A record 329,646 adults were in drug and alcohol treatment in England in 2024 to 2025. Only 2% of them received any of that treatment in a residential setting, according to the latest national figures. Phoenix Futures has also found that residential provision halved over a decade while demand kept rising.

Every residential provider I know is working inside that gap. Whether someone gets a place often depends on where they live and how their local area funds treatment, and the cost of running a safe residential service keeps rising. In those conditions nobody can afford to go it alone, and partnership has become how we keep the right care open to people.

A new focus to improve outcomes

Clouds House similar to other residentials has felt that pressure directly, we moved to a new treatment model. Detox at Clouds House now focuses on opiates, under a medically monitored model.

Narrowing our scope has also sharpened our focus. What Clouds House does best is residential treatment that helps people who have been in the grip of addiction make changes that last. We report an 87% recovery rate one year after treatment.

The partnership with Bosence means people we would otherwise have turned away still have a route into treatment with us. Anyone who needs an alcohol detox, or whose withdrawal carries higher clinical risk, can complete it at Bosence, where nurses are on site day and night, before coming to us.

Why Bosence?

Bosence describes its purpose as helping people change and reach their full potential, free from addiction, and its values centre on safety, belonging, compassion, trust and respect. Their chief executive, Kate Prosser, has said addiction should “never be hidden in shame”.

At Forward, we start from the belief that anyone is capable of lasting change, whatever their past, and we have committed to never accepting minimum outcomes for the people we help. We use different words, but we are saying the same thing. People are more than their addiction, and their care should treat them that way.

That shared outlook shows up in the treatment itself. Bosence’s and Forward’s programme are rooted in 12-step principles and built around an individual care plan, with a clear commitment to trauma-informed care.

Choices Rehabs

Bosence and Forward did not meet as strangers. Clouds House, The Bridges and Bosence are all members of Choices Rehabs, a network of independent residential rehab and detox providers across the UK, most of them charities.

Choices makes the case for residential treatment and for clearer routes into it, with providers speaking together. Its Treatment Loop lets members cross-refer, so someone who needs a different setting or level of care can move on without dropping out of treatment. Our partnership grew out of that way of working. Bosence had already provided detox for people who went on to rehab with other Choice’s members, so the model had been tested before we put our name to it.

For someone who needs an alcohol detox or a higher-risk detox before treatment, the route is straightforward. There is one referral and one assessment, and treatment and funding are agreed before detox begins. The person completes detox and stabilisation at Bosence, then we arrange their move to Clouds House in Wiltshire or The Bridges in Hull, with one plan running through both.

Referrals are open to community drug and alcohol services, GPs, local authorities, and individuals and families. Contact details for both admissions teams are on the Clouds House and The Bridges websites.

July 2026

July 2026

Choices members open their doors as part of national Open Houses campaign

Choices members will be opening their doors to the public this September as part of Open Houses 2026, a national campaign launched at the House of Lords on 7 July 2026 to shine a light on stated funded residential drug and alcohol treatment across England.

The campaign invites commissioners, clinicians, policymakers, Community drug and alcohol teams and local communities to “Open the door to recovery” and see for themselves the difference that residential rehab makes in supporting recovery, families, and communities.

A chance to see the reality of residential rehab

As part of the campaign, Choices members will host an open event offering visitors the opportunity to:

• Meet staff and people in recovery
• Learn how residential treatment supports long-term recovery
• See structured, evidence-based programmes in practice
• Understand how services work alongside community treatment, housing and aftercare

“We’re proud to be part of Open Houses. This is a chance for people to see the reality of modern residential treatment – safe, highly regulated services delivering person-centred support and real outcomes for people facing complex challenges.”

Challenging misconceptions and improving understanding

Residential rehab is a vital but often misunderstood part of the treatment system. Many services have had to close over the past decade, due to reduced funding which has meant access has become more limited, despite clear evidence of it effectiveness and the growing need.

Open Houses aims to change that by creating transparency, insight, and dialogue – helping people move beyond assumptions and see how services operate day-to-day.

Every Choices member plays a key role locally by:

• Supporting people on their recovery journey
• Working with healthcare professionals, referral partners and other support services
• Providing evidence-based treatment and personalised care
• Offering a range of treatment options to meet individual needs
• Helping people achieve long-term recovery and improved wellbeing
• Delivering compassionate, professional support in a safe and therapeutic environment

A sector under pressure – but still innovating

Despite funding and access challenges, residential services continue to adapt and innovate, supporting people with multiple disadvantage, co-occurring mental health needs, and complex social circumstances.

