Messy Social Work

Ian Thomas, Tedx Speaker, Care Experienced Social Worker on addiction

24 Jan 2025

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This episode explores the profound complexities of addiction, trauma, and recovery, featuring the deeply personal and inspiring journey of guest Ian Thomas, a social worker and speaker with lived experience of addiction and healing.In this conversation, we cover:Understanding Addiction and TraumaDrawing from Gabor Maté’s In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts, the discussion highlights addiction as a response to trauma, rooted in biological, psychological, and social factors. Ian reflects on his personal battle with addiction, describing substances as a “medicine” for unhealed pain and trauma, and shares poignant moments from his recovery journey.The Power of Connection and CompassionIan recounts how a solicitor’s kindness and non-judgmental approach helped him acknowledge his need for change, emphasizing the transformative power of compassion and human connection in recovery. Rich builds on this, encouraging social workers to see beyond behaviours and recognize the underlying pain and unmet needs of those they support.Social Work and Relational PracticeThe conversation underscores the critical role of social workers in fostering trust, compassion, and understanding. Rich and Ian discuss how professionals can balance empathy with accountability, offering practical insights into working with parents struggling with substance misuse.Links: Contact Ian Thomas: Email at [email protected] or connect via LinkedIn for speaking engagements or workshops: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-thomas-5b573a100/Relational Activism: https://www.relationalactivism.com/Rich's BASW Child Protection sessions: https://basw.co.uk/social-work-child-protection-professional-practice-programmeRich Devine's blog: https://richarddevinesocialwork.com/about/Tim Fisher LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/timfisher101/Rich Devine LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-devine-181763177/

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13:00H | 21 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

01 Jan 1970

Fin de Semana

10:00H | 21 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

01 Jan 1970

Fin de Semana

12:00H | 20 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

01 Jan 1970

Fin de Semana

2ª PARTE | 06 ENE 2026 | EL PARTIDAZO DE COPE

01 Jan 1970

El Partidazo de COPE

3ª PARTE | 22 ENE 2026 | EL PARTIDAZO DE COPE

01 Jan 1970

El Partidazo de COPE

3ª PARTE | 04 MAR 2026 | EL PARTIDAZO DE COPE

01 Jan 1970

El Partidazo de COPE

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Messy Social Work

Ian Thomas, Tedx Speaker, Care Experienced Social Worker on addiction

This episode hasn't been transcribed yet

Other recent transcribed episodes

13:00H | 21 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

10:00H | 21 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

12:00H | 20 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

2ª PARTE | 06 ENE 2026 | EL PARTIDAZO DE COPE

3ª PARTE | 22 ENE 2026 | EL PARTIDAZO DE COPE

3ª PARTE | 04 MAR 2026 | EL PARTIDAZO DE COPE

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