Martin Weegmann

 “The substance in question: psychodynamic approaches to addiction & recovery”

May 9, 2009

Martin overviews a psychodynamic approach to addiction, with an emphasis on integrating ideas from different traditions:  object-relations, attachment theory, self-psychology and group. Rather than see addiction as a state that resides simply within the individual, he will note the importance of the social unconscious life of substance users- cultures of delinquency, getting ‘out of it’, normalized boozing, etc. A contemporary psychodynamic perspective helps client, worker and agency alike to tackle those ‘forces’ that demand immediate action or satisfaction and that kill reflection; this can be a great aid to mainstream approaches, such as motivational interviewing, relapse prevention, 12 Step facilitation.   

Martin Weegmann is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Group Analyst, working at the Henderson (for personality disorders). Previously he worked in the specialities of Substance Misuse and Psychotherapy in Ealing, West London. He has taught widely and published in a range of journals, currently working on A Perspectical World, a book that draws upon historical and philosophical approaches to understanding the practices of modern psychotherapy.

He has co-edited/authored within; Psychodynamics of Addiction (2002, J. Wiley) and Group Psychotherapy of Addiction (2004, John Wiley). 

Martin enjoys the creative side of life- art, music (is he trapped in a time-bubble known as ‘the early 70’s?’) and writing.

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