Provider: Cognitive

Introduction to Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Alcohol and Other Drug Workers in-person workshop

**Workshop Full**

Presented by James McGregor

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is among the most widely researched and practised therapeutic approaches for people seeking treatment for alcohol and other drugs (AOD). CBT is highly effective in supporting people to identify and understand unhelpful patterns of thinking and behaviour, and then to make positive changes to these. The ways that CBT is utilised have changed over the decades, with current approaches expanding the focus to seamlessly blend traditional CBT principles with concepts of mindfulness, acceptance, compassion, metacognition and therapeutic relationship dynamics.

In this workshop, we will cover a range of techniques and interventions to support people to make sustained changes in their lives, whether directly for AOD use or other areas of life. This will include the knowledge and skills to raise awareness of unhelpful thinking patterns and to foster an environment that encourages positive changes in behaviour. This will be a practical and interactive workshop where you will be introduced to a range of tools and relapse prevention strategies which you can use collaboratively with people in recovery-oriented practice.

This will be a practical and interactive workshop where you will be introduced to a range of tools, worksheets and Relapse Prevention Strategies that you can use collaboratively with your client to promote a recovery-oriented practice.

About James

James McGregor has over 15 years’ experience working in clinical AOD programs – both individual and group-based – as well as running education and training programs for staff and consumers. He holds a Masters of Social Work, Graduate Diploma in Narrative Therapy, and Diploma of Leadership & Management.

Who should attend?

State-funded AOD workers new to their role and/or those looking to refresh and update existing knowledge.

Eligibility Criteria

This workshop is only available to staff who are working in a Victorian State-funded AOD organisation.

Date: Tuesday 13th October 2026
Time: 9:30am – 4:00pm
Venue: Turning Point, Level 1, Training Rooms – 110 Church St, Richmond 3121

Cost: Free (This workshop is only available to staff who are working in a Victorian Department of Health (DH) funded AOD organisation.)

Register Now

Enquiries: tp@turningpoint.org.au

Recognising and Working with Cognitively Impaired Clients in Alcohol and Other Drug Settings

Presented by Dr James Gooden, Sarah Bussell & Georgia Bolt

Register: here

Working with cognitively impaired clients can be a significant challenge, particularly when access to assessment services and resources is limited. Cognitive difficulties may arise from a range of aetiologies, including acquired brain injury, mental health, substance use, or neurodevelopmental differences and together, this can have a cumulative and adverse impact on treatment outcomes and recovery.

This workshop will provide practical strategies for working with clients who present with or have concerns regarding cognitive difficulties. In particular, this workshop will cover four main themes:

  • Recognising cognitive impairment
  • Underlying aetiologies across the lifespan
  • Supporting clients with cognitive impairment
  • Referral pathways: When might assessment be indicated?

Who should attend: AOD clinicians, counsellors, support workers and allied health

Registration enquiries: tp@turningpoint.org.au

Date: Friday 26th June 2026
Time: 9:30am – 4:30pm
Venue: Turning Point, Level 1, Training Rooms – 110 Church St, Richmond 3121

Cost: Free – This workshop is only available to staff working in Victorian state-funded Drug and Alcohol services.
Register: here
Enquiries: tp@turningpoint.org.au

About the Presenters

Sarah Bussell is a Clinical Neuropsychology Registrar at Turning Point Statewide Services, where she provides secondary consultation and neuropsychological assessment for adults with significant substance use histories, collaborating with consumers, referrers, and care teams to guide care planning and formulation. Her work centres on valuing consumer perspectives and experiences whilst considering differential diagnoses and applying evidence-based strategies/supports to enhance everyday functioning. Across both community outpatient and inpatient settings, she also has experience in rehabilitation, complex discharge planning, and co-occurring factors.

She completed her Master of Psychology (Clinical Neuropsychology) at the University of Melbourne in 2023 and is committed to translating neuropsychological knowledge into meaningful support for both consumers and healthcare teams.

