Leigh Proctor tells her SMART Recovery story

Leigh Proctor The National Coordinator of SMART Recovery Wales appeared via video-link to tell her story of recovery at the SMART Recovery Australia Peer Workshop 2017.

In 2009, Leigh came into recovery from a 10-year addiction to alcohol. Over the last five years, Leigh has worked in the field of Substance Misuse and became the National Coordinator for SMART Recovery Wales in 2014.

The SMART Recovery Australia Peer Workshop is an event for peer facilitators – those who have overcome their own addiction of problematic behaviour and are now running SMART Recovery groups themselves. SMART Peers from across Australia congregated in Sydney and collaborated on all things SMART, weekly meetings, and their own experiences as both peers and facilitators.

What is SMART Recovery?

SMART (Self Management And Recovery Training) is a free self-help, mutual-aid program that offers a place for people to in the community to get together and change problematic or addictive behaviours using evidence-based tools and techniques.

There are almost 200 free SMART Recovery meetings taking place every week across Australia, each guided by a trained SMART Recovery facilitator. The SMART Recovery program is currently embedded in over 80 Government and Non Government organisations across Australia.

During SMART meetings the emphasis is on people’s thinking and behaviour, rather than the substance or addiction, as well as finding practical solutions that are focused on the ‘here and now’.

SMART Recovery is underpinned by only evidence-based techniques, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Motivational Interviewing, and to ensure the program adapts with scientific advances, a Research and Advisory Committee of leading Australian addiction and mental health experts was formed.

The program was established in the US in 1994, has been operating in Australia for the past ten years. There are now more than 2500 weekly meetings in 17 different countries.

[pfbywkk]

Thank you so much for your brilliant work Leigh. SMART is my recovery choice after 30 years of serious addiction. I'm now studying to be a Psychotherapist. You're an inspiration and a blessing to many. Wishing you the best.

[danlennox]

Thanks for being a facilitator and being a regional director! 14 yrs in AA I just couldn’t t accept step one. I have the power of choice!!!

[DougKoper]

Thank you for your hard work in helping others and spreading the hope in overcoming substance abuse.

[Karinesrecipe]

I see this was 4 years ago but I'd still like to say Thankyou for sharing 🙏

[theproducermicro]

Love the video. Im starting a recovery channel as well for sobriety and SMART tools.

[GEM_]

Your hard work, passion and commitment is very inspirational. Amazing work!

[particles]

10:50 I think its great we are developing ways to help people that need it and can't get it due to differentiating factors.

And thank you so much for all that you are doing. <3

[amandasmith]

I'm doing my white collar match in July for Smart Recovery ❤

[brandileigh_thepoet]

Leigh, I love your name. It's my middle name. Also, your story is inspiring. Thank you! P.s. Your purple dread are awesome!

[johnkenny]

Get back to AA and do you're STEPS!!! You will be getting a spanking for leaving.