addiction recovery in beaconsfield, south bucks

Struggling with questions about use or misuse of alcohol, prescription and non-prescription  drugs, gambling, pornography, shopping and other addictive behaviours can be a scary and isolating experience. These questions can create doubt and uncertainty about the impact our behaviour is having on our lives and the lives of those around us. Often, we  accept our behaviour as a problem long before we feel ready to do anything about it. These problems can reveal themselves internally; affecting our mood, motivation, sense of self-worth or happiness; or externally; impacting our relationships with family,  friends or our place of work. Addressing these questions is not necessarily an admission of a deep-routed problem. Sometimes small behavioural changes can have a hugely positive impact on our lives. Others may find that wholesale changes are beneficial to  restore some balance to what have become unmanageable lives. Therapy can help you to answer some of your unanswered questions about your behaviours and put a framework into place that gives you back control.

Addiction and dependency can show up in many things that we use to regulate ourselves,  or have a psychological need for and even an emotional attachment to. It is one pattern that drives all and we take a whole-form approach to change - wherever that change shows up, it is welcome.  Addicts can often be driven by success and strive for positivity and solutions. 'High functioning'  is often a feature of addiction, managing to hold down positions of responsibility and undertake life in several ways that can from the outside be perfectly normal - however from the inside, the reality can be painful and lonely. They can suffer with regular  burnouts, illness and an inability to handle difficult situations, often with unexplained anger.  Alternatively, Addicts can suffer with anxiety and people pleasing, they can have a pervasive  sense of shame and codependency and have issues with their own boundaries. Problems can show up in relationships and a sense of being imposters in their own lives. A sense of nothingness or helplessness is often accompanied with a sense of little possibility  and little hope for the futureWhatever profile you fit best; you will likely recognise a general pattern that you tend  to fit closer to. Addiction is not usually a matter of 'what' addictions you face in your life, but more a case of 'how' that shows up for you and what you are ready to change.  

Finding the right therapist is key to being able to be honest with yourself about how your  behaviour is impacting your life and what you feel willing and able to do about it. It is recommended that you speak to a few different practitioners before making a decision to start on this journey. The way I choose to work with you is quite unique.  I will guide you through the process  of rediscovering what it is that you want to leave behind and make that the goal of where we are headed.  Along the way, we will rebuild some key skills and rework some assumptions that have been made along the way, both about yourself and about others.  We  have to develop a critical path that is as effective and thorough as possible so that you know at any given moment that you are building a more stable way for you to be in the world, and a true understanding of yourself going forwards.This should never be tough and abrasive work that dwells on past events. However, it is  not a place that you can hide from yourself any more.  Working together it will be an enlightening and enriching experience with ongoing 'penny drop' moments that keep on coming.  With expert guidance you will find your own way through.My recommendation is typically that we work together for 3 months in 2 x weekly sessions  either in person or via Zoom.  It's not a one size fits all approach and an initial consultation will shape our determined path. As we work together, we will hone how we work depending on how fast you are prepared to progress.  You may be already be in Recovery and working within a framework such as 12 Steps, or you  might be trying to work out how much commitment it's going to take.  You may have already been through 12 Steps or another programme and be really ready to do some different work this time.  Wherever you are on your journey, perhaps it's time for a chat. 

Do I have to be working within the 12 Steps Process to be in Therapy with you?

Absolutely not, we can talk about the combination of the two as an option but ultimately this is not the only way through addiction.  

Do I have to give up Drinking/Addiction whilst in Therapy?

Addiction is maladaptive behaviour - it is an unconscious attempt to tend to unmet needs and unhealed pain or to soothe adverse circumstances.  Stopping alcohol alone will not address the underlying issues.  However, we will decide on a path for you - perhaps its abstinence, or a reset of a particular duration.  Perhaps we begin with a Moderation Goal that tracks your awareness of your addiction through a period of time, looking for a healthy model within which you can operate.  

However, it is essential that you commit to being 'clean' for our sessions.  Likewise I insist on not feeling ill - we are better off rescheduling than trying to do this work when you are not 100% ready for it.  The work is intensive and requires a high level of self-awareness - you need to bring all of yourself to your sessions to get what you want from the process. 

Alcohol - 24 hours after last drink, Cannabis 48 hours, Cocaine 72 hours clean.