ABOUT TIM FLETCHER

Tim Fletcher is considered a pioneer in the addictions and mental health treatment profession for his transformational programming. He is the Founder and President of the Tim Fletcher Co. As a pastor for more than 30 years, he transitioned into becoming an addiction counsellor, and independent researcher. For the past 18 years, he has parlayed his skill sets to develop a comprehensive treatment approach and interactive programs to help people overcome the effects of trauma and addictions.

Through countless hours of training in various treatment programs and providing counselling sessions, Tim correlated the connection between trauma and behaviour patterns leading up to addiction. Many of his clients struggled with unrealized addictions and unhealthy coping techniques which he determined were undetectable, much like carbon monoxide without a detector. Consequently, these conditions were untreated or, if observed, were like to be diagnosed and treated incorrectly.

Ongoing research initially led Tim to find the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study conducted by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in the mid-1990’s. He then discovered the work and studies on addictions and childhood developmental trauma (Complex Trauma or C-PTSD) by Dr. Gabor Maté, author of several books including ‘In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts’. The CDC study revealed ACE’s are linked to chronic health problems, mental illness, and substance use problems in adulthood and can also negatively impact education, job opportunities, and earning potential. Dr. Mate’s studies on the implications of Complex Trauma in addictions revealed up to 97% of addicts suffer from it, which led him to develop his Compassionate Inquiry approach to detecting this condition in individuals. Other researchers were beginning to find and disclose similar insights as well.

During the early 2000’s, Tim used this information and other research resources to further his own studies into looking beyond behaviours and symptoms towards uncovering root causes. Tim began delivering workshops around the topics of Shame and Anger and felt these topics needed to be approached differently. He went on to identify the Sixty (60) Characteristics of Complex Trauma and reveals the adverse impacts the role these character traits play over the life time of an individual.

With this discovery he built his foundation program Recovery Education for Addictions and Complex Trauma (RE/ACT). Tim Fletcher Co. has its corporate office located in Canada and has licensed RE/ACT based programs in Canada, United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Costa Rica, and Cuba. The programs address the impacts of Complex Trauma in adults and teens from different perspectives including culture, religion, ethnicity, etc. and are utilized in multiple mobilization (support) environments. They are offered both in onsite and online outpatient locations with treatment occurring three (3) to five (5) days per week or as a weekly drop-in session in peer-to-peer environments. The programs are highly effective and affordable.

Tim recognized many inpatient programs only create a safe bubble for the traumatized or addicted person, but when they return to their daily routines and environments, they tend to digress or relapse. The outpatient program keeps them involved with their daily routines while offering them the resources and support systems needed to manage problems they run into in their daily lives.

Tim’s acts of service in this area have come as a result of overcoming Complex Trauma in his own life. His mission is to generate a higher level of awareness for this particular mental health condition. He works to gather emotional and financial support for those who are struggling from its adverse effects.

He describes Complex Trauma as ‘An actual or realized ongoing experience during childhood which causes a youth to repeatedly feel unsafe or unloved. This results in the development of life-long patterns of unhealthy coping mechanisms and mental un-wellness.’

Tim is married to Kim, who along with his two daughters are all involved with this organization. His tagline “With Love”, expresses the organization’s judgment-free space where everyone is accepted regardless of their current flaws.