Join us for an incredibly honest and inspiring conversation with counsellor and campaigner Ben Kaye as he shares his remarkable journey from addiction and breakdown to becoming an award-winning therapist specialising in LGBTQ+ substance misuse and chemsex support.
This powerful episode reveals how life can completely change course twice – first when Ben’s parents divorced at 15, derailing his university dreams, and again at 37 when a “tsunami of personal circumstances” led to his breakdown and recovery journey. Hosted by: Michaela McCarthy (Founder of The Awareness Centre, The Awareness Centre Training School, and Creator and Host of A Bunch of Therapists Podcast. Senior BACP Accredited Psychotherapist and Influential Leader) and Dipti Solanki (Therapist, Coach & Consultant, Mental Health Trainer and Founder of Grief Matters 4 All CIC).
In this compelling episode, Ben openly shares:
- How his parents’ divorce at 15 changed his life trajectory overnight
- Working in the City for 20+ years whilst feeling completely stuck
- Using substances from age 15 to 37 as a way to change how he felt
- His mental breakdown at 37 and the dangerous situations he found himself in
- Walking through the doors of a Lambeth drug and alcohol service
- His transformative three months in rehab in Bournemouth
- Discovering he could retrain and pursue education for the first time since leaving school
- Launching Dorset’s first LGBTQ+ recovery groups and chemsex support services
- Completing his counselling qualifications and psychology master’s degree
This profoundly moving conversation offers hope and practical guidance for anyone struggling with addiction, identity, or feeling trapped in their circumstances.
Key Topics Discussed:
- The impact of family breakdown on teenage development
- Feeling stuck in careers that don’t align with your true self
- Substance use as emotional regulation and escape
- The chemsex scene and its specific challenges
- Finding culturally competent therapeutic support
- The importance of being truly heard versus just listened to
- How personal struggles can inform professional specialisation
- Building LGBTQ+ specific services outside major cities
- The difference between MSM (men who have sex with men) and gay identity
- Practical advice on finding the right therapist
Find out more about Ben Kaye. A full transcript of this episode is available here.
