Drug and Alcohol Addiction

I specialise in working with addiction and trauma, with experience supporting a wide range of clients. This has deepened my understanding of the complexities surrounding substance use and recovery, as well as the significant emotional challenges that often accompany them.

I am deeply committed to supporting individuals who are struggling with drug and alcohol misuse. I offer a warm, empathic, and non-judgmental space where you can feel safe to explore your experiences, no matter where you are on your journey.

I work from a humanistic integrative counselling approach, drawing on different therapeutic perspectives to meet your unique needs while keeping the relationship at the heart of our work.

My aim is to walk alongside you as you begin to make sense of your relationship with substances, build self-acceptance, and develop the resilience needed for lasting and meaningful change.

I believe recovery is possible when you feel truly heard, understood, and supported.

Understanding Drug and Alcohol Addiction

Drug and alcohol use can sometimes begin as a way of coping to manage stress, numb difficult emotions, feel more confident, or escape from pain. In the moment, it may bring relief, connection, or a sense of control.

But addiction rarely exists in isolation. It often sits within a deeper emotional landscape.

Many people struggling with substance use have experienced:

• Shame or self-blame
• Anxiety, low mood, or unresolved trauma
• Loneliness or disconnection
• Difficulties with relationships, boundaries, or self-worth

Substances can temporarily quiet these feelings or make them more manageable.

Over time, however, they can deepen cycles of shame, emotional pain, and disconnection, making it harder to cope without them.

Risks and Impact

Drug and alcohol addiction can affect many areas of life, including:

• Dependency and loss of control
• Anxiety, depression, or emotional instability
• Strained relationships and isolation
• Impact on work, health, and daily functioning
• Loss of confidence, identity, and self-worth

Many people feel stuck, ashamed, or afraid to reach out. 

Support and Approach

I offer a compassionate, non-judgmental space where you can begin to explore your relationship with substances at your own pace.

Together, we may work on:

• Reducing shame and self-blame
• Understanding patterns around substance use
• Developing healthier coping strategies
• Building emotional resilience
• Reconnecting with yourself and others

I believe change happens through understanding, not judgment.

Professional Experience

Alongside my private practice, I bring experience from both community services and residential rehabilitation settings.

I also work within a residential rehabilitation setting, supporting clients through structured recovery programmes, individual therapy, and therapeutic group work.

This allows me to support people at different stages of change, whether you are questioning your use, in active addiction, or moving towards recovery.

How I Work

My approach is collaborative, gentle, and centred around you.

Therapy is a space where all parts of you are welcome, even the parts that feel messy, conflicting, or hard to speak about. You don’t need to have everything figured out. We can make sense of it together. If you are struggling with drug or alcohol use or feeling stuck in cycles of shame or isolation, you don’t have to face it alone.