Addiction
When drinking stops being something you choose
Counselling for the emotional impact of alcohol on your life, relationships, and wellbeing — online across the UK and face-to-face across England. No labels required.
NCPS Organisational Member
Professionally registered therapists
Free 15-minute consultation
★ ★ ★ ★ ★“I did not think I was ‘bad enough’ to ask for help. My counsellor helped me see that you do not have to hit rock bottom to deserve support.”
Client who sought support for drinking concerns
5,000+
People supported
90+
Qualified therapists
5 ★
Website Testimonials
20+
Counties across England
You have started noticing — even if nobody else has
Maybe it is the glass of wine that has become two, then three, most evenings. Maybe it is the way you find yourself planning around alcohol — making sure there is always something in the fridge, feeling uneasy when there is not. Or maybe it is the mornings after, the quiet anxiety, the sense of having let yourself down again.
For many people, the worry about drinking arrives long before anything visibly goes wrong. You are still functioning, still getting through the day, still managing your responsibilities. But privately, you know that your relationship with alcohol has changed. It has become less about enjoyment and more about need — less about choosing a drink and more about not being able to not have one.
That gap between how things look from the outside and how they feel on the inside can be deeply isolating. You might feel that your drinking is not serious enough to warrant help, or that asking for support means admitting something you are not ready to say out loud. Many people who come to us feel exactly that way at first.
You do not need to be in crisis to deserve support. You do not need a label. If alcohol is taking up more space in your life than you want it to, that is reason enough to talk to someone.
What we offer
Counselling for the emotional and relational impact of drinking — the worry, the guilt, the effect on your relationships and your sense of yourself. We provide a confidential, non-judgemental space to explore what is going on.
What we do not provide
Medical detox, residential rehabilitation, medication-assisted treatment, or substance dependency programmes. If you are physically dependent on alcohol and need medical support to stop safely, please contact your GP or one of the specialist services below.
Specialist support
· Alcoholics Anonymous UK · Alcohol Change UK · NHS Alcohol Advice
Drinking rarely stays in its own lane
What starts as a way to unwind or take the edge off can gradually start to shape other parts of your life. Sleep suffers. Anxiety increases, often made worse by the very thing that was supposed to ease it. You might notice yourself becoming more irritable, more withdrawn, less present with the people who matter most.
For some people, drinking becomes tangled up with relationships. Arguments that only happen after drinking. Things said that cannot be unsaid. A partner who has started to worry, or who has stopped saying anything because the conversation never goes well. The secrecy that builds around how much and how often.
Work can be affected too — not always in dramatic ways, but in the slow erosion of concentration, motivation, and confidence. And beneath all of this, there is often a growing sense of shame that makes it harder, not easier, to reach out.
If your partner’s drinking is the concern rather than your own, that is equally valid. Living alongside someone whose relationship with alcohol worries you can be exhausting, lonely, and confusing. Counselling can help you process that experience and find ways to look after yourself, whatever your partner decides to do.
Understanding what drinking is doing for you
If stopping or cutting back were simply a matter of willpower, most people would have done it already. The fact that it is not easy is not a reflection of weakness — it usually means that alcohol is meeting a need that has not been addressed in any other way.
For some people, drinking numbs anxiety or stress. For others, it fills loneliness, eases social discomfort, or provides a temporary escape from feelings that feel too overwhelming to sit with. Some people drink to manage grief, or relationship pain, or the cumulative weight of a life that has not turned out how they expected.
Counselling helps you understand your own pattern — not the textbook version, but yours. What triggers the drinking, what it gives you in the moment, what it costs you afterwards, and what would need to change for a different pattern to feel possible. That understanding does not eliminate the urge overnight, but it gives you something willpower alone cannot: genuine clarity about what you are actually responding to.
How counselling can help
Talking about your drinking — honestly, without minimising or exaggerating — can feel like an enormous step. A good therapist will recognise that from the start. Counselling is not about being told to stop. It is a confidential, non-judgemental space where you can explore your relationship with alcohol and work out what you want to change.
Your therapist can help you understand the emotional triggers behind your drinking, develop healthier ways of managing difficult feelings, and rebuild confidence in your ability to make choices that align with the life you actually want. If your drinking is connected to anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, or other concerns, those can be explored together.
Some people come to counselling wanting to stop drinking completely. Others want to understand and moderate their use. The goal is not prescribed — it is something you and your therapist work out together, based on what matters to you.
Sessions are confidential in line with professional ethical standards. There are limited circumstances where confidentiality may need to change — for example, if there is a serious risk of harm — and your therapist will explain these clearly at the outset.
Our Approach
How we work with drinking concerns
We offer several evidence-based approaches, and your therapist will recommend the one that best fits your situation.
Our booking team and your therapist will discuss which approach — or combination — feels most appropriate for what you are bringing. You do not need to know which is right before you start.
What our clients say
Real experiences
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
I did not think I was ‘bad enough’ to ask for help. My counsellor helped me see that you do not have to hit rock bottom to deserve support.
Client who sought support for drinking concerns
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
I had tried to cut back so many times on my own. Having someone to talk to who actually understood what was going on underneath made a real difference.
Client who sought support for alcohol and anxiety
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
The free consultation put me at ease straight away. I was nervous about opening up, but from the very first session, I felt genuinely listened to.
Client who sought support for behavioural concerns
Client experiences are unique. Results vary between individuals.
Getting started
What to expect
Starting counselling can feel like a big step — especially when alcohol is involved. Here is how it works.
1
Free consultation
A brief, relaxed 15-minute conversation with a member of our booking team. We listen to what is going on and explore whether counselling could help. No pressure, no obligation.
2
Matched with a therapist
Based on your needs and preferences, we carefully match you with one of our 90+ qualified therapists. If it does not feel right, we will find someone else — at no extra cost.
