You may not think of yourself as having a serious problem with alcohol. Maybe you have simply noticed that drinking has become more regular, more automatic or harder to keep within the limits you intended.
Perhaps the drink that once belonged to Friday evening has gradually found its way into most nights. You tell yourself you won’t have one tonight, then reach for it almost without making a fresh decision.
Or you may drink mainly in social situations, where the plan you made beforehand becomes less convincing once the evening is under way.
People come to see me because they want to feel more in charge of those choices. Some want to drink less often, some want to change how much they drink, and others have decided that they would rather stop.
When drinking becomes part of the routine
Alcohol often becomes associated with a particular moment.
It might mark the end of work, accompany cooking or help create a feeling that the day is finally over. At weekends, it may be closely connected with seeing friends, eating out or having something to look forward to.
You might recognise patterns such as:
- pouring a drink at the same time each evening
- drinking more at home than you intended
- finding alcohol difficult to refuse in social situations
- using it to unwind after a stressful day
- making rules about drinking and then changing them
- feeling disappointed with yourself the following morning
- noticing that alcohol is affecting sleep, mood or motivation
- thinking about cutting down without quite getting started
None of this needs to be dressed up for me. We can talk honestly about what you enjoy, what concerns you and what you would like to change.
What would you like to be different?
A useful goal needs to belong to you.
You may want alcohol-free days during the week, to drink more slowly when you go out or to stop using alcohol as the automatic way to relax.
Perhaps you have already decided to stop completely.
We will talk about what you want and why it matters to you. We can also look at the situations most likely to test that decision, rather than only imagining the easy days.
If you have tried before, tell me what happened. A previous attempt may show us where the routine is strongest and what needs more preparation this time.
How hypnotherapy may help
For a suitable non-dependent drinking habit, hypnotherapy may be used to support the change you have chosen.
Before hypnosis, we look at when you drink, the thoughts that come with it and the role alcohol currently plays in your life.
During the hypnosis, I may use imagery and mental rehearsal based on those conversations. You might imagine reaching the end of the working day, going to a social event or settling down at home while responding differently to the usual cue to drink.
We can also include the moments when somebody offers you another one, when you feel stressed or when part of you starts making an exception to the plan.
You remain aware and in control throughout hypnosis. You can speak, move or stop whenever you wish.
Your own decisions and actions remain central. I won’t promise that hypnosis will remove every urge or make the change happen without effort.
Understanding habits and triggers
I’ve made a video about drinking patterns and some of the everyday triggers that can keep them going.
It may help you begin thinking about when you drink and what is happening around it before we meet.
Please read this before reducing or stopping
My sessions are intended only for adults whose drinking is not physically dependent.
If you experience shaking, sweating, nausea, disturbed sleep, anxiety or a racing heartbeat when you delay, reduce or stop drinking, your body may be dependent on alcohol.
You may also notice that you need a drink to feel normal or to prevent yourself feeling unwell.
Do not stop drinking suddenly if you may be dependent on alcohol. Alcohol withdrawal can be dangerous. Contact your GP or a specialist alcohol service for medical advice before reducing or stopping.
Call 999 or go to A&E if you or somebody else develops severe withdrawal symptoms such as:
- a seizure
- hallucinations
- marked confusion
- severe or visible shaking
A hypnotherapy appointment is not a substitute for medical assessment, a supervised withdrawal plan or specialist alcohol treatment.
When specialist support is the right starting point
Please speak to your GP or an alcohol support service if:
- you regularly drink more than you intended
- you find it difficult to control or stop
- alcohol is affecting your health, work, relationships or safety
- other people have expressed concern
- you experience withdrawal symptoms
- you drink to avoid feeling unwell
- you are worried about the amount you drink
If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, the NHS recommends avoiding alcohol. Please seek help from your GP or an alcohol service if stopping is difficult.
You can find local services through the NHS alcohol support directory. Drinkline is also available on 0300 123 1110.
I will not proceed with hypnotherapy if what you tell me suggests that medical assessment or specialist support should come first.
What happens at the initial consultation?
The initial consultation gives us time to talk about your drinking pattern, the change you want to make and anything you have already tried.
I’ll ask enough questions to decide whether my service is appropriate. You can ask me about hypnosis, explain any concerns and get a feel for how I work.
There is no judgement and no expectation that you arrive with everything neatly worked out.
If we agree that hypnotherapy is suitable, we can decide what the next appointment should focus on. If your drinking needs a different level of support, I’ll explain that clearly.
Thinking about changing your drinking?
Noticing that a routine is becoming unhelpful is a perfectly reasonable time to do something about it.
You don’t have to wait until alcohol has caused a crisis. Equally, if you are worried that dependence may already be present, medical advice is the safest first step.
For a non-dependent drinking habit, you are welcome to send me a brief message about what has been happening and what you would like to change.
Contact me about alcohol and drinking patterns