Alcohol addiction therapy
Break free from alcohol addiction
Recovery counselling for drinking problems
As a specialist in alcohol recovery therapy, I help individuals who are ready and committed to breaking free from alcohol abuse, who want to stop drinking and rebuild their lives.
My own addictions, including alcohol, are the reason I combine evidence-based techniques with compassionate support to address both the physical and psychological aspects of alcohol addiction.
Whether you're concerned about your drinking patterns or have tried to quit multiple times without success, I provide the structure and strategies needed for lasting recovery.
"I know alcohol addiction and recovery & I'm passionate about guiding you to a better life of sobriety, that is lasting & transformative"
What is alcohol addiction therapy?
Alcohol Recovery Therapy is a specialised treatment approach designed to help individuals overcome alcohol dependence. Unlike traditional approaches that focus solely on abstinence, my therapy addresses the underlying causes of alcohol misuse, including stress, trauma, relationship issues, and mental health challenges.
This comprehensive approach helps you not just stop drinking, but build a fulfilling life where alcohol no longer controls you, or plays a central role.
Benefits of alcohol therapy
My counselling practice welcomes people at all stages of alcohol use disorder, from those beginning to question their relationship with drinking to those who have a severe dependence.
Please get in touch if you:
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Feel your drinking has become problematic or out of control
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Have tried to cut back or quit but struggled to maintain changes
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Use alcohol to cope with stress, anxiety, or difficult emotions
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Have experienced negative consequences with relationships or work due to alcohol
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Want to reduce or remove alcohol from life
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Are in early recovery and need support to prevent relapse
My journey with alcohol addiction
For over a decade, I used alcohol as a coping strategy and form of self-medication, consuming 8-12 standard drinks daily whilst telling myself I was in control because I ‘only’ drank after 4pm. The destructive pattern escalated when work stress became unmanageable, leading to increased usage alongside depression and anxiety.
It wasn't until my relationship began falling apart that I recognised I was heading towards a cliff edge with only one way down.
The wake-up call came through honest conversations with my GP and attending a support group where I heard heart-wrenching stories that mirrored my own trajectory.
But the turning point wasn't when I stopped drinking - it was when I understood that removing alcohol from my life didn’t fill the underlying hole that drove me to drink in the first place.
"I wish I'd known that while medication and traditional therapy have their place, finding the root cause of why drinking became my coping mechanism was the game-changer."
My therapeutic approach to alcohol recovery
My approach to helping you quit alcohol is based on the understanding that addiction affects both brain chemistry and behaviour patterns.
I recognise that a drinking problem is not a moral failing or lack of willpower, but a complex condition influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors.
I also acknowledge that alcohol addiction often involves problematic dopamine reward.
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I will help you see how alcohol hijacked your brain's reward system and teach you techniques to rewire these pathways for healthier functioning, using:
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Motivational enhancement: strengthening your internal motivation for change
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Transformational Identity Shift: developing awareness of triggers and cravings of the person who once coped with alcohol and creating a whole new identity who has their wants and needs met, with ways and means that are as good as or better than alcohol.
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Solution-focused brief therapy: building on your strengths & successes that have kept you alive and here. Taking these resources and applying them to a conscious new way of being.
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Subconscious Dynamics™: addressing unconscious patterns & creating new associations
The Alcohol Recovery Program
My support and recovery program is structured yet flexible. We'll adapt it to your specific needs and circumstance. Sessions typically last 60-90 minutes and occur weekly during the initial phase, then gradually decrease in frequency as you build confidence in your recovery. Below is an outline of a typical program.
Assess & plan
1-2 sessions
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Evaluate your drinking patterns & history
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Assess your physical dependence & withdrawal risk
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Identify your triggers & high-risk situations
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Develop specific recovery goals & plan
Core recovery work
3-6 sessions
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Build motivation & commitment to change
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Develop effective strategies to manage cravings & triggers
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Address underlying issues contributing your heavy drinking
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Create healthy routines & support systems
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Learning relapse prevention techniques
Maintain & grow
4-6 sessions
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Reinforce new habits & thought patterns
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Develop long-term strategies for sustained recovery
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Build a fulfilling alcohol-free lifestyle
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Plan for ongoing support & growth
Outcomes
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Freedom from compulsive drinking
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Improved physical & mental health
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Better sleep, energy, & cognitive function
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Healthier relationships & communication
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Enhanced stress management
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Greater self-awareness & personal growth
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Renewed sense of purpose & direction
Book an appointment
Appointments are available at my private practice in Hamilton, Newcastle or online via a secure Zoom session at these times:
In person: Tue, Wed, Thu 8.00am - 6.30pm
Zoom: Mon, Wed, Thu 8.00am - 6.30pm
Whether we meet online or in-person, I will provide a confidential, safe, non-judgemental space for us to work together.
Book a free consult
If you're ready to change your relationship with alcohol and reclaim your life, I offer a confidential, no-obligation consultation via Zoom so we can discuss how we can help you achieve lasting recovery.
Book a free 15 minute consult on a Monday, Wednesday or Thursday between 8.00am and 6.30pm.
Success story
Nick was drinking a bottle of wine every night when he came to me, “just to cope with stress and sleep.” He'd tried to cut back many times but always returned to his old patterns in a few days. His health was suffering, and his relationship was strained.
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During his recovery program I helped him understand how alcohol had become his primary coping mechanism and showed him healthier ways to manage cravings and the anxiety that drove his drinking. We also did some hypnotherapy sessions to change his unconscious association with drinking.
Six months later he rarely thinks about alcohol anymore, he has developed successful relaxation tools, his relationship is great, and he has rediscovered hobbies from the past. I’m so happy that Nick is genuinely enjoying life.