The Recovery Foundation Series contains ten video educational sessions that deliver authoritative insights on core recovery topics from internationally recognized subject matter experts.
To bring participants the most current research on recovery, program hosts Dr. Carson McPherson and Dr. Paul Sobey journey across three countries and four cities to interview top experts on topics such as trauma-informed care, addiction and the brain, and the journey of recovery.
Each interview forms the anchor for a 90-minute course grounded in the latest theory and best practices. The Foundations courses connect people and ideas through discussion forums and are supported by references in a reflective workbook that helps learners translate theory into practice. The series builds a foundation for effective, recovery-oriented care and support systems, essential for long-term success in the field of addiction recovery.
With approximately 15 hours of video, this series includes:
Explore the multifaceted world of addiction in this 90-minute course that intersects various disciplines from biology to sociology. This course demystifies some aspects of the disease model of addiction with a featured interview with Dr. Kevin McCauley, a medical doctor whose own recovery journey led him into research on how substances affect the brain. Learners will explore the role of neurotransmitters and other key factors that impact the brain’s functioning and influence behaviour in both addiction and recovery. Designed for a diverse audience, including healthcare enthusiasts, behavioural science students, care providers, counsellors, and all staff involved in recovery services, this course aims to provide a solid foundation for understanding the complex nature of addiction.
Learners will gain insight into how substances affect the brain’s reward pathway and the impacts of dopamine and neurotransmitters on the brain, body, and behaviours. Learners will walk away with a better grasp of other factors that contribute to the onset and continuation of addictive behaviours and how the brain can learn to form healthier pathways in recovery.
Recovery is a multi-faceted journey, intertwining the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual dimensions of an individual’s life. In this 90-minute course, learners will gain access to the essential elements of a recovery journey from Dr. Jo-Hanna Ivers and Dr. David Best, leading researchers on addiction and recovery in the UK. This course is tailored for healthcare professionals, care providers, counselors, staff involved in recovery services, and all those keen on understanding the stages of the recovery process and factors that can influence successful outcomes.
Learners will finish the course with a stronger sense of the stages and intricacies of the recovery journey and a framework for personal recovery: C.H.I.M.E. They’ll be introduced to the concept of recovery capital and the need for recovery-centric care systems. Finally, learners will walk away with an appreciation for the pivotal role of community, social connection, and support networks.
This course dives into the concept of recovery capital, the personal, social, and community assets essential for initiating and sustaining recovery from substance use disorders. Through a featured interview with Dr. Jo-Hanna Ivers and Dr. David Best, leading researchers on addiction and recovery in the UK, participants will delve into the critical role these resources play within therapeutic communities and the broader recovery landscape. The course also focuses on recovery-oriented systems of care (ROSC) and larger systems like recovery communities and cities that provide a comprehensive, holistic framework for addiction recovery. Learners will explore the principles of ROSC and come to understand how to create and support environments that promote sustained recovery. This course is for healthcare professionals, recovery staff, students, and advocates.
Learners will leave with an appreciation for the significance of recovery capital in supporting an individual’s recovery journey. They’ll have a better understanding of the three domains of personal, social, and community assets and their interplay in the recovery process. They will have explored the role of community engagement in building and accessing recovery capital and the potential of recovery cities in supporting individual recovery and contributing to the growth of community resources.
How do you measure recovery? In this 90-minute course, Dr. David Best, a world-renowned expert and researcher on addiction and recovery, focuses in on the pivotal concept of recovery capital. This course is specifically designed for professionals working within recovery communities, including therapists, counsellors, case managers, and support staff. It will provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of how to assess recovery capital and its critical role in promoting sustainable recovery for individuals and within communities.
Learners will explore the various dimensions of recovery capital, including personal, social, and community aspects and come to understand how each element contributes to successful recovery journeys. During the course, learners will review practical tools for assessing recovery capital at both individual and community levels. Learners will finish the course with a greater awareness of how to support individuals in building, measuring and leveraging their recovery capital, ultimately leading to more robust and resilient recovery communities.
Planning the Treatment Journey highlights the integral role of treatment planning in individualized care within recovery communities. This 90-minute course features guest experts Christina Basedow, Elizabeth Loudon, and Rob DeClark as they share the critical components and best practices involved in crafting effective treatment plans. It’s ideal for care providers, counsellors, therapists, and all staff involved in recovery services, focusing on how we all collaborate to develop structured, personalized strategies to support individuals on their recovery journey.