Georgia Bolt is a Senior Clinical Neuropsychologist at Turning Point and Austin Health, providing assessment and consultation for adults with complex co-occurring conditions across inpatient and community settings. She works with clients and multidisciplinary teams to inform formulation, support diagnosis, and guide management, including cognitive, behavioural and decision-making capacity issues.

Georgia was awarded the inaugural Maureen Molloy Prize in Clinical Neuropsychology at the University of Melbourne and recently completed her PhD through Monash University, investigating a personalised mHealth cognitive intervention for older adults drinking at hazardous levels.

She has published in AOD settings and presented at national and international conferences.

Dr James Gooden is a Senior Clinical Neuropsychologist and clinician researcher based at the Turning Point Addiction Neuropsychology Service in Richmond, Victoria. His case load includes individuals experiencing a high degree of clinical complexity, including comorbid traumatic or acquired brain injury, alcohol and polysubstance use, mental health difficulty, complex trauma, and forensic and psychosocial issues.

He is a co-author of the clinical practice guidelines for Managing Cognitive Impairment in AOD Treatment published by Turning Point, and has authored 14 academic manuscripts, a book chapter, and presented widely across local, national and international conferences in addition to delivering training across the healthcare sector.

Cancellation policy: This is a free event. If you cannot attend, manage your ticket via your Eventbrite account and cancel your registration.  Alternatively, email tp@turningpoint.org.au no later than 3 days before advising of your inability to attend.

 

Introduction to Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Alcohol and Other Drug Workers in-person workshop

Session Full

Presented by James McGregor

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is among the most widely researched and practised therapeutic approaches for people seeking treatment for alcohol and other drugs (AOD). CBT is highly effective in supporting people to identify and understand unhelpful patterns of thinking and behaviour, and then to make positive changes to these. The ways that CBT is utilised have changed over the decades, with current approaches expanding the focus to seamlessly blend traditional CBT principles with concepts of mindfulness, acceptance, compassion, metacognition and therapeutic relationship dynamics.

In this workshop, we will cover a range of techniques and interventions to support people to make sustained changes in their lives, whether directly for AOD use or other areas of life. This will include the knowledge and skills to raise awareness of unhelpful thinking patterns and to foster an environment that encourages positive changes in behaviour. This will be a practical and interactive workshop where you will be introduced to a range of tools and relapse prevention strategies which you can use collaboratively with people in recovery-oriented practice.

This will be a practical and interactive workshop where you will be introduced to a range of tools, worksheets and Relapse Prevention Strategies that you can use collaboratively with your client to promote a recovery-oriented practice.

About James

James McGregor has over 15 years experience working in clinical AOD programs, both individual and group-based programs, as well as leading education and training programs for staff and consumers. He holds a Masters of Social Work, a Graduate Diploma in Narrative Therapy, and a Diploma of Leadership & Management.

Who should attend?

State-funded AOD workers new to their role and/or those looking to refresh and update existing knowledge.

Eligibility Criteria

This workshop is only available to staff who are working in a Victorian State-funded AOD organisation.

Date: Tuesday 30th June 2026
Time: 9:30am – 4:00pm
Venue: Turning Point, Level 1, Training Rooms – 110 Church St, Richmond 3121

Cost: Free

Register Now

Enquiries: tp@turningpoint.org.au

The Brain Workshop (online)

*To enrol, change ‘Enrol Now’ to ‘I’m Going’. Check if you’ve enrolled correctly under ‘My Courses’

Date: Thursday, 16 April 2026 9:30AM – 4:30PM

Location: Online

Description:

Alcohol and other drugs can affect the brain in both consistent and idiosyncratic ways. Up to 70% of people in alcohol and other drug treatment have significant temporary or long term cognitive impairment related to drug use, lifestyle or other factors.

In this workshop, learn about how different parts of the brain can be affected by drug use and how this may impact functioning. You will gain a thorough understanding of how the brain works, the functional impact of drugs and the effects on treatment.

Learning outcomes:

  • Understand how alcohol and other drugs affect the brain in the short and longer term
  • Gain skills in assessment of functional impairment and daily functioning
  • Adapt treatment to improve outcomes for clients who have cognitive impairments

Suitable for new, experienced and advanced practitioners and workers in low threshold and clinical settings.

