Repairing Brain Chemistry and Neuroplasticity with Dave & Suze KenneyRepairing Brain Chemistry and Neuroplasticity with Dave & Suze Kenney
Families Navigating Addiction & Recovery
Jeff Jones talks with Dave and Suze Kenney about a brain-first view of addiction, highlighting physiology, trauma and neuroplasticity as keys to change. The conversation offers families practical ways to rethink behaviour, reduce shame and support recovery through everyday habits.
1:04:19•28 Aug 2026
Brain-First Recovery: Rewiring Behaviour with Dave & Suze Kenney
Episode Overview
- Shift from blame and shame to curiosity by seeing behaviour as driven by brain function, not willpower or character.
- Address physiology first with real food, hydration, reduced screen time and consistent sleep before focusing on psychology.
- Recognise four types of trauma — physiological, chemical, mental and emotional — as key influences on brain and nervous system patterns.
- Use structured daily routines like the Power 70 to support neuroplasticity and create new, healthier habits over 70 days.
- Accept that families cannot change a loved one directly; influence comes through boundaries, modelling and allowing consequences.
“People don't resist change. People resist being changed.”
What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol? This conversation with Dave and Suze Kenney zooms straight in on one answer: the brain. Sitting down with host Jeff Jones, they share how more than a decade running a residential, brain-first recovery centre reshaped their view of addiction from a moral issue to a functional one.
You’ll hear Dave and Suze explain why "the brain drives behaviour" and how nervous system patterns like fight-or-flight and freeze can show up as yelling, slamming doors, or total withdrawal. They outline four kinds of trauma — physiological, chemical, mental, and emotional — and link each to long-term changes in brain and body that can fuel addictive patterns. Instead of focusing on willpower, they walk through their five-part Neuro-Actualized Method: physiology, psychology, spirit, social connections, and lifestyle.
Physiology comes first, with very down-to-earth suggestions: real food instead of junk, more water, less screen time (especially before bed), and consistent sleep routines. Families are encouraged to see behaviour as a signal of brain imbalance and to step away from blame and shame towards curiosity. A highlight is their "Power 70" concept – 70 days of simple, repeatable daily actions to help rewire the brain using neuroplasticity.
Broken into three power blocks across the day, it focuses on hydration, movement, rhythm, and gentle structure rather than harsh rules. Throughout, they stress that parents didn’t "cause" the addiction and that rescuing or over-helping can unintentionally keep a loved one stuck. With humour, personal stories (including Dave failing Year 4 twice due to undiagnosed dyslexia), and practical ideas, this chat offers families a fresh lens: fix the "hard drive" of the brain and behaviour can shift.
If you’re tired of seeing addiction as just bad choices, could it be time to look at the brain instead and try one small change today?
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