Nationally:

• In her 2021 report From Harm to Hope, Dame Carol Black highlighted the need for greater access to residential rehabilitation, indicating that around 2% of people in drug and alcohol treatment should receive this level of care. However, current figures suggest that only around 1% of those in treatment access residential rehabilitation each year. This gap underlines the important role that residential rehab plays within the wider treatment pathway, particularly for individuals with more complex needs who require structured, intensive support to achieve sustained recovery.
• Across Europe, the average is closer to 11%
• Despite increasing harms from drugs and alcohol use – access to rehab has declined significantly over the last decade, with fewer services and placements available 

Open Houses highlights both:

• The value and impact of residential treatment and how flexible the programmes and treatments are to be person centric
• The need to protect and strengthen access for the future

To find out dates and plan your visit click here.

Open Houses 2026 is a national campaign designed to increase awareness and understanding of residential drug and alcohol treatment in England.

Participating services across the country will host open events throughout September.

Residential rehab is most effective when delivered as part of a joined-up treatment pathway, alongside detox, community services, housing, and aftercare.

Media contact details:
Penny Williams, CEO Kenward Trust and Chair of Choices Rehabs.

March 2026

Choices Rehabs, is a group of independent residential rehab providers who work in partnership to share best practices, offer a treatment loop and be a voice for the residential rehab sector. They meet every 10 weeks and one of the strengths of the network is the ability to adapt quickly. 

The recent surge in ketamine use is a stark example: many of the members are now supporting a much younger cohort of people who have found themselves addicted far faster than expected, often with devastating consequences such as bladder damage and, in the most extreme cases, permanent loss of bladder control. These are life‑altering harms, and they underline why residential treatment must remain accessible, flexible and properly supported.

Meeting the real and immediate needs of people seeking recovery from addiction is a calling and one of the network’s greatest strengths is its ability to adapt quickly. Because of these growing challenges, raising the profile of the sector’s work has become more important than ever. 

When Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe offered to host one of the network’s face‑to‑face Choices meetings at the House of Lords in March, it was welcomed. Being physically present in the same room — sharing practice, tackling emerging issues and speaking with one clear voice — provides a value that cannot be replicated remotely.

Lord Brooke has long been a dedicated advocate for residential rehab, and his presence brought both warmth and insight to the discussion. He spoke candidly about his lived experience and the need for equal access to treatment, challenging the sector to think differently about pathways into rehab and how earlier intervention might prevent irreversible harm.

The meeting reaffirmed that collaboration remains the sector’s most powerful tool. Providers across the country continue to face rising complexity, inconsistent commissioning and the ongoing pressure to deliver high‑quality support with limited resources. Yet the room was filled with energy, innovation and collective determination to improve outcomes for the people they serve – something the Choices Rehabs group have become known for.

Shortly after the meeting, Lord Brooke agreed to become a Patron of one of the members, Kenward Trust — a gesture of great significance to the organisation. His support is active and informed, rooted in decades of advocacy for individuals affected by addiction. He has already offered thoughtful reflections on strengthening partnerships, widening access and building resilience into services for the future.

When his patronage was announced, Lord Brooke remarked: “It’ll be good for me – service – that’s what keeps me getting up and going!” That spirit of service is exactly what communities need.

Across the Choices network, the commitment to providing residential rehabilitation, supported housing, prevention work and life‑changing therapy, remains unwavering. The House of Lords meeting was more than just an event; it served as a powerful reminder that residential rehab is a vital lifeline — and that through collective effort, stronger, fairer and more accessible routes to recovery can be created for everyone who needs them.

January 2026

Choices Rehabs Welcomes Dame Carol Black’s Appointment and Strengthens National Advocacy for Residential Rehabilitation

Choices Rehabs welcomes the appointment of Dame Carol Black as Independent Advisor on Drugs, announced by the UK Government in December. The appointment enables Dame Carol to continue her vital work following the publication of her Independent Review of Drugs in 2021, which set out clear, evidence-based recommendations to strengthen the national response to drug and alcohol dependence.

Her review highlighted the importance of access to effective, high-quality treatment, including the role of residential rehabilitation within a balanced and properly funded system of care. Her continued involvement provides renewed momentum for reform and long-term improvement across the sector.

Public Health Minister Ashley Dalton said:

“I am pleased to welcome Dame Carol Black’s reappointment as independent advisor on drugs. Dame Carol has successfully built trust across the whole system, and her continued leadership will be vital as we drive forward a comprehensive public health response.

