Craig took up this full-time role with Sporting Chance well aware of the history of our charity and the work that we do; up until that point he had been a valued member of our counselling network for a number of years, supporting current and former professional sportspeople in Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire. Since qualifying as a therapist, Craig has worked with individuals to address a wide range of issues that might be causing them problems in their personal lives.

As well as building up his own private practice over the last decade, he has also worked at a community-based substance misuse service in Hull, initially in the role of a counsellor, then senior practitioner and latterly as a team leader, responsible for managing the treatment team and treatment delivery. Having made the move to Sporting Chance, Craig now has oversight of all of the charity’s clinical operations as well as our longstanding relationship with Rugby League. He has an enviable collection of vinyl records.

Marcia is a humanistic counsellor with over 20 years’ experience of working in 12-step treatment facilities motivated by her own experience of addiction. She originally joined the Sporting Chance counselling network before becoming part of the team as a residential therapist at our Hampshire clinic in early 2021.

Her career began at a crisis intervention centre in London and she continued this work for many years working in substance abuse-detox, residential, and crisis intervention initiatives in Sussex and London before taking on a multifaceted and rewarding role at a women’s refuge project in Brighton.

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Marcia progressed to managing a highly successful 12 Step Day Programme for several years and continued to work at highly reputable treatment and recovery centres in the South of England. Marcia has enjoyed her work in developing and delivering training programmes for professionals, volunteers and clients on a range of subjects including addiction, trauma, sexual violence and abuse. Away from the clinic, Marcia enjoys reading, meditation, yoga and long walks with her dog.

Barry trained as a humanistic therapist in 2001, motivated by his own experience of addiction and the interventions which helped him to turn his life around. He views sustainable recovery as a holistic package of the ‘three thirds’ of the human condition - mind, body and spirit - and has brought this philosophy into his extensive work in addiction-focused settings over the last two decades, primarily in residential treatment, but also in a successful day programme in the south of England.

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Stepping up from session work to a full-time role when the clinic expanded in 2019, Barry works with clients on both longer and shorter-term residential treatments. He is a keen follower of test cricket and local football in Hampshire, and is also a regular runner, with exercise playing an important part in his long-term recovery. In his own words he has been ‘daft enough to complete five marathons - despite the excruciating physical and mental pain on each and every occasion’.

Alison works with athletes with a wide range of presenting issues across our stakeholder sports and is a content creator and facilitator within our education department. She is a Humanistic Integrative Counsellor, registered with the BACP, with a diverse range of experience working with young people and adults within the criminal justice system, mental health, counselling and addiction services. Whilst studying in York she worked as a restorative justice practitioner and as a counsellor for various organisations. She brings warmth and humanity into her clinical work, recognising these qualities are often absent in a high pressure world.

Originally studying for an MA in Sustainable Development from the University of St Andrews in her native Scotland, Alison embarked on her counselling qualifications at York St John University, completing a Certificate in Counselling Skills (Distinction) in 2016, a Post Graduate Diploma in Counselling in 2018 and an MA in Counselling two years later. She is passionate about modern research developments in the intersection between nervous system, mind and body is also a keen mindfulness practitioner, wild swimmer and allotment gardener!