3
Your first session
Your therapist will take time to understand your situation and what you are hoping to work on. There is no rush, no script, and nothing you have to share before you are ready.
Most clients hear back from us the same working day, and typically begin sessions within a week of the free consultation — depending on your preferences and therapist availability.
Standards you can trust
How we match you with the right therapist
Choosing a therapist is a personal decision, and we take time to get the match right.
A careful match, not a long list
Therapist availability changes from week to week, so rather than asking you to choose from a directory, we take time during your free 15-minute consultation to understand what you are looking for — and then match you with a therapist suited to your needs.
During the consultation, we will ask about:
- What you would like the work to focus on, and any specific concerns you would like support with
- Whether you would prefer face-to-face counselling, online sessions, or a combination of the two
- Any preferences around therapy approach (counselling, CBT, EMDR, hypnotherapy, mindfulness, ACT, compassion focused therapy and others)
- Day and time availability that works around your life
- Any specialisms that matter to you
- Practical preferences — for example therapist gender, age range, or shared lived experience where that matters to you
All therapists we work with are qualified and registered with appropriate UK professional bodies, and we will confirm the most suitable options with you before any sessions begin.
Professional standards across our team
Hope Therapy & Counselling Services has been operating since 2014, and we hold Organisational Membership with the National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society (NCPS). We work in line with the NCPS Code of Ethics and BACP Good Practice, and our wider clinical standards include:
- Qualified, professionally registered therapists across the team — registrations vary per therapist and are confirmed before matching
- Ongoing clinical supervision in line with professional body requirements
- Continuing professional development to maintain and develop practice
- Clear confidentiality standards, with limits explained before sessions begin
- Client-centred, non-judgemental and inclusive practice across all areas of identity and experience
- Founder-led clinical oversight from Ian Stockbridge — MBACP (Senior Accredited) – who continues to lead the practice and oversee its standards
Whether you choose face-to-face counselling near you or online therapy from anywhere in the UK, you can expect to be matched with a therapist who is appropriately qualified and suited to the support you are looking for.
Transparent Pricing
Our fees
No hidden costs. Your therapist and fees are discussed during your free consultation.
Counselling
From £65
per 50-minute session
- Person-centred or integrative approach
- Online via Zoom or telephone
- Face-to-face where available
CBT
From £85
per 50-minute session
- Structured, goal-focused approach
- Practical tools and strategies
- Online or face-to-face
Couples Counselling
From £85
per 50-minute session
- Support for both partners
- When alcohol affects a relationship
- Online or face-to-face
Looking for a more affordable option? We may be able to offer sessions at a reduced rate — just ask during your free consultation.
London clients: Location-adjusted rates may apply. Please ask during your free consultation and we will confirm the exact fee before you commit to anything.
Common Questions
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be an alcoholic to get counselling?
No. You do not need a label or a diagnosis. Many people who come to us are simply worried about how much they are drinking, or noticing that alcohol has started to play a bigger role in their life than they would like. Counselling can help you understand the pattern and decide what you want to change.
What kind of alcohol support does Hope Therapy offer?
We provide counselling for the emotional and relational impact of drinking. We do not provide medical detox, residential rehabilitation, or substance dependency programmes. If your situation requires that level of support, we will help you find the right service.
Is alcohol counselling available online?
Yes. All of our counsellors offer sessions online via Zoom or telephone, so you can access support from anywhere in the UK. If you prefer face-to-face sessions, we also have therapists available in locations across England.
Is everything I say confidential?
Yes. Sessions are confidential in line with professional ethical standards. There are some limited exceptions, for example where there is a serious risk of harm, and your therapist will explain these clearly before you begin.
Can counselling help if my partner drinks too much?
Yes. Living with someone whose drinking is causing concern can be deeply stressful. We offer individual counselling for partners and family members affected by someone else’s drinking, as well as couples counselling where both partners want to work together.
How many sessions will I need?
It depends on your individual situation. Some people find that a short block of sessions helps them gain clarity and develop new patterns. Others benefit from longer-term support. There is no fixed number, and your therapist will review progress with you as you go.
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Meet Our Founder
Built by someone who saw the need from the inside
★
SCoPEd Band C
MBACP & SNCPS Senior Accredited
“Having worked for more than 25 years in senior management, I saw the same thing repeatedly — people struggling with mental health and relationship challenges, and so often struggling to access the right support when it was needed. It was out of this recognition of human need that Hope was born.”
Ian Stockbridge founded Hope Therapy after 25+ years leading large commercial teams – watching colleagues carry stress, anxiety, and personal difficulty with nowhere to turn. He retrained rigorously, now holding Senior Accredited status with both the BACP and NCPS, alongside SCoPEd Band C — the highest independent competence verification in the UK counselling profession.
He remains a practising therapist, clinical supervisor, published author of PMDD Uncovered, and co-presenter of The Talk Room Podcast. Hope Therapy was built on the things he saw were most broken – and designed, from the ground up, to do better.
MBACP (Senior Accredited)
SNCPS (Acc)
SCoPEd Band C
BSc (Hons) CBT
PGCert Supervision L7
Quality Award 2024 — 95%+
You do not have to wait until things get worse
A free, no-obligation 15-minute conversation. No pressure, no script — just a chance to be heard, ask questions, and see whether we feel like the right fit.
Get in Touch
Start your enquiry
Not sure where to start? Send us a message and a member of our team will get back to you. All enquiries are treated in the strictest confidence.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
“From the very first phone call, I felt heard. They didn’t rush me — they helped me work out what I needed.”
Hope Therapy enquiry feedback
NCPS Organisational Member
Est 2014
90+ Qualified Therapists
National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society
British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
British Association for Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapies
Individual registrations vary per therapist. Last reviewed: May 2026.