With our investment of £3.4 billion ringfenced for drug and alcohol treatment and recovery over the next 3 years, we are committed to reducing drug deaths, supporting people into recovery, and breaking the cycle of harm that affects individuals, families and communities.

I look forward to continuing our work with Dame Carol to improve drug and alcohol treatment services and save lives.”

In her role, Dame Carol will work closely with the Joint Combating Drugs Unit and play a central role in promoting a whole-system, cross-government approach to tackling drug-related harm. She will also provide advice on how national strategies are delivered at a local level, including through multi-sector local drugs partnerships involving health services, law enforcement and community organisations.

Choices Rehabs Chair, Penny Williams said: “As Chair of Choices Rehabs, I am delighted that Dame Carol Black has been appointed as an advisor to the government. Her continued involvement ensures that the vital recommendations from her 2021 review remain at the forefront of policy. In particular, we welcome her commitment to highlighting the essential role of residential rehabilitation in addressing addiction and supporting recovery across the sector.”

Choices Rehabs, represents a significant proportion of residential rehabilitation provision in the UK and reflects a shared commitment to ethical, evidence-based, abstinent recovery services.

Founded in 2013, Choices Rehabs is a consortium of independent addiction treatment providers in the United Kingdom.

The government announcement confirming Dame Carol’s appointment can be read in full on the UK Government website:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dame-carol-black-appointed-as-independent-advisor-on-drugs

November 2025

Choices Rehabs Respond to Surge in Ketamine-Related Admissions with Innovative Care Adaptations

Choices is a collaborative network of residential rehab providers dedicated to delivering high-quality, person-centred addiction treatment across the UK.

The Choices group, a UK-wide network of 19 providers operating 21 residential rehabs, has reported a significant increase in referrals for individuals struggling with ketamine use over the past 18 months. This trend marks a notable shift in addiction profiles, with many new residents being younger than traditional cohorts and presenting unique clinical and therapeutic needs.

The Numbers Behind the Trend

• Admissions Growth: Ketamine-related referrals have risen sharply across Choices rehabs between 2023/24 and 2024/25.
• Age Profile: A substantial proportion of these residents are under 25, contrasting with the typical addiction cohort aged 35–55.
• Polydrug Use: Most ketamine users are not exclusive users, many combine ketamine with other substances:
  • Ketamine & Other Drugs: A significant share of residents use ketamine alongside stimulants or opioids.
  • Ketamine & Alcohol: Another common pattern involves concurrent alcohol use.
  • Ketamine, Alcohol & Other Drugs: A smaller but concerning group presents with multiple dependencies.

Adapting to Meet Emerging Needs
In response, Choices members have collaborated to share best practices and implement tailored strategies to ensure effective, compassionate care. Key adaptations include:

• Enhanced Clinical Support:

• • Introduction of ketamine-specific topics in therapeutic programmes.
  • Increased one-to-one sessions for residents who find group participation challenging.
  • Extended symptom management protocols, including short-term use of diazepam and zopiclone, bladder-specific medications, and pain relief.

• Environmental Adjustments:

• • Allocation of single or ensuite rooms for residents with bladder issues.
  • Installation of vinyl flooring and improved bathroom access to maintain dignity and hygiene.

• Integrated Health Care:

• • Weekly health check-ups and facilitated GP appointments.
  • Partnerships with urology and continence services for complex cases.

Choices remains committed to preserving dignity and autonomy, offering flexible care plans and discreet options for residents during treatment. Peer-led activities and focus groups ensure continuous improvement and engagement with younger audiences.

Quote from the Chair of Choices, Penny Williams
“We are seeing a new generation of people affected by ketamine use, and their needs are different from those we have traditionally supported. Our members have worked tirelessly to adapt environments, clinical care, and therapeutic approaches to ensure these individuals receive the dignity, comfort, and specialist support they deserve.”

The sharp rise in ketamine use documented by residential rehabs represents one of the most significant shifts in the addiction treatment sector’s admission patterns in recent years.

While Choices members have adapted quickly – clinically, therapeutically, and environmentally the sector is responding to a challenge that currently has no national guidance or consistent NHS pathways.

To ensure safe, consistent and evidence-based care, there is now a clear need for national clinical guidance on ketamine detoxification and symptom management, improved access routes into urology and bladder services, investment in suitable residential environments, and coordinated workforce development.

Choices will continue to share best practices and adapt through collaboration across the sector, but addressing this trend at scale will require coordinated national support. 

