CBT Therapy for Alcohol Addiction
Understanding Alcohol Addiction
Alcohol use can gradually shift from something social or occasional into a pattern that begins to influence your choices, routines and relationships.
You may find yourself drinking more often or more heavily than you intended, thinking about alcohol frequently, using it to unwind or change how you feel, or continuing to drink despite consequences that concern you.
Alcohol may provide short-term relief from stress, anxiety, low mood, boredom or unwanted thoughts. Because that change in how you feel can happen quickly, drinking can become an increasingly automatic response whenever similar situations or emotions arise. Over time, this can strengthen the connection between discomfort and alcohol use.
Therapy can help you understand the role alcohol has come to play in your life, identify the situations and emotions that trigger drinking, and begin developing different ways of responding without relying on alcohol to change how you feel.
AVAILABLE FACE-TO-FACE OR ONLINE
We're Ready to Help You
We offer all prospective clients an hour long, informal and confidential chat to discuss your drink-related concerns for just £30.
There's no pressure to undertake any therapy going forward, no judgement from us and we're very friendly and easy to talk to!
♦ Ongoing sessions:
Typically weekly or fortnightly, tailored to your needs.
♦ Location:
Comfortable private setting near Wolverhampton / Wombourne, with free parking.
Secure online therapy available with Paul across the UK.
♦ Fees:
Ongoing sessions: £90/hr
Why You Might Have developed an Alcohol Addiction
Many pathways can lead to the development of alcohol addiction, often intertwined with personal experiences and environmental influences that shape an individual's relationship with alcohol.
For some, early exposure to difficult life circumstances such as trauma, loss, or family dysfunction can create a sense of helplessness, making alcohol an appealing escape from emotional pain or stress.
Others may find themselves drawn to drinking as a means of coping with societal pressures, loneliness, or feelings of inadequacy, where the social acceptance of alcohol provides a temporary reprieve from their struggles.
This gradual reliance on alcohol can stem from a desire for connection, as social environments may celebrate drinking as a bonding experience, leaving individuals vulnerable to developing habits that hinder their ability to cope with life’s challenges.
Recognising these diverse backgrounds can be a vital step towards understanding and transforming the narrative around alcohol addiction, helping individuals reclaim their agency and rewrite their story.
Alcohol Addiction Symptoms
Recognising the signs of alcohol addiction is crucial for early intervention and recovery.
Common behavioural symptoms include:
- an increasing preoccupation with drinking
- prioritising alcohol over responsibilities and relationships
- experiencing cravings
Individuals may also demonstrate:
- a preference to socialise with other drinkers
- distancing themselves from friends or family
- engaging in risky behaviours such as drinking and driving
- binge drinking
Furthermore, a person's tolerance may increase, leading them to consume more alcohol to achieve the same effects, accompanied by withdrawal symptoms when not drinking.
Psychological therapy with paul
CBT Therapy Options for Alcohol Addictions
ABOUT PAUL
Meet Paul Lee MSc
Hello, I'm Paul and I've been working with people as a psychologist, psychotherapist and coach since 2009. I have expert knowledge of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and adopt a non-medicalised philosophy when helping people overcome mental health challenges. This means that I will frame your current difficulties as being the result of what has happened to you rather than what is wrong with you.
What to Expect from Therapy
Therapy isn't something that is simply done to you. Although your therapist can provide understanding, guidance and practical psychological strategies, meaningful change usually develops through what you discover, practice and begin to do differently in your everyday life.
At Tranceform, we see therapy as a collaborative process. We'll work together to understand the patterns of thinking, feeling and behaviour that may be keeping the problem going, while helping you explore different ways of responding. Sometimes this involves questioning long-held assumptions, reducing avoidance or experimenting with behaviours that initially feel unfamiliar.
The aim isn't to make you dependent upon therapy or to promise a quick fix. It's to help you develop greater understanding, confidence and agency so that, over time, you become better equipped to manage difficulties for yourself.
Therapy provides the guidance. You provide the practice. We create the change together.
TAKE THE FIRST STEP