If addiction is part of your life

Life can get very hard once addiction takes hold. I view addiction as learned behaviour, which means it can be unlearned. Recovery is about understanding what the addiction is providing, and building a life that is fulfilling enough to replace it.

We start with where you are. I don’t require abstinence to begin and I don’t set the goal for you. For some that is abstinence, for others moderation. I’ll support you in achieving whichever one you set. If your goals change, we work towards the new ones.

Are you a family member or partner affected by someone else’s addiction?

Your experience as a family member is different from the person who is using, and it requires its own specialist support. There is a lot of contradictory advice. Enable or don’t enable. Confront or don’t confront. Set boundaries or stay close.

Living alongside addiction brings its own particular kind of fear, despair, anger and frustration. Many family members are exhausted and frightened, and some simply don’t know what to do next. You may have tried everything, or you may not know where to start. Either way, you need support of your own, and not only in your role of helping the person you love.

We will work together to understand your situation and where you need support. The aim is to reduce the impact addiction is having on your own life and find a way forward, whatever the person you love chooses to do. You don’t need to wait for them to get help before you get help.

I work with families openly and without blame, and I will take the time to understand what you are living with. Family work is a specialism in its own right; I hold advanced training in this area, and I was a Senior Family Practitioner in NHS addiction services, working only with families.

How I work

Understanding how addiction was learned is where change begins. Substance and behavioural addictions can, for a time, fill a void. Something that once provided relief or meaning can start to take both away, and the cost builds up over time.

Repeated, rewarding behaviour trains the brain towards doing more of it, while narrowing the routes away from it. With practice and the right help, the brain can learn new ways of coping.

My approach is integrative and human. I draw on contemporary neuroscience, cognitive behavioural approaches and harm reduction, and we agree together what works best for you, rather than fitting you into one framework. I understand there are many roads into addiction, but we will focus on yours. I won’t judge you or tell you what to think; I will work alongside you, listen to what matters to you, and help you work out what you want from our work together.

I also firmly believe that people are more resilient than addiction makes them think.

What to expect

Before booking, I offer a free 30-minute phone call so you can ask me questions and decide whether you want to work with me.

Our first session is an initial assessment, giving us time to get to know each other, talk about what is happening for you, and consider whether I am the right therapist for you. There is no pressure to commit to ongoing sessions, and if either of us feels I am not the right fit, I will help you find someone who is.

Sessions are 50 minutes, online by secure video. Before we start, I will send you my working agreement, which sets out how we work together and what you can expect from me. In the first session, you can ask me anything and tell me as much or as little as you want. After that, we agree how often to meet and review it as we go.

Formal qualifications and fees

MSc Psychology (Merit), GMBPsS  ·  BSc (Hons) Integrated Health and Social Care (First Class)  ·  Diploma in Integrative Counselling  ·  PGCert Addiction Medicine  ·  ADFAM Advanced Skills  ·  City & Guilds Level 4 Suicide Intervention  ·  Enhanced DBS

NCPS-accredited (MNCPS Accred) and a registered member of the BACP.

Sessions are online via Zoom. £80 per 50-minute session, with a free 30-minute phone call beforehand.

I also offer one-off sessions, at the same fee, for people who want advice on next steps, signposting to other services, or help deciding whether further support is right for them.

If you need urgent help

If you are in immediate danger, call 999 or go to your nearest A&E.

Get in touch

Taking the first step can be difficult.

Whether you are seeking support for yourself or because someone else’s addiction is affecting your life, you are welcome to get in touch.

I offer a free, confidential 30-minute phone call. We can discuss what is happening, what you are looking for, and whether I am the right person to help. I can also signpost you to other services or therapists if I am not the right fit.

Stopping or reducing some substances carries real medical risk. Ideally this is managed alongside a GP or medical professional. I know that isn’t always what people want, and we can talk about that before you commit to anything.