Support with alcohol, drugs, addiction and recovery

You may not describe yourself as having an addiction. You might simply be questioning your relationship with alcohol or drugs, finding it increasingly difficult to cut down, or noticing that something you once used to cope is beginning to cause problems in your life.

Perhaps you’ve already stopped and are finding recovery more difficult emotionally than you expected.

Whatever has brought you here, you don’t need to wait until things reach crisis point before asking for support.

I offer confidential addiction counselling in Hertford and online, providing a non-judgemental space to understand what is happening and consider what you would like to change.

When does alcohol or drug use become a problem?

There isn’t always a single moment when someone realises things have become difficult.

You may have started to notice that you:

  • think about drinking or using more than you used to
  • regularly use alcohol or drugs to manage stress, anxiety or difficult emotions
  • intend to cut down but find yourself returning to the same pattern
  • hide or minimise how much you are drinking or using
  • experience guilt, regret or shame afterwards
  • find your relationships are being affected
  • need more alcohol or drugs to achieve the same effect
  • have experienced consequences at home, work or financially
  • stop for periods but repeatedly return to using
  • worry about what life would look like without alcohol or drugs

You don’t have to identify with everything on this list for counselling to be appropriate.

Sometimes the fact that you’ve started questioning your relationship with alcohol or drugs is enough reason to talk about it.

Understanding what’s underneath addiction

Addiction is rarely just about the substance itself.

Alcohol and drugs can become ways of coping with anxiety, trauma, stress, loneliness, shame, difficult relationships or experiences that have never really been processed.

They may provide temporary relief, confidence, escape or a way of switching off.

The difficulty is that something that initially helps you cope can gradually become another source of distress.

Counselling gives us an opportunity to look beyond simply asking:

“How do I stop?”

and begin exploring:

“What is this doing for me, and why has it become so difficult to let go?”

Understanding that relationship can be an important part of creating lasting change.

Shame and addiction

Shame can make addiction particularly difficult to talk about.

You may feel that you should have more control, worry about how other people would see you, or find yourself comparing your situation with people you believe are “worse”.

These feelings can lead people to hide what is happening and become increasingly isolated.

My approach isn’t about judging, lecturing or labelling you.

Counselling provides a confidential space where you can talk openly about your experiences and begin understanding them with greater compassion and honesty.

Recovery isn’t always a straight line

Stopping alcohol or drugs doesn’t necessarily resolve everything immediately.

For some people, it can reveal feelings and difficulties that were previously being managed through drinking or using.

You may experience anxiety, low mood, relationship difficulties, boredom, loss of identity or uncertainty about what life looks like without substances.

There may also be periods when old patterns return.

Rather than viewing relapse simply as failure, counselling can help you explore what happened beforehand, identify triggers and understand what may need to change to support your recovery.

We can work together to develop healthier ways of coping while addressing some of the underlying difficulties that may have contributed to the addictive behaviour.

Counselling during recovery

You don’t need to be actively drinking or using drugs to benefit from addiction counselling.

I also work with people who are established in recovery but want to explore issues such as:

  • anxiety and emotional regulation
  • trauma and difficult past experiences
  • shame and self-esteem
  • relationships
  • boundaries
  • identity outside addiction
  • fear of relapse
  • rebuilding trust
  • adjusting to life in recovery

Recovery can involve much more than stopping a substance. It can also involve learning how to live differently.

My experience in addiction and recovery

I bring more than 15 years’ experience working within addiction treatment and rehabilitation services, alongside more than a decade of experience as a practising counsellor.

This means I understand addiction not only from a therapeutic perspective but through extensive professional experience supporting people at different stages of addiction, treatment and recovery.

My counselling approach is integrative and may draw on person-centred therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), trauma-informed approaches and mindfulness depending on your individual needs.

You won’t be expected to fit into a particular model of recovery.

Instead, we’ll consider your circumstances, your experiences and what you would like your life to look like.

What happens in the first session?

You don’t need to arrive with a perfectly formed explanation of what’s wrong.

Our first session gives us an opportunity to talk about what’s brought you to counselling and what you might like support with.

We may explore:

  • what is currently happening in your life
  • your relationship with alcohol or drugs
  • previous attempts to make changes
  • your emotional wellbeing
  • relationships and support around you
  • what you would like to be different

There is no expectation that you disclose everything immediately.

We work at a pace that feels manageable for you.

Not sure whether you need addiction counselling?

That’s okay.

You don’t need to decide whether you have an “addiction” before contacting me.

If you’re questioning your drinking or drug use, struggling emotionally during recovery, or simply recognise that something needs to change, we can start with a conversation.

Free 15-minute introductory call

I offer a free 15-minute confidential introductory telephone call.

This gives you an opportunity to briefly explain what’s happening, ask questions about counselling and decide whether working together feels right for you.

There is no obligation to book a counselling session afterwards.

Addiction counselling in Hertford and online

Ready to talk?

Get in touch to arrange your free 15-minute introductory call. Face-to-face counselling is available in Hertford, Hertfordshire, with online counselling available throughout the UK.