Ian Young’s Autobiography
Ian Young is an Addiction Specialist, originally from London, UK, who uses his own experiences to see how he can improve the quality of other people’s lives and genuinely benefit others. He’s solution focused and likes to overcome challenges. He’s always happy to help.
Ian has been working in the Private Sector of the Addiction and Behavioural Health Industry since 2003, successfully touching the lives of thousands of people and their families, showing them a new way to live and encouraging them to rebuild their lives without their destructive patterns or influences, once and for all.
But it wasn’t always like that… Early 2001, aged 29, after 13 years of chronic drug addiction, alcoholism, homelessness, unemployment (well, at least lacking any desire for any kind of legal employment) and living as an outlaw (outside of the law, outside of society even), he discovered a permanent way out of his debilitating lifestyle; and through hard work with a strong vision, Ian rebuilt himself a new world filled with the riches and royalties that life has to offer – addiction free! In fact, Ian is often heard talking about his quality of life being beyond anything he could possibly have even dreamed off previously (beyond his wildest dreams).
Ian’s professional career in addiction treatment began by him returning to the clinic that had helped him recover personally, initially in a support role and then going on, over time, to become responsible for the front of house for the only Young Persons’ 12 Step Residential Clinic, at the time, in operation within Europe. It was based in South Kensington, Southwest London, and it was here that Ian became therapeutically trained, though with an interest in working with family members alongside the patient, in order to breed enthusiasm and appropriate boundaries, and to prepare loved ones for treatment.
Ian went on to develop his reputation and position within the national and then international addiction treatment industry by becoming the founder of two large addiction treatment facilities back in the UK in 2004 and 2006. Later in his career he built a further two more rehabs in Chiang Mai in 2018 and Phuket in 2020, both in Thailand, before the COVID Pandemic closed the world down.
Ian is perhaps best known for his private practice “Sober-Services” which he launched in 2008. Sober-Services helps people attain and maintain recovery from their addiction challenges (typically alcohol and narcotics) by offering bespoke packages of treatment to individuals and their families also affected by the client, typically revolving around two primary services –
1) Sober Interventions, a process that helps families assist their loved ones or colleagues, typically unwilling initially, largely due to their denial of the problems they’re causing, into residential treatment. Intervening on a person you care about can be the toughest part of your role as a parent, but through tough love you can really make a difference in their lifestyle.
2) Sober Companions / Recovery Coaches, working intensely with individuals to bring about positive change in their behaviours and their lifestyles, goal focused and led in a one on one manner. This would also include Sober Transportations (nationally and internationally). Typically Sober Companions operate as support post resident treatment. Sometimes they operate as an alternative to residential care, and in these cases, they may be referred to as Sober Body Guards.
Sober-Services was a pioneering business in this aspect, as it was the first non-North American company to be offering Sober Transportations, as well as a bank of staff to serve as Sober Companions and Recovery Coaches. Ian was also one of the very first non-North American’s formally trained in Interventions and has since been able to serve families around the planet in this specific skill of helping families struggling with their loved one’s disease by helping the afflicted choose treatment and to accept the help the family want to offer.
During his long career into it’s 3rd decade now, he has also been a global figure within the International Addiction Treatment Industry, who’s delivered consultancy to various other treatment providers and rehabs, in various corners around the world.
In 2021, at the end of the global pandemic, he signed a deal with Yossi Zubari to co-create HOLINA Global, beginning in Koh Phangan, February 2022. This was his 5th Rehab, and Holina Village for Young People in Cyprus is his 6th which opened May 2023. Holina Israel opened in April 2024.
Ian is an outstanding and charismatic speaker, very comfortable presenting and solving problems from the stage. It is his natural skill of engaging both large and small audiences that has taught Ian to exploit his organic talent of being a positive influence over individuals, for whom any encounter is both up lifting and thought shifting. Ian’s style is dynamic, inspiring, and enthusiastic, both organically and because of his skills as a Trainer. So Ian established Sober-Academy in 2015 to support others wishing to work intensely within the professional addiction treatment industry. Their two signature programmes were “Certified Sober Interventions” and “Certified Recovery Coaching” for Sober Companions, with “Sober Practitioner” being also written and designed, and a shorter “Sober Transporter” training delivered in a one day training format on multiple occasions. He has delivered trainings in UK, Holland, Sweden, Italy, Ireland, Spain, Russia, and Thailand.
Ian is one of 7 Founding members and the first Chairperson of EARS – European Association of Recovery Specialists, for Interventionists & Recovery Specialists, which was birthed in Rome in November 2017, offering collaboration and support amongst its pan European (and beyond) members. Today EARS has members in 16 countries and continues to grow as a great resource for recovery specialists, which is an emerging sector in the services towards addiction recovery.
Ian is both honoured and proud to have been one of 35 founding members (2012) of the The Network for Transformational Leaders (formally the ATL – Association of Transformation Leaders), qualification for membership of which involves positively affecting the lives of over 6000 people. This group meets bi-annually somewhere around the world to exchange best practice and support one another’s endeavours to co-create a better planet for every one of its residents. Sadly this group didn’t continue post Global pandemic.
Ian’s life story and also his journey into and through Addiction Recovery can be read in full in his brutally honest published autobiography “It’s Not About Me ~ Confessions of a Recovered Outlaw Addict, from Living Hell to Living Big”. This is an easy to read page turner, telling Ian’s full story going into the depths of his own addictions whilst maintaining his world traveller adventurer status as a means to DJ globally, traffic & smuggle drugs and attempt to ensure that the party (literally) never ended. It offers a candid description of the difficulties and challenges he faced during the 3 years of his attempts to change, trying to clean himself up before discovering abstinence based 12 step recovery, and most importantly the practical and spiritual lessons he’s learned through his many years helping others remain drug and alcohol free and turning his attentions to the welfare of others (hence the title).
Currently, Ian is the Managing Director of Holina Global, simultaneously engaged in managing all of the Holina brands in Thailand including Holina Addiction & Trauma Recovery Centre, Holina Detox (medical), Holina Trainings, as well as having a strategic input on Holina Israel and the Holina Village for 14 – 26 year olds in Cyprus.
He leads his teams from a place of example and loves to help make things run smoothly across all the Holina realms. He is the most likely person you’ll speak to if you call up Holina and make an enquiry – he is essentially the front of house and the ambassador. This professional role is perfectly suited to Ian, not least because of his long history in the addiction treatment industry building rehabs and businesses. But also, because of his time management skills, honed after years of living medication free and managing his own ADHD. He also has a strong leadership vibe that permits him to nurture great rapport with his teams, growing and influencing them into even better versions of themselves and as a much stronger unit altogether. He is an uber connector of people.
His charismatic and intelligent approach to business and projects alike brings a truly exceptional edge to all those fortunate enough to work alongside him and experience his energy, humour and passion. With his background and his understanding of the psychology of the human condition, Ian makes a unique addition to the human gene pool.
Ian’s personal mission is to co-create a green and harmonious world, through laughter and love, bringing a better quality of life to all who cross his path and beyond, one person at a time.
Ian enjoys life living on both Koh Phangan and Koh Samui and still enjoys ecstatic dances (Sober Raves) and dinner with friends.
Seek Professional Help For Addiction In Koh Phangan Thailand. With Over 10 Years Experience I have Dedicated My Life to Serving Others Inflicted With Addictions.
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