I had the pleasure of working with James, a 30-year-old junior marketing executive who seemed to have everything going for him - a good job, supportive family, and an active social life. However, he was in denial about his drinking problem. As a therapist, I used various techniques including neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) and hypnosis to help him understand the root of his addiction and how to overcome it.
Despite James's active social life, alcohol was always present. He joked about looking like an alcoholic in every photo of himself holding a drink, but in reality, his drinking problem was no laughing matter.
When James met a woman, they had been seeing each other for a couple of months, and she noticed that every time she called him, he was drinking. She didn't think much of it and assumed he enjoyed a couple of drinks when he was out with friends or colleagues. However, as time went on, James's behaviour became increasingly concerning.
One morning, he woke up with his shirt covered in blood, unsure of what happened. On another occasion, he pushed a young woman in a nightclub after she spilled his drink. James was in denial about his drinking problem and couldn't understand why his new love interest didn't want to see him again.
Through our therapy sessions, I helped James understand the root of his addiction and how to overcome it. He underwent an alcohol detox and began attending support groups. I utilised various therapeutic approaches such as psychotherapy, cognitive therapy, hypnosis, NLP, and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) to help him overcome his addiction and regain control of his life.
Today, James is a different person. He is sober and has a better understanding of how his drinking problem impacted his life. Through our work together, he has become more in tune with his emotions and how to manage them. As his therapist, I am proud of the progress he has made and will continue to support him on his journey to recovery.