Media Contact:
Penny Williams
Chair, Choices Rehabs
Penny.williams@kenwardtrust.org.uk

July 2025

Since the Dame Carol Black Review in 2021, we’ve witnessed a long-overdue shift in how residential rehabilitation is perceived and funded. For the first time in years, rehab is being recognised as a vital component in the journey to recovery, especially for those facing the most complex and enduring challenges.

At Kenward Trust, where I’ve had the privilege of leading our transformation from financial uncertainty to award-winning recognition, we know just how life-changing residential recovery can be. Now, through my work as Chair of Choices Rehabs, I’m focused on ensuring that this progress isn’t temporary. It’s important our sector continues to have a strong, unified voice to also advocate,  residential rehab as part of a wider continuum of care and part of a broader treatment system, all of which deserves funding and adequate support. 

The Role of Rehab in Today’s Recovery Landscape.

Residential rehab is far more than a last resort. For many, it is the critical turning point that enables long-term, sustainable recovery. It offers:

• A structured, safe space away from environmental triggers
• 24/7 support from skilled professionals and a recovery community
• Time to address the underlying causes of addiction, including trauma
• A holistic path to rebuilding lives, not just stopping substance use

Responding to a More Complex Referral Landscape.

Today, we’re seeing increasingly complex referrals across our services. Many individuals arrive at rehab not only with substance dependency, but with:

• Significant mental health needs
• Housing instability
• Serious physical health complications

A particular concern is the growing number of under-30s presenting with ketamine addiction, which carries serious long-term risks, particularly to the bladder and kidneys. These cases require close, multi-disciplinary care that residential rehab is uniquely positioned to deliver.

Don’t Let This Progress Stall.

While the funding uplift following the review was welcome, it must not be viewed as a one-time solution. The road ahead requires:

• Sustained investment in residential treatment
• Clear recognition of rehab’s integral role within the wider system
• Commissioning decisions that prioritise complexity, outcomes, and ethics, not just cost
• A continued focus on trauma-informed, person-centred care

A Call to Stay Focused.

There is a real opportunity to reshape how we understand, and deliver, addiction recovery in the UK. But this depends on our continued collaboration, advocacy, and commitment to ethical, evidence-led support.

At Choices Rehabs, we are committed to being a strong voice for residential services, working alongside commissioners, providers, and policymakers to ensure rehab remains a valued, accessible part of the national response.

Let’s keep the momentum going. Lives depend on it.

Warm regards,

Penny Williams CEO, Kenward Trust, & Chair, Choices Rehabs.

July 2025

How to Become an Addiction Counsellor
The field of addiction counselling in the UK currently lacks a singular educational framework, presenting both challenges and opportunities for those seeking to enter this vital profession. With the recent closure of specialist addiction counselling
training courses, aspiring practitioners must navigate a fragmented landscape to build credible pathways towards accreditation and clinical practice.

The Foundation of Effective Practice
Effective addiction counselling demands high-level competence across multiple therapeutic models that address the complex psychological, emotional, and social factors influencing addiction. While addiction treatment represents a unique subset of mental healthcare, successful counselling remains rooted in a person-centred approach that prioritises empathy, unconditional positive regard, and genuine therapeutic connection as the foundation for fostering recovery.

Modern practitioners must master various therapeutic approaches, including 12-Step facilitation, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), and dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT), whilst understanding diverse modalities such as group psychotherapy, family therapy, and psychoeducation. However, true competence lies not merely in
understanding these models but in integrating and adapting them to meet each client’s unique and often complex needs.

Addiction rarely exists in isolation. It frequently interlinks with other mental health issues, emotional challenges, and behavioural patterns, including trauma, family dynamics, and psychiatric co-morbidities. Whilst integrated care for co-occurring disorders has long been considered best practice, this approach only succeeds when practitioners possess genuine expertise in both addiction and mental health. 

Personal Readiness and Professional Qualities
Becoming an addiction therapist requires more than academic qualifications – it
demands deep commitment and specific personal qualities. Self-awareness is
paramount, as understanding one’s own thoughts, values, and interpersonal dynamics is crucial for effective practice. Engaging in personal therapy can greatly enhance this self-reflection, providing valuable insight into motivations and readiness to support others.

William White’s seminal paper; The Historical Essence of Addiction Counselling; offers invaluable guidance for aspiring counsellors. White describes the degree of presence, honesty, and emotional availability that informs addiction counselling work – qualities not always expected in other therapeutic fields. There exists something of
a vocation to this work, as White notes: ‘What the addiction counselor brings in addition to their skills is their whole person – their life.’

