Is your relationship with drugs, alcohol or sex causing problems in your life?
Feel like you're going in circles?
Is your relationship with drugs, alcohol or sex causing problems in your life?
Feel like you're going in circles?
Learn how my 12-week coaching programme can help you go from out-of-control substance use, compulsive behaviours and persistent relapsing – to being stronger, happier and healthier.
In this video:
→ who is Hamish?
→ why you're here
→ 3 things keeping you stuck
→ the DREAM method ™
→ Hamish's approach
→ hear from a previous client
Recovery coaching is support for people in recovery from alcohol, drugs or other addictive behaviours.
Let's also start by defining addiction. My favourite definition is from Dr Gabor Maté:
"Addiction is any behaviour that a person craves, finds temporary relief or pleasure in but suffers negative consequences as a result of, and yet has difficulty giving up."
Recovery coaching can help you to create the conditions for a healthier lifestyle, when you might have previously explored other avenues.
You may have already:
Change can feel scary, confusing and overwhelming. Sometimes, this leads us to procrastinate and avoid doing things that we know will help us.
After attempting to make changes, you might find that you've repeated behaviours that you want to stop. You might feel stuck in a cycle of relapse.
This is the point where a recovery coach can help you get unstuck.
Sometimes, we need to make space to discover what we need. Coaching sessions can be that space. A space to ignite positive change in your life.
Coaching is also about accountability; ensuring that you stay on track in working towards where you want to be.
Time and time again, in myself and in others, I've seen three things that keep people stuck in destructive patterns:
Socrates
If there's one thing I've learned over the past few years, it is exactly that.
Substance use can not only wreak havoc in every area of life – health, relationships, finances, career. It can cause you to forget all about the dreams you once had. Dreams that are actually within your reach.
That's why I developed my DREAM method ™ – a coaching framework with five pillars to help you shift to a healthier lifestyle:
➟ Discovery: reconnect with your life vision
➟ Reflection: on your barriers to reaching it
➟ Exploration: values + triggers + options
➟ Action: create the conditions for change
➟ Maintenance: relapse prevention plan
My approach draws influence from the mindfulness-based addiction recovery (MBAR) model, developed by an NHS doctor and a Buddhist leader. MBAR is endorsed by world-renowned addiction expert Dr Gabor Maté.
Why mindfulness?
Traditional recovery programmes have a relapse rate as high as 60% in the first year. [mindfulness & substance use, NLM 2018 study]
Mindfulness rewires the brain, so that you get to a point where you're at ease without using substances.
Henry – client
In 2020 I was diagnosed with late-stage HIV – also known as AIDS.
It was the start of my recovery from 20 years of compulsive substance use and addiction.
Now – after years of learning the hard way – I help men struggling with drink & drugs to get unstuck.