Michael John

Michael John is a Recovery Manager at Harbor who supports people recovering from alcohol and drug addiction. Alongside addiction, he works with anxiety, bereavement and relationship difficulties, as well as with people affected by domestic abuse or psychosexual issues.

Michael has been in recovery himself for more than 30 years. That gives him a personal understanding of what clients are going through and how much it takes to maintain recovery over the long term.

Professional Background & Qualifications

Michael holds a Level 5 Diploma in Counselling Skills, which included training in integrative counselling.

Integrative counselling combines different approaches, and his training covered cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) along with psychodynamic and humanistic methods.

Professional Experience

Michael has worked in residential treatment and in private clinics abroad, including in Switzerland and Dubai, where he supported clients through periods of emotional and psychological distress. Born and raised in London, he returned to the city after his time overseas.

He offers 12-step support both one-to-one and in groups, including for clients whose drug or alcohol use is tangled up with emotional or psychological problems.

Approach to Care

Michael works with compassion and without judgement. He gives clients room to explore what is going on in their lives and to begin making sense of their experiences, and he also helps them with the practical side of recovery.

Because his training is integrative, he isn’t tied to one model and can adapt his approach to each person.