Navigating Complex Mental Health & Addiction Recovery: A journey from Self-Harm to Self-Parenting
Wed Feb 04 2026
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Robin Lefever, psychiatrist and long-standing voice in addiction and mental health care, joins Abdullah Boulad for an honest and wide-ranging conversation on addiction, relapse, depression, trauma, and the long-term reality of treatment.
Robin speaks openly about his early experiences with substance use, the temporary relief addiction can bring, and how emotional vulnerability, social anxiety, and mental health struggles often sit underneath addictive behaviours. He reflects on relapse, self-harm, depressive episodes, and the complex journey from first asking for help to long-term stability.
The discussion looks at family systems, early intervention, harm reduction, therapeutic communities, power dynamics in clinics, and the importance of team culture in creating a safe therapeutic environment.
This episode also touches on suicidal ideation, mental health crises, neurodivergence, and the need for compassionate, human-centered care that goes beyond rigid models.
About Robin:
Robin Lefever is a psychiatrist with decades of experience in addiction and mental health treatment. His work focuses on evidence-based care, therapeutic communities, and creating treatment environments that are supportive, ethical, and grounded in clinical reality.
Follow Abdullah Boulad:
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Follow Robin Lefever:
https://www.facebook.com/robin.lefever/
You can order Abdullah’s book, ‘Living A Life In Balance’, here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/...
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#LivingALifeInBalance #podcast #mentalhealthpodcast #wellness #wellnessjourney #health #healing #wellbeing #traumainformed #love #mentalhealth #recovery #support #safety #motivation #healthylifestyle #addictionrecovery
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Send us a text Robin Lefever, psychiatrist and long-standing voice in addiction and mental health care, joins Abdullah Boulad for an honest and wide-ranging conversation on addiction, relapse, depression, trauma, and the long-term reality of treatment. Robin speaks openly about his early experiences with substance use, the temporary relief addiction can bring, and how emotional vulnerability, social anxiety, and mental health struggles often sit underneath addictive behaviours. He reflects on relapse, self-harm, depressive episodes, and the complex journey from first asking for help to long-term stability. The discussion looks at family systems, early intervention, harm reduction, therapeutic communities, power dynamics in clinics, and the importance of team culture in creating a safe therapeutic environment. This episode also touches on suicidal ideation, mental health crises, neurodivergence, and the need for compassionate, human-centered care that goes beyond rigid models. About Robin: Robin Lefever is a psychiatrist with decades of experience in addiction and mental health treatment. His work focuses on evidence-based care, therapeutic communities, and creating treatment environments that are supportive, ethical, and grounded in clinical reality. Follow Abdullah Boulad: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abdullahboulad/ https://www.instagram.com/abdullahboulad/ Follow Robin Lefever: https://www.facebook.com/robin.lefever/ You can order Abdullah’s book, ‘Living A Life In Balance’, here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/... Follow The Balance RehabClinic: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thebalancerehabclinic/ https://www.instagram.com/thebalancerehabclinic/ #LivingALifeInBalance #podcast #mentalhealthpodcast #wellness #wellnessjourney #health #healing #wellbeing #traumainformed #love #mentalhealth #recovery #support #safety #motivation #healthylifestyle #addictionrecovery