Eligibility Criteria

This training has been funded for workers employed in a Victorian State-funded Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) service.

Who is not eligible?

Students on placement or internships, workers from other community sectors such as Family Violence, Homelessness and Mental Health and AOD workers outside of Victoria.

Terms & Conditions

No shows will be charged a $50 cancellation fee. If you cannot attend, cancel your registration and make your spot available to someone else on the waitlist.

Recognising and Working with Cognitively Impaired Clients in AOD Settings

This is a 1-day in person training.

Description: Working with cognitively impaired clients can be a significant challenge, particularly when access to assessment services and resources are limited. Cognitive difficulties may arise from a range of aetiologies including acquired brain injury, mental health, substance use, or neurodevelopmental differences and together, this can have a cumulative and adverse impact on treatment outcomes and recovery. This workshop will provide practical strategies for working with clients who present with or have concerns regarding cognitive difficulties. In particular, this workshop will cover four main themes:

  • Recognising cognitive impairment
  • Underlying aetiologies across the lifespan
  • Supporting clients with cognitive impairment
  • Referral pathways: When might assessment be indicated?

Date: Friday, 28th November 2025

Time: 9:30pM – 4:30PM

Location: Turning Point, 110 Church Street, Richmond, VIC 3121

Cost: Free

Who should attend: AOD clinicians, counsellors, support workers and allied health working in a Victorian Department of Health funded AOD organisation.

Registration:  Click here to register

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ABOUT PROVIDER

arbias Ltd. is a not for profit national company established in 1990. arbias Ltd. provides specialist services for people with acquired brain injury and high complex needs which include alcohol and other substances, and mental health disorders. Our services include Neuropsychology assessment, Training provided by Clinical Neuropsychologists for people working with clients with ABI, Community Programs, NDIS Services, Housing, and TAC Intensive Outreach Support Coordination.

arbias
27 Hope St
Brunswick VIC 3056
E: EnquiriesVIC@arbias.com.au
Ph: 03 8388 1222
web: arbias.org.au
Feb 01
01/02/22The Interplay between ABI, Mental Health, and AOD: Untangling the Complexity: Half Day Module
clock Duration: Half-day
location Delivery Mode: Online

**THIS TRAINING IS NOW FULL**

Let us provide insight into mental health disorders and associated cognitive difficulties, including co-occurring mental health difficulties and ABI. We will specifically look at substance use and ABI for an understanding of behaviours of concern in such contexts.

clock Timetable:
location Details:

9:30am – 12:30pm

  • Training Type: Non-accredited
  • Topic: ABI, Cognitive
  • Priority Population: All
  • Age Group: All
  • Location: 

    Online
About this training:

IMPORTANT: registrations for training will become live approximately two months prior to start of training. To enrol in this or any training, you must click the link below and fill in the registration. If you do not complete the registration, you will not have a place in the training. If you experience a broken link, please get in touch with us at elevate@vaada.org.au

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The aim of this module is to provide participants with knowledge and skills for working with people who have an ABI who present with alcohol and/or substance use and mental health issues.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this session it is anticipated that participants will be able to:

  • Know how to screen for ABI risk factors and how to refer for further assessment
  • Describe a number of common mental health disorders
  • Understand how alcohol and other substance-related brain injury occurs and their common consequences
  • Understand how complexity/comorbidity occurs
  • Implement strategies to assist with working with complexity
  • Understand brain-behaviour relationships and the effects of ABI on behaviour
Provider: arbias

Eligibility Criteria

This training has been funded for workers employed in a Victorian State-funded Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) service, including those who are new to the AOD sector or recently employed under the COVID-19 Workforce Initiative and Peer workers.

Who is not eligible?

Students on placement or internships, workers from other community sectors such as Family Violence, Homelessness and Mental Health and AOD workers outside of Victoria.

Please ensure you have clearance to attend from your line manager. If you are unable to attend, even if you find out the day before, please cancel your registration and make your spot available to someone else on the waiting list.
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