Peter Bentley, Founder

Peter wrote the Intuitive Recovery course and started teaching I.R. in January 2004 having successfully beaten his addiction and ended his years of drinking and using. ‘I realised that the tactics I used to stop were often the very things I’d been advised against doing. I used to avoid high risk situations, thought of myself as having some form of illness or inadequacy, believed myself to be a victim of circumstance. It was the realisation that I could say NO, and install a simple plan to NEVER USE AGAIN, that set me free.’

‘I started Intuitive Recovery to offer people an alternative way out of their addiction, one that they owned themselves and wasn’t dependent upon years “in recovery”’.

Zack Haider, New Business Director

Zack first sat the course in January 06 having over twenty years trying to overcome addictions to various substances and in his own words, ‘decided there and then that he could take independent and decisive action to end his addiction’. He went on to work for various high profile organisations helping people to move out of treatment and into meaningful employment before being invited to come back and teach in 2007. He has since become a Senior Development Manager for Intuitive Recovery and helps to train new teachers.

I think the most important thing about what I had learnt was that I was able to do anything I wanted and that it was only my thoughts and attitudes that restricted me. I have since done a lot of educational qualifications but none are so prized as my N.O.C.N certificate in Addictive Desire Recognition that I achieved from this course. Without this the rest would not have happened. I think the knowledge that I can make a lifelong plan to NEVER USE AGAIN is by far the most empowering and liberating feeling I have ever had. I have never looked back at that decision with anything other than a sense of achievement.

Chris Kelly, Course Tutor

Intuitive Recovery was a real turning point in my life. It has given me something non-users will never get - a feeling of genuine pleasure each and every time I don’t use. I will never live in fear of using again and now have enormous pleasure in teaching this course to others caught in the mindset of being addicted.

Alex Wilson, Area Manager

I joined the Intuitive Recovery team in January 09 as a Course Development Manager, after working in the drug and alcohol field as a key worker for almost 9 years. I have worked in all areas of the drug and alcohol treatment systems including: working with street homeless people, hostel work, criminal justice systems, arrest referral, prison link and also clinical work.

My last post was as a structured day care worker, it was during this role that I was invited to attend the Intuitive Recovery class alongside service users. After the first day I remained a little cynical but still quite excited to see what the rest of the course had to offer… by lesson three I had a 'moment of clarity' and fully understood the simplicity of I.R. That evening I sat at home questioning the way that I had worked with service users over the years and my own belief system… I truly believe that language is a very powerful tool and recognised that by making allowances and justifications for the individuals continued drug and alcohol misuse only serves to keep the individual as a victim and feeling powerless to make the necessary changes to beat their addiction.

I asked Peter for a job because I am passionate about people, and I.R allows me to help people to recognise the mechanics of their drug and alcohol use, using simple and believable techniques to promote change and to recognise that they can say 'NO' and 'NEVER'. I am very proud to be working for Intuitive Recovery, I come to work happy and feeling fulfilled.

Paul O'Farrell, Area Manager

After many years trudging around the treatment system looking for answers to my drug and alcohol problem I had resigned myself to the outcome that my doctor told me. 'If your lucky you may get one or two more miserable years on this planet with awful health problems and an early grave'. I thought I was a victim and had a disease which I had no control over.

In four sessions with Intuitive Recovery my whole outlook towards my addiction changed. Through education of how and why we addict and the new skills I learned on the course, I cut my cravings dead and sent them packing with ease. The ability to stand strong against my addiction no matter where I am or who I am with gives me more pleasure than I can put into words.

Intuitive Recovery focuses on the future not the past. I have a concrete plan that no matter what happens in my life I will never drink again. I now work for Intuitive Recovery as a Tutor delivering the course. To be able to help others is fantastic.

Chelsea Howles, Office Manager

I joined Intuitive Recovery early in 2009. I carry out all the office functions and I’m the first point of call when you phone Intuitive Recovery. It's my job to make sure that you get onto a course and that you are phoned and written to with all the necessary details. It's great to work in a company who's sole aim to is help people become happier.

Jason Harrison, Course Tutor

Intuitive Recovery changed my life. 18 months ago I was using and living in a hostel in Wigan. I now have my own flat, car and wage and I can't tell you just how good that all feels. My relationship to drugs is now finally and totally put to bed and I am working over in Walsall delivering Intuitive Recovery. Things could hardly be better. 

Richard Kendrick, Course Tutor

I was persuaded to sit the course, with the words from my key worker ringing in my ears. “If you don’t sit it, what else is there for you? “. I hated the world and everyone in it. I blamed the world and everyone in it for all my problems. I was suicidal after losing my son through my selfishness and horrible behaviour towards the ones who loved me. I sat the course knowing it wouldn’t help, how could it? I had been addicted to something for 20 years. So day 1, I sat and listened and found it very interesting, almost fascinating. Day 2, I walked out knowing I would never use cocaine again, incredible!! It answered the question I had been struggling with for years. Why am I doing something I hate, I simply trained “IT “to believe it needed coke to survive. I then was told “IT “couldn’t make me do anything, it could only ask, I was in control not “IT “. That was me done, I walked out on day 2 free from my addiction. After completing the course I righted the wrong and asked for forgiveness from the people I had hurt, I then forgave myself. I put the past to bed there and then. I have my family back and never been happier. All I had to was to make the easiest decision of my life, to stop using the drug that was killing me and the people around me. IR saved my life, well I did it myself, and they just showed me how. Thanks

Angela Lyston, Course Tutor

After years of groups, therapy, script reductions, counselling, 121’s, detox, rehabs, and much more, I was totally baffled as to why I still continued to pick up and use despite all the so called treatment and support. When I sat Intuitive Recovery it was like being struck with absolute truth and common sense backed up by science. I could not find a fault and totally understood the entire approach. I was finally relieved that I now had been enlightened with the knowledge of how I could stop using.  Consequently, I then stopped using. The tools were simple yet extremely effective and thanks to Intuitive Recovery I have been freed from the chains and confines of addiction and released into the best life experience ever. This approach should be available to everyone in all treatment services as a matter of routine. Intuitive Recovery gives the individual the knowledge needed to wake up and reclaim their lives.

