Don’t be afraid to Talk -
Podcast with James Lumumba Inside the Tolka River Project:Addiction, Community, and Recovery with Gerry Ryan
Welcome back to "Don't Be Afraid to Talk." In this episode, host James L sits down with Gerry Ryan, the driving force behind the Tolka River Project, a community-based addiction rehabilitation center in Dublin. Gerry shares his journey from working at the renowned Coolmine Therapeutic Community to reopening Tolka River Project nearly two decades ago. Together, they dive into what makes the center unique—from tailoring programs to meet individual needs, to fostering client involvement and prioritizing innovation over one-size-fits-all solutions.
You'll hear open and honest conversations about the changing landscape of addiction, the challenges of recovery, and how the project empowers clients to redefine their futures—not just by overcoming addiction, but by building life skills, pursuing education, and creating a supportive community. Whether you’re curious about the inner workings of a recovery center, or looking for hopeful stories of personal transformation, this episode is packed with insights, compassion, and practical wisdom.
7 key themes discussed in the episode:
Community-based addiction recovery approaches
Evolution of rehabilitation programs
Importance of tailoring services to needs
Handling relapse as a learning opportunity
Role of education in recovery
Challenges: space, funding, program structure
Compassion and human connection in treatment
Follow: Tolka River
WEBSITE: https://tolkariverproject.org/
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/tolkariverproject/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/tolka.river
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Help information
If you need help please talk to friends, family, a GP,therapist or one of the free confidential helpline services. For a full list ofnational mental health services see yourmentalhealth.ie.