Clients engaging with addiction counsellors are often exquisitely attuned to inauthenticity; they respond to genuineness. This doesn’t mean over-disclosing or abandoning boundaries, but rather being human and willing to meet others in the
most challenging parts of their lives.

Professional Standards and Regulatory Framework
The UK counselling and psychotherapy field operates without compulsory regulatory standards for most practitioners, instead relying on voluntary standards established by various professional therapy associations. Exceptions include drama therapists, art therapists, and occupational therapists, which are regulated professions overseen by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

Addiction counsellors fall outside regulated professions and sit somewhat apart within mainstream counselling bodies. While addiction counsellors may register with organisations such as the BACP, many hours spent in addiction treatment facilities don’t count towards accreditation requirements. However, Addiction Professionals (AP) provides dedicated professional recognition, offering high-standard NCAC accreditation tailored specifically to addiction practice.

The BACP has recently launched an addictions competence framework after years of advocacy and development. This framework provides much-needed structure to guide practitioners in achieving necessary skills and standards, marking a significant step in establishing professional standards for addiction therapy.

The Loss of Specialist Degree Courses
For many years, the University of Bath, collaborating with Action on Addiction, offered a degree course in addiction counselling. This programme provided options for completing either a 2-year Foundation Degree or 3-year Honours Degree, suitable for those with only A-level qualifications and no prior field experience. It combined academic study with work-based learning, and graduates could achieve NCAC accreditation upon completing the course and accruing sufficient work
experience.

London South Bank University offered a Master’s degree in Addiction Psychology and Counselling, also providing direct routes to NCAC accreditation for honours degree holders. Unfortunately, both programmes have been discontinued, reflecting
broader trends as UK universities face increasing financial and operational pressure, with specialist programmes requiring clinical supervision often among the first to be cut.

This closure has deprived aspiring addiction counsellors of clear pathways into the field, forcing individuals to first train as general counsellors or psychotherapists before undertaking work-based learning, postgraduate studies, and CPD training to
gain addiction treatment competencies and accreditation.

Alternative Pathways
Undergraduate Foundation: For those enrolling in undergraduate studies, degrees in counselling or counselling and psychology provide suitable first steps. These three-year programmes offer well-rounded preparation, though additional training remains necessary for professional practice.

Postgraduate Studies: Those with counselling degrees can specialise through postgraduate programmes, choosing therapeutic schools that align with their values and intended practice. Entry requirements vary – some programmes accept
graduates from any 2:1 honours degree, while others require relevant degrees or
counselling skills certificates.

Professional Registration: Joining professional bodies as student members early provides access to resources, networking opportunities, and professional development events. Membership can progress from student to practitioner levels as
experience develops.

Addiction-Specific Training: While no dedicated postgraduate addiction counselling courses exist, relevant programmes include CBT diplomas and Master’s degrees, Leeds Beckett University’s Applied Motivational Interviewing Skills course, and DBT diplomas. The University of West London offers individual modules from their BSc in Addiction Studies as CPD courses.

International Options: Given UK limitations, studying abroad presents viable alternatives. The USA offers specialised programmes like those at Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School, while Ireland’s PCI College provides Master’s courses in
addiction counselling and psychotherapy.

Professional Experience and Accreditation
Working in addiction treatment settings as soon as ready provides invaluable experience and supervision opportunities. Employers in this sector typically understand the limited availability of addiction-specific qualifications and often provide on-the-job training. Access to in-service training and workshops offers addiction-specific CPD opportunities.
NCAC accreditation requires 400 hours of supervised practice, including at least 250 hours working directly with addiction populations. Unlike broader counselling bodies, Addiction Professionals fully recognises practice hours gained in addiction-specific settings, making NCAC accreditation practical for specialists. Full-time addiction counsellors can often achieve accreditation faster than the typical two-year timeframe required by general bodies.

Sustaining Professional Practice
Supervision and Continuing Professional Development form the cornerstones of ethical practice and professional growth. For addiction counsellors, CPD offers pathways to developing vital mental health competencies for truly integrated care. This includes expanding expertise into dual diagnosis, trauma therapy, bereavement counselling, or family interventions. White identifies four essential pillars for sustaining addiction counselling practice: centerung rituals (meditation, reflection, mindfulness), mirroring rituals (peer support and inspiration), acts of self-care (nurturing physical, emotional, and spiritual well- being), and unpaid acts of service (giving back beyond professional duties).

