Addiction recovery: The lived experience journey from relapse prevention to recovery protection

Lisa Ogilvie; Kelly Greenwood; Dee Hartley; Rebecca Kippax; Jerome Carson

doi:10.1921/swssr20252612

Authors

Lisa Ogilvie University of Greater Manchester https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7718-052X
Kelly Greenwood Psychotherapist in Private Practice https://orcid.org/0009-0001-2778-6010
Dee Hartley University of Greater Manchester https://orcid.org/0009-0005-7507-9395
Rebecca Kippax UInversity of Salford https://orcid.org/0009-0001-1763-075X
Jerome Carson University of Greater Manchester https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7596-116X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1921/swssr20252612

Keywords:

relapse prevention, recovery protection, addiction recovery, education

Abstract

One of the most frustrating groups of people to work with for social workers, can be people with addictions. In this paper the authors introduce a new approach to addiction recovery, which they call recovery protection. They argue that it is more empowering than the dominant relapse prevention model. All five authors of this paper as in recovery from addiction themselves. After presenting their new model of recovery protection, three of them describe their own recovery journeys and how a model of recovery protection has been a better model for them to have pursued. All five have benefitted from engaging in higher education. Each has a mission to try and make things better for people in addiction or recovering from addiction. The recovery protection model they advocate represents a paradigm shift in the field. Recovery is a gift. Let’s protect it.

Author Biographies

Lisa Ogilvie, University of Greater Manchester

Dr Lisa Ogilvie is a visiting research fellow at the University of Greater Manchester, and a qualified counsellor and chartered psychologist working for a drug and alcohol treatment centre. Her specialist area of research and practise is addiction recovery, in particular realising the pluralistic advancement of positive psychology in this field. Lisa is also interested in narrative research, exploring the lived experience of addiction and recovery, to which end she curates a series of addiction recovery stories for the Emerald journal Advances in Dual Diagnosis. Orcid: 0000-0001-7718-052X

Kelly Greenwood, Psychotherapist in Private Practice

Dr Lisa Ogilvie is a visiting research fellow at the University of Greater Manchester, and a qualified counsellor and chartered psychologist working for a drug and alcohol treatment centre. Her specialist area of research and practise is addiction recovery, in particular realising the pluralistic advancement of positive psychology in this field. Lisa is also interested in narrative research, exploring the lived experience of addiction and recovery, to which end she curates a series of addiction recovery stories for the Emerald journal Advances in Dual Diagnosis.

Dee Hartley, University of Greater Manchester

Dee Hartley: Dee (Denise) Hartley has just completed a masters’ degree in counselling and positive psychology at the University of Bolton and intends to commence a PhD this year. Dee’s background is in drug and alcohol addiction, and she has a passion for qualitative research exploring the lived experience of those in addiction recovery. Main areas of interest are addiction, trauma, self-compassion, resilience, and flourishing, particularly in relation to addiction recovery. Dee currently volunteers as a person-centred counsellor at a community centre and drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility and is in the process of setting up her own private practice.

Rebecca Kippax, UInversity of Salford

Rebecca Kippax: Rebecca Kippax is a post-graduate student currently studying a master’s in applied psychology addictions at the University of Salford. She graduated with a first-class bachelor’s degree in psychology, psychotherapy, and counselling combined in 2024 from the University of Bolton. Rebecca is also an award-winning author of an undergraduate thesis investigating the efficacy of spirituality in the recovery from substance-use disorders. Rebecca’s main research interests are substance-use disorder causal and maintenance factors, the 12-steps of Alcoholics-Anonymous, interpretative phenomenological analysis, and autoethnography.

Jerome Carson, University of Greater Manchester

Jerome Carson is Professor of Psychology at the University of Greater Manchester. His interest in recovery from mental health problems largely developed in 2006 when he worked for the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. While he now works as an academic he retains his interest in recovery and also applications of the CHIME model.

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