Wouter Vanderplasschen holds a Ph.D. in Educational Sciences. He is a professor of Orthopedagogy and the chair of the Department of Special Needs Education at Ghent University (UGent). For 25 years, he has been conducting research on addiction and recovery, exploring how various forms of guidance and support can aid in the recovery process. He has authored several books and numerous scientific articles on this subject and serves as the supervisor for several doctoral research projects. Professor Vanderplasschen recently contributed to a large-scale European project on 'pathways to recovery from addiction to illegal drugs' (REC-PATH). Internationally, he is well-known for his expertise in addiction, recovery, quality of life, case management, and therapeutic communities.
Nellie graduated from Ghent University in early 2022 with a master's degree in Educational Sciences, specializing in Clinical Orthopedagogy and Disability Studies. Immediately thereafter, she started working as a teaching assistant at the Department of Special Needs Education, where she is pursuing a Ph.D. within the theme of 'Addiction and Recovery. Nellie's interest in addiction and recovery began quite early in her academic journey. In 2016, she undertook her first internship at a therapeutic community and remained actively involved in this organization for several years as a student employee. Nellie’s master's thesis was entitled: "Waar val ik op terug?" (What do I fall back on?) and delved into the perspectives on recovery capital of individuals recovering from addiction after prolonged residential treatment.
Florian De Meyer obtained his master's degree in Philosophy in 2019 and, in 2021, his master's degree in Educational Sciences, specializing in Clinical Orthopedagogy and Disability Studies, both from Ghent University. During his philosophy studies, he developed an interest in how we talk about and subsequently deal with what is 'different.' Pursuing a master's in Orthopedagogy was a logical next step for Florian. He concluded this programme with a thesis entitled 'The meaning of recovery for individuals with severe psychiatric disorders: A systematic review of qualitative studies from a first-person perspective.' In 2021, he commenced his PhD research on recovery from addiction in individuals not seeking professional help.
In 2019, Sarah earned a Bachelor's degree in Midwifery from Vives Kortrijk, and in 2023, she graduated with a Master's degree in Pedagogical Sciences, specializing in Special Needs Education and Disability Studies. Her interest in parenthood and addiction emerged during one of her initial midwifery training internships. This interest was further ignited through subsequent internships and work experiences in Special Youth Care.
Sarah concluded her master's programme with a thesis titled: the "Impact of khat use on pregnancy, newborns, and early childhood development - a systematic review." In early 2024, she started with a doctoral research project examining whether and how the perinatal period can offer opportunities for change and recovery for (future) mothers struggling with substance use.
Moses Mukasa is pursuing a Joint Ph.D. between the Department of Special Needs Education at Ghent University and the School of Psychology at Makerere University in Uganda. His research is entitled 'Suicidal ideation and suicidal behaviour: Their risk factors, explanatory models, and coping strategies among refugees in humanitarian settings in Northern Uganda.' Moses holds a master’s degree in public health from Bugema Adventist University in Uganda and has undergone extended professional trainings in mental health and psychosocial support in humanitarian settings from Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, Fordham University (New York) and with the WHO; Moses brings over a decade of experience to his academic journey. Throughout his career, Moses has actively engaged in research, coordination, and implementation of mental health and psychosocial support initiatives in both humanitarian and development settings across East, Central, and Southern Africa. He is also engaged in similar projects in European nations, including Switzerland, Denmark, and the Netherlands.
Clara De Ruysscher is a postdoctoral researcher actively involved in the Recovery and Addiction research group. Her expertise lies at the intersection of mental health care and addiction care. A significant portion of her research focuses on individuals with complex mental health support needs, specifically those experiencing both severe psychiatric issues (such as psychosis) and addiction problems. During her doctoral research, she unraveled what it means for individuals with complex mental health support needs to be in recovery and how their recovery journeys can be better supported by healthcare professionals. Using action-oriented, ethnographic, and co-creative research methods, she has gained a unique insider perspective into the lives of individuals with complex mental health support needs. In her current research, Clara is delving more deeply into these themes.