Learners will gain an understanding of the importance of creating personalized, client-centered, strength-based treatment plans and the necessity of adapting them to meet the evolving needs of individuals. The course will cover the key assessments that form the basis of treatment plans and appreciate the value of client involvement in goal setting and plan development, as well as collaboration between interdisciplinary teams. Finally, learners will increase their awareness of the process of treatment planning and how regular review, evaluation, and adjustment can ensure plan relevance.
Case management in recovery communities ensures a structured, continuous, and holistic support system for individuals on their journey through treatment and preparation for community reintegration. Featuring guest experts Christina Basedow, Elizabeth Loudon, and Rob DeClark, this 90-minute course offers insights into the role of case management and the case manager (or recovery ‘navigator’) in planning immediate treatment as well as long-term needs for successful discharge and transition to community living. Designed for staff, counsellors, novice and experienced caregivers, and anyone invested in the recovery ecosystem, this course will provide learners with a foundational understanding of case management and discharge planning strategies and their practical application in recovery settings.
Learners will gain an appreciation for how to develop holistic discharge plans tailored to individual needs. As the journey of recovery extends beyond treatment facilities, learners will also explore client advocacy and how to coordinate with other professionals, families, and community resources to create plans that support sustained recovery.
Trauma-informed care (TIC) is an approach in healthcare and recovery settings that acknowledges the widespread impact of trauma and strives to avoid re-traumatization through informed practice. This 90-minute course features interviews with three guest experts who bring fascinating insights into the impact of trauma in a person’s recovery journey. Dr. Johanna O’Flaherty, a world-renowned expert in crisis management and trauma, addiction, and recovery shares why this work is “sacred.” Jessica Cooksey and Lisa Main offer unique expertise on trauma-informed practice and cultural safety and humility. This course is tailored for healthcare professionals, staff, counsellors, novice and experienced caregivers, and anyone with an interest in integrating a trauma-informed approach in their recovery community.
Learners will gain a foundational understanding of what trauma is and how to recognize its signs and symptoms. The course will explore the six principles of trauma-informed care and their practical application in recovery settings. And finally, learners will develop an appreciation for the intersection of trauma with culture, gender, race, and history, and the importance of practicing cultural safety and humility.
Underpinned by the understanding that relapse is often a natural part of the recovery journey, this 90-minute course equips participants with the knowledge to identify key factors that contribute to relapse and to develop personalized relapse prevention plans. Featuring an interview with guest experts Jessica Cooksey and Rand Teed, this course is designed to strengthen the relapse prevention and intervention capabilities of all staff, counsellors, and novice and experienced caregivers within recovery communities.
Learners will explore the complex nature of relapse and identify practical tools and strategies to reduce its likelihood and manage its occurrence. Learners will come away from this experience feeling better prepared to support individuals, families, and community members through challenging times to sustain their engagement in recovery.
Motivational interviewing (MI) is a client-centered counselling approach, initially developed for addiction treatment, now widely used across various behavioural interventions. In this 90-minute course, participants will be introduced to the four processes of motivational interviewing by featured guest expert Dr. William Miller, a pioneer in the field. This course is tailored for healthcare professionals, care providers, counsellors, staff involved in recovery services, and all those keen on exploring this evidence-based approach.
Learners will be introduced to the unique spirit of motivational interviewing and its emphasis on understanding and resolving ambivalence. They’ll explore techniques for eliciting and reinforcing “change talk” and develop an appreciation for how motivational interviewing facilitates and strengthens a person’s own motivation for change.
Family members often play a pivotal role in the recovery process, both as supporters and as individuals affected by the addiction themselves. It’s crucial to understand family dynamics in the recovery journey. Featuring an interview with guest experts Bill Caldwell, Rob DeClark and Rand Teed, this 90-minute course delves into the complex interplay between family dynamics and addiction recovery and offers valuable insights into how families can be effectively engaged to create a supportive recovery environment. This course is tailored for healthcare professionals, staff, counsellors, novice and experienced caregivers, and anyone with an interest in better understanding and supporting the families they encounter in their work.
Learners will enhance their understanding of the profound impact addiction can have on relationships and healing and gain some practical approaches for involving families in recovery processes. By the end of this experience, learners will also gain tools and tactics for facilitating family support and resilience to foster a healthy recovery environment.