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Walking in Their Shoes: Accompanying the Journey of Those Who Struggle with Addiction and Recovery

This workshop focuses on the intersection of addiction recovery and Spiritual Direction, offering insights and practical guidance for accompanying individuals on this challenging journey. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the dynamics of various addictions and the recovery process, with a particular emphasis on how spiritual themes relate to addiction recovery.

The session will explore the 12-step programme, highlighting the central role of spirituality in recovery, and introduce other approaches, including trauma-informed care. Spiritual Directors will learn how to integrate this knowledge into their practice, enhancing their ability to support directees in addiction recovery. The workshop aims to increase awareness and understanding of addiction and recovery, equipping Directors with the tools to provide compassionate and effective spiritual accompaniment in this context.


Paul Ward

Paul accompanies people from any background. He is a Secular Carmelite (OCDS), with a focus on Christ, in Meditation/Contemplation in daily life outside of a monastery. He trained as a Spiritual Director at the LCSD on the Encounter Course and has an MA in Christian spirituality from London University. He has been seeing directees for 5 years since leaving Encounter. He also has experience and training in Ignatian spirituality having also obtained a PGCert in Ignatian Spirituality from Heythrop College at the London University.

He also accompanies people in their recovery from addictions, using the spiritual approach of the 12 steps, and other approaches. He has been a member of a number of recovery fellowships for over 30 years including Alcoholics Anonymous-AA/Codependents Anonymous-CoDA and Adult Children of Alcoholics and /or Dysfunctional Families ACOA/ACA/and Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous-SLAA. He has a background in counselling and is trauma informed. He works as well with Internal Family Systems (IFS) counselling/spirituality.

He has a background in working with people with learning difficulties having worked in L’Arche and Mencap/mental health/homelessness/prison social work. He also trained for 5 years as a Roman Catholic Priest, and also as a youth worker and a secondary school teacher.


£50 / £40 for Members

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11 April

Finding a Spiritual Director Referral 1-1

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6 May

Encounter Open Evening Spring 2025