Elmer Terry

Elmer Terry is an experienced addictions therapist who has specialised in the treatment of substance use and behavioural addictions since 1989. He currently works at Nightingale Hospital, where he delivers assignments, education sessions, therapy, and aftercare groups for individuals recovering from addiction. His approach focuses on supporting patients in group settings, encouraging peer empathy, shared understanding, and collective progress as key components of the recovery process.

Elmer’s professional journey began at the Chemical Dependency Centre at Thurston House. Between 1991 and 1996, he worked for the NHS within the Addictions Directorates of the Maudsley and Royal Bethlem Hospitals. In 1996, he became manager at a RAPt rehabilitation unit and later co-authored the RAPt treatment manual in 1999—the first addiction programme in the UK to gain accreditation. The following year, he was appointed Director of Clinical Policy at RAPt, a role he held until retiring in 2005.

After retirement from this leadership position, Elmer returned to individual therapy and consultancy work. He has contributed to several organisations—including RAPt, the Drug & Alcohol Foundation, Seventy4 Foundation and Stepping Stones—where he has played a role in establishing treatment programmes, training staff, and providing aftercare services.

Throughout his career, Elmer has maintained a strong belief that addiction often originates from a person's attempt to manage emotional challenges through external means, such as drugs or alcohol, which ultimately create further problems. He is particularly committed to group therapy as a powerful tool in addiction recovery.