Dr. Tom O'Brien

Caroline Nolan is a Medical Herbalist & Psychotherapist, working with a range of natural healing protocols including herbal cleansing, diet, iridology and mind-body techniques. Caroline’s unique combination of training and experience informs her healing approach, combining natural healing and herbs with psychotherapeutic awareness. It is the combination of these approaches that is the cornerstone of her practice whereby regardless of the individual therapy being provided, the work is grounded in a truly holistic, integrative, mind-body paradigm of health and wellbeing. Caroline has been working in a therapeutic capacity with people from all walks of life for almost 15years. Having initially received a B.A. in Social Care Caroline’s career has brought her to work across all sectors of society including with children in the care of the State and their families to those involved with the criminal justice and prison system. Training as a psychotherapist Caroline continued her therapeutic work in a more focused way working with people needing emotional support for a wide range of issues in life. A focus point of her work has been with people struggling with addictive behaviors. Her own journey of personal development and healing has brought her to work with and study under many teacher from different traditions of meditation, healing and spirituality. Caroline’s commitment to her own professional and personal development is ongoing as she models the role of self-care and continued growth to her clients and patients. Her passion for natural healing and herbal medicine stems from her own personal life experience and working with people whose lives have been limited by the allopathic approach to health. The awareness of the mind-body connection underpins Caroline’s understanding of health and this is reflected in her work with people. It is her passion and purpose to offer whole person healing to people looking for vibrant health and to educate and inform people around these issues. Caroline is a member of the following professional bodies: The Irish Association of Master Medical Herbalists The Irish Institute of Iridologists Irish Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (IACP) http://herbsandhealing.ie

Paul McDonnell was a on heroin and methadone for over 20 years until he arrived in Tiglin, the Co. Wicklow Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre. This interview gives a brief insight into his life from leaving school early to using heroin on a regular basis, until he found recovery. Now he is giving back, working in the Tiglin and training to be an addiction worker. When I met him he had just returned from an internship in Canada. Tiglin Challenge is based on the principles of the Teen Challenge Christian based organisation which started caring for troubled youth in New York City in 1958 by David Wilkerson Author of “The Cross and the Switchblade”. The program now has over 500 Teen Challenge Centres in 90 different countries worldwide. Tiglin Challenge strives to help the ‘whole person’, not just the substance abuse. The Tiglin Challenge approach is to teach a whole new way of living by addressing family relationships, work attitudes, self image, peer pressure, temptation, community relationships and a variety of other life skills. Mission Statement To provide individuals with an effective and comprehensive solution to life-controlling addiction problems, including gambling, in order to become productive members of society. Tiglin, operating under a Christian ethos, endeavours to help people become mentally sound, emotionally balanced, socially adjusted, physically well, and spiritually alive.

Listen to Michele Culligan artist and social activist from Finglas talk about her journey from community member to community activist. Michelle is not passive, nor does she wait for people to solve her problems . Michelle is proactive, engaging and challenging. Listen to this interview if you believe in the need for collective action in tackling the drug problem.

Austin is a highly experienced Counsellor, offering support and guidance in the areas of substance abuse, compulsive behaviours, relationship difficulties, anxiety, stress management etc. In January 2014 he stepped down from the position of Deputy Director of The Rutland Centre, which is a highly acclaimed Rehabilitation Centre in Dublin, in order to establish a private practice in Counselling and in Clinical Supervision. During his time at the Rutland Centre he worked for many years as Continuing Care Co-ordinator, overseeing the segment of the programme which supports clients and their families in the immediate aftermath of treatment. In this work he gained a great insight into the damage that addiction is capable of inflicting on not just the addicted person, but also on their immediate family, and the support that both require in order for them to take on the challenging but rewarding work of recovery. He helped to establish and develop the support programme for Concerned Persons, including a day-long workshop to provide information and support for those struggling with addiction in their families. Having seen the devastation caused to partners, spouses, parents and adult children, by addictions to alcohol, drugs, gambling, and the compulsive use of sex and food, he has developed the awareness and understanding necessary to support them in rebuilding lives and relationships. He also developed a keen interest in the area of Relapse Prevention, and has presented workshops on the subject to professionals working in the area of addiction as well as to those people battling with the challenges of early recovery. He has been happy to avail of every opportunity that has presented itself, through various media outlets and through schools, to warn of the dangers and the insidious nature of addiction, and to promote his deeply held belief that the freedom of recovery is available to, and attainable by, every person who is willing to work for it. Austin is fully accredited as a Counsellor and as a Clinical Supervisor with Addiction Counsellors of Ireland

New study explores the social impact of gambling in Ireland Playing Social Roulette is a new study led by Dr. Crystal Fulton, School of Information and Library Studies, University College Dublin, to explore the growing phenomenon of gambling in Ireland. Funded through the Irish Research Council with support from the Departments of Social Protection and Justice and Equality, the study explores all aspects of gambling, in particular, its impact on the lives of those who participate and on community and society. Currently, an overall picture of who gambles, how and why they gamble is not available in Ireland. Casinos and new technologies such as Internet or mobile phone gambling offer new opportunities to gamble, in addition to more traditional forms of gambling. Because gambling may lead to addiction for some, along with financial loss and social alienation, understanding perceptions of gambling and the triggers for problem gambling may critically facilitate development of services and prevention of for those most vulnerable to problem gambling. Input is sought from critical stakeholder groups to gather their perspectives: 1) volunteer organisations and service providers who assist gamblers and those affected by gambling; 2) individuals who gamble, ranging from occasional gamblers to compulsive gamblers; 3) families and friends affected by gambling; 4) the gambling industry and its role in ensuring social responsibility. Interviews are ongoing. Gamblers and their families and friends are currently sought for participation. To participate, contact Dr. Crystal Fulton, University College Dublin Email: [email protected]

Monday 11th August 2014 on "Addicted" my guest is Dr. Bobby Smyth Child and Adolescent Consultant Psychiatrist, working in a number of services across south Dublin and lecturing in Trinity College Dublin. Dr. Smyth has published numerous papers on a number of subjects, including Hepatitis C, Injecting drug use, addiction treatment outcomes for young people. He is also a member of the board of Alcohol Action Ireland. Bobby is a straight talker and is not afraid to say what is on his mind. He has a passion for young people and works constantly to improve services and outcomes for teenagers affected by addiction.

On this weeks episode of 'Addicted" on 103.2 Dublin City FM, I interview Dr. Colin O Gara consultant psychiatrist at St. John of God's Hospital in Stillorgan, Co. Dublin. Gambling is a huge problem in Ireland and one I believe we are ignoring at a cost. It is estimated that Irish people gamble €5 billion per year. Dr. Colin estimates that between 5 and 7 per cent of the population are at risk to Gambling Addiction and within this 0.06 to 1per cent are pathological gamblers. In Dublin Gamblers Anonymous.