Therapy for gray area drinkers

When did alcohol become front and center in my life?

As far as others can tell, you're rocking this thing called life. But, on the inside, you may be struggling with feelings like shame, frustration, and self-doubt because alcohol has taken on a larger role in your life than you would've ever expected, and you're not sure what to do about it. You're not an every-now-and-then drinker, but you're also not at rock bottom. You might've even had periods in the past where you've stopped drinking or taken a break, but you've never remained stopped. You're a high achiever – you're still showing up to life, and in all appearances, you're "excelling" – and your drinking probably looks a lot like others in your social circle. But deep down, you're working pretty hard to keep it together, and you know that your drinking is holding you back from realizing your full potential and living the life you truly want.

Can therapy really help?

My goal is to help you work through the things keeping you stuck, so you can begin moving toward the rich and meaningful life you want, without wine in the driver's seat anymore.

Therapy for gray area drinkers isn't me telling you: “Just think your way out of drinking,” or “Quitting is a piece of cake, and you'll never have the urge to drink again,” or “If you just moderate, you'll be fine.”

We'll start with a free 15-minute consultation where we'll get to know each other a bit. I'll learn about why you're seeking support and we'll explore how I might help you. This is also a great opportunity for us to see if we both feel we'll be a good fit together.

The next step is to meet for a 90-minute intake session where we'll dive a bit deeper, exploring the role alcohol is playing in your life and what goals you have for the future. I'll ask more questions about your background, such as family history, cultural background, and medical history, and I'll also ask about your current functioning, like sleep, energy levels, and mood changes. This all helps me get a better picture of who you are, what factors make up your lived experience, and the ways in which alcohol is impacting your life. Of course, if there is anything you are not comfortable sharing, that is absolutely okay, and we will go at your pace. We will also establish an action plan to help set you up for success in your alcohol-free journey.

I've found that my clients make the most progress when we meet weekly for the first several weeks, and then drop down to biweekly if/when they feel ready. You may have spent a lot of time letting others' voices be heard, so holding space for your voice is of utmost importance to me. During sessions, I aim to create a safe space for you to feel, express, and process whatever is most important or urgent to you. We'll explore your values – who you want to be and how you want to live. We'll check in on your weekly goals and take steps to address any speed bumps that come up along the way. I'll share relaxation and grounding exercises during our sessions. I'll likely encourage you to practice them on your own outside of the session so you can create a new personalized toolkit for beating stress that doesn't involve alcohol.