Looking Forward
Despite current challenges, the unique ethos of addiction counselling – rooted in lived experience and informed by deep compassion needed to meet clients in vulnerable moments – remains its defining strength. As the field evolves through this challenging period, preserving that core identity proves essential. The path forward requires patience and purpose: pursuing the highest professional standards whilst nurturing what draws practitioners to this work initially. Ultimately, it’s the whole-self investment-personal as much as professional – that honours the integrity of this vital vocation.

Press Release

CHOICES REHABS SENDS OPEN LETTER TO CHANCELLOR CALLING FOR FAIR TREATMENT UNDER NATIONAL INSURANCE CHANGES

Choices Rehabs, a coalition of independent residential addiction rehabilitation providers across the UK, has written an open letter to the Chancellor in response to the recent National Insurance increase. The letter expresses concern about how the new policy will impact the sustainability of addiction treatment services, many of which are already operating with tight margins.

The letter, sent on behalf of Choices Group, commends the government’s funding commitments to social care and healthcare but requests that addiction rehabilitation providers be treated the same as the NHS and other public sector bodies when it comes to the National Insurance increase.

“While we fully understand the need for fiscal changes, we want to ensure that our ability to provide essential services is not compromised by this policy,” said a spokesperson for Choices Rehabs. “Our services support over 2,300 people each year, and without our intervention, many individuals would likely rely on the already overburdened NHS and public sector.”

As a group of real living wage employers, many of whom are charitable organisations, Choices Rehabs plays a critical role in helping people across the UK recover from addiction and rebuild their lives. However, the financial pressures caused by the National Insurance increase threaten the continuation of vital services.

“Addiction rehabilitation is already a sector that operates on very tight margins, and the new National Insurance changes place significant strain on what we can offer. We are asking the Chancellor to consider the essential role we play in the wider health and social care system and ensure that we are supported in the same way as public bodies,” the letter states.

Choices Rehabs hopes that the government will carefully consider this request and include addiction rehabilitation providers in discussions about the future of health and social care funding.

“We are eager to continue to be a part of the solution to the UK’s addiction crisis, and we hope that the government will recognise the valuable contribution we make,” the spokesperson added.

Choices Rehabs remains committed to supporting individuals on their recovery journeys and is urging the Chancellor to act to ensure these essential services are not lost due to financial constraints.

Press Release

CHOICES REHABS CALLS FOR GOVERNMENT ACTION TO FULFILL RECOMMENDATIONS OF DAME CAROL BLACK REVIEW ON ADDICTION TREATMENT

Choices Rehabs, a group of independent residential detox and rehabilitation centres across the UK, has written to the new Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, urging renewed government commitment to the recommendations of the Dame Carol Black Review. The group represents organisations that together provide treatment for over 2,500 individuals annually, offering over 200,000 bed nights for those in need of residential addiction treatment.

The open letter expresses concern that despite positive steps taken by the previous government, the residential treatment sector continues to face significant underfunding, preventing it from expanding its capacity to meet the growing demand for services. Choices Rehabs calls for increased investment and a more urgent pace in implementing the recommendations of the Dame Carol Black Review, particularly those related to residential rehabilitation and detoxification services.

“Our group plays a critical role in supporting individuals on their journey to recovery, but we are constrained by funding challenges and a lack of sufficient investment in residential treatment,” said a spokesperson for Choices Rehabs. “Despite the encouraging steps outlined in the government’s previous drug strategy, the residential sector remains significantly underfunded, and the targets set by the Dame Carol Black Review remain unmet.”

The letter highlights that, although some additional funding has been provided, it has not been enough to meet the 2% target of drug and alcohol treatment referrals to residential rehabilitation, as recommended by the Review. The Choices Group stresses the importance of residential addiction treatment as a vital part of a blended approach to recovery, which also includes community-based programs.

“We see firsthand the transformative power of residential treatment, not only in helping individuals break free from addiction but also in reducing the burden on other sectors such as the criminal justice system and emergency healthcare services,” the letter states.

The group also emphasises the strain that inflation and the legacy of COVID-19 have placed on the sector, with many residential providers operating on minimal reserves while still delivering life-changing care.

As part of their continued efforts to engage with the government, Choices Rehabs has invited a representative from the Department of Health and Social Care to meet with them, discuss the implementation of the Dame Carol Black Review, and consider further support for the residential treatment sector.

“We would be happy to host a visit to one of our centres, where you can see firsthand the positive impact our work has on the lives of those in recovery,” the letter concludes.