Claire Biribawa is a Substance Use Epidemiologist, who focuses on understanding the distribution and determinants of substance use in low-income countries and primarily in Uganda where this is under-researched. Claire holds a Master of Public Health degree from Makerere University. Her thesis focused on the use of substances among road traffic injured patients, and revealed the complexities involved. Claire has also played a pivotal role in establishing a surveillance system for substance use disorders in Kampala Uganda, providing a crucial framework for monitoring and responding to evolving substance use patterns. Claire is currently pursuing a joint Ph.D. degree in Public Health (Makerere University) and Educational Sciences (Ghent University), focused on advancing the quality of treatment services for substance use disorders in Uganda. Her work centers on measuring and monitoring patient-reported outcomes and experiences to inform treatment strategies and healthcare policies.
I first became interested in substance use disorders and recovery as a career focus in 2010, during a six-month counselling internship at an outpatient treatment facility. In 2022 I obtained a (joint) PhD in Psychology (University of the Western Cape) and Educational Sciences (Ghent University). My dissertation delved into recovery and substitute addictions from various perspectives. My doctoral work not only allowed me to broaden my focus to include behavioural addictions but also enabled me to explore different pathways to recovery and gain insight from the perspectives of service users, providers, and members of recovery support groups. Currently, my postdoctoral research centres on the lived experience of gambling recovery. Alongside my interests in substance and behavioural addictions, substitute addictions, and recovery, my secondary interests include HIV/AIDS and language and stigma.
Aline Pouille obtained her master's degree in Educational Sciences, specializing in Orthopedagogy, from Ghent University in 2017. During her studies and her own life journey, she developed an interest in the recovery from mental health issues and addiction. This interest is reflected in her master's thesis entitled 'Powerful vulnerable stories: Narratives of people with mental vulnerability and the meaning of a creative studio in their personal recovery process.' After her international internship, which sparked an interest in migration and ethnic minorities, she started a Ph.D. focused on recovery from addiction based on the lived experiences of individuals with a migration background. In addition, Aline continues to deepen her understanding of the topic through further education (including training in recovery-oriented mental health care) and engaging in conversations with experts by experience.
Sara Rowaert is a systemic therapist in training and holds a doctorate in pedagogical sciences. Since 2019, she has been working as a doctoral assistant at the Department of Special Needs Education. Her research focuses on the experiences and perceptions of family members and the broader social network of individuals in (forensic) mental health care or addiction care. Specifically, she engages therapeutically with family members in Family Supportive Groups within (forensic) mental health care. Additionally, her research addresses (young) caregiving and care for the elderly (65+) in various contexts. Central themes in her research include family therapy, family reflex, relational recovery, family recovery, and caregiving, amongst others. In shaping her research, she collaborates with colleagues in (forensic) mental health care and family support organizations. Sara is also involved in teaching responsibilities at the Department of Special Needs Education, overseeing various courses and supervising master's theses on the aforementioned research themes.
Stijn Vandevelde holds a doctorate in Pedagogical Sciences. Since 2013, he has been an associate professor at the Department of Special Needs Education at Ghent University. His research and interests include forensic orthopedagogy and the support of individuals and their contexts in socially vulnerable situations. This encompasses children and youth with behavioral and emotional problems and adults with intellectual disabilities and co-occurring mental health issues. Addiction and recovery are often prominent themes in his work. Stijn has been involved in research and education on the application of the Good Lives Model for several years, collaborating with colleagues from the field. The Good Lives Model is an internationally recognized strengths-based approach to recovery and rehabilitation for individuals who have committed offenses.
Amine Zerrouk obtained his master's degree in psychology, specializing in clinical and health psychology (adults option), from KU Leuven in 2019. A year later, he earned a second master's degree in psychology, specializing in theory and research, also at KU Leuven. Right from the beginning of his studies, Amine became fascinated by the concept of recovery in psychopathology. During his internship, he encountered the theme of 'addiction' and developed an interest in how various resources can positively influence the recovery process of individuals with addiction. Since October 2021, he has been working on the OMER-BE (Outcome Measurement and Evaluation as a Routine practice in alcohol and other drug services in Belgium) research project as part of his doctoral studies.