Andrew Boot, Course Tutor

I did not know what to expect when I was asked to attend the intuitive recovery course, it is without a doubt the best decision that I have ever made. Questions I had often asked myself, doctors and people in treatment system were now being answered from day one, I was now beginning to understand the drive behind me that always led to picking up a bottle. After a fantastically clear four day course that took away all the nonsense I had created myself I was able to walk away from the dark place I had found myself in. I now work for Intuitive recovery and absolutely love delivering this course, helping people out of the same dark place. Thanks to Intuitive recovery I now give my life the 100% undivided attention it deserves.

Nick Thompson, Course Tutor

I knew absolutely nothing about “Intuitive Recovery” before sitting the course and so went along with an open mind. Although I had been abstinent for several years I was still feeling obliged to attend an endless amount of A.A and N.A meetings throughout my week and almost felt trapped “in recovery”. Through sitting the course I was able to gain an invaluable set of skills to set me free once and for all. It most certainly is an extraordinary piece of education and one that everyone experiencing substance misuse issues should be involved with.  I have since had the opportunity to start facilitating the course and that is very satisfying indeed.

Tariq Akhtar, Course Tutor

When I made the decision to stop using illicit drugs I was still dependent on Subutex. Though a very small dose, I eventually learnt that I didn’t need it! The course content was delivered with great enthusiasm and the facilitator was very approachable and friendly. I have now come to realise that I did not need to have my life controlled by substances and that “I” am in total control not “IT”. I will be recommending I.R to almost everyone I know, regardless of their choices I am sure every individual can benefit from taking part in this revolution of self worth and recovery!  Intuitive Recovery succeeded where all other attempts had failed! I am enlightened and empowered by what Intuitive Recovery had taught me. Never has a “no-nosense” approach been so effective! Thank you very much I.R.

Matthew Wilson, Course Tutor

The Intuitive Recovery Course was the answer to all my problems, thankfully after all the years of pain and misery, I had found an intervention to regain control of my life. The skills in which I learnt during the course helped me overcome my addiction forever, and empowered me to the point where I now had choices in life and not only one decision to use. The course is easy to understand, no nonsense, no excuses, life changing.

Michael Ellina, Course Tutor

Before I sat this course my life was pure chaos. I lost everything I loved and cared for. I soon learnt that I was not in control of my life, ‘IT’ was. Once I had been taught how to retrain ‘IT’ I soon took back control of my life. Everything that I had lost I gained back and now I could not be happier. The Intuitive Recovery Course is one of the best things I have ever done and I strongly recommend anyone with an addiction to sit this course.

Michael Wall, Course Tutor

After my detox from alcohol, I was really struggling. My keyworker referred me onto the course and by day two, everything clicked for me. I learnt how to put my addiction to bed for good. I would highly recommend the course to anyone who wants addiction out of their life forever.

Iain Fairclough, Course Tutor

Many years of my life were spent in addiction, blurring as I changed substances. I don’t feel I could honestly say when I became a slave to my incorrect, but easy choice. Lifestyle only added strength to my use, but only succeeded in denying me the answers I needed. How easy it was to move from “weed”, to “ecstasy”, to “cocaine” and of course alcohol was a massive factor.

Crime fed my desire to live the lifestyle I chose and I viewed my decisions as business and not crime. A means to an end is a powerful drive, my will to achieve my focus. Police and court intervention was standard in my alternative occupation, but not a deterrent. Always staying in employment to front my corruption I failed to see how misguided I was. The success in addiction to alcohol and cocaine was highlighted by my failings in life.

Greed, this was my keeper and it allowed me to move away from morals and inhibitions. Fun, good times, both long forgotten in my addiction. Greed comes with heavy costs and I found, that when I realized that, I’d lost myself to IT.

I had to change! I entered services, that help overcome addiction and my quest began. Long and arduous the task to beat it was reinforced with every meeting I attended. My peers told me it was for life and I had to accept that. I was not prepared to accept it though and through helpful guidance through key-workers and the C.A.T. I found myself at Intuitive Recovery.

The course was like a breath of fresh air and started to give me what I really craved….ANSWERS! It was almost as if Peter Bentley (I.R. founder) had reached inside my head and taken out my way of thinking and put in a tangible order for me to digest. The course stripped addiction to it bones in a clear, conscience way. Very easy to understand and “Shoots straight from the hip” so to say. Skills learnt on the course not only beat my addiction for- ever, it also improved my life skills with a new thought process.

I cannot praise the course enough and to quote Nitzsche;-

“The world is what you think of it, change the way you think and you can change your life!”

Intuitive Recovery changed my life!