Client, 9.5 months sober - The Before

Constant midweek drinking. Unreliable at home with the family and half a man at work. Drinking to black out 2/3 times a week. Not living as the person I aligned myself being. First thing on my mind was when was the next time I could drink. On paper had the good job and family but was living a lie.

The Turning Point

There were a lot of similarities between myself and Gary. The fact he understood it from my side of things helped me massively. Each session or chat we had made me believe more in the way I wanted my life to progress!! It wasn’t all serious, we could look back and laugh at past experiences believing this was normal.

The Result + Recommendation

I will be 10 months sober on 24th August. My last drink was 36 hours before I began my sessions and talking with Gary. I have done a lot of work in these ten months however I truly believe if I hadn’t made contact with Gary and the way in which he explained the behaviours of alcohol I could still be sitting here living life as I was before. Hooking up with Gary and learning from him has honestly not only saved me but made it the best ten months myself and family have had as a family. I don’t say this softly. It was only last week my wife told me that this was the best year of her life so far! Peace and love x

Jack, 11.5 months sober - The Before

Life was in a bit of a spiral. It was the end of Summer and my drinking had got out of hand. It had started impacting my work, my marriage and friends. On the surface things seemed fine but I hid the worst parts of my drinking. Things needed to change.

The Turning Point

I was about 2 months into going sober when I started coaching with Gary. I had been to some AA meetings but was struggling and wanted more one to one support. I joined a group programme with a guy called Paul and the three of us met twice a week online. The feeling of not being alone in the struggle, being able to chat candidly about things and confronting it head on with Gary's no nonsense approach helped things stick.

The Result + Recommendation

I haven't had a drink in 346 days. 1st September will be one year. I am in control of my life again, have learnt how to sit with my feelings and am happy and healthy. Couldn't ask for much more really.

If your on the fence then take the plunge. You only live once and getting sober will make each day a little more fulfilling. It won't happen quickly, you will still feel like shit sometimes but over time you will begin to feel calmer, more composed and able to deal with what life throws your way.

Client, 4.5 months sober (one blip) - The Before

After a major life event over 5 years ago I took to drinking to try and blot out or mask I suppose what had happened. A couple of glasses a wine soon turned into a bottle and sometimes more. This became a daily event

The Turning Point

I think the moment when Gary said something along the lines of ‘and that’s why you drunk’. I never really thought about why I was drinking. I just thought it was a habit, which it was, but seeing why I did it really helped me to stop. And hugely not being judged, by Gary saying that’s why you drunk, made me feel less pathetic about myself and less shameful. It had become a dirty secret and having it out in the open helped hugely.

The Result + Recommendation

My life is so different now. I used to wake most mornings with a racing heart, checking my phone, apologising to friends and more importantly my children. Every day I felt full of shame and the only way to get through was to drink again. Now I honestly never want to drink again. It’s not easy but it is the best thing I have ever done for myself. I have time! I enjoy the small things. I am living.

Annika, 18 months sober - The Before

I was 39 when I came across Gary and had been drinking since my early teens. Alcohol was totally consuming my thoughts and my life. I couldn’t do anything without working alcohol into it. It was the most important thing in my life and I needed that to change.

The Turning Point

The Brutal Honesty Pillar. I spoke about something I’d never spoken about before, that I believe heavily contributed towards my drinking. It was something I was desperately trying to forget but hadn’t been able to. I was dreading this but knew I had to do it to get passed it and once I had, I knew I didn’t have to numb anymore. That was the turning point.

The Result + Recommendation

I won’t lie, it’s been a hard journey and will continue to be but I’ve learned, and am learning so much about myself. I’m happy, healthy and I appreciate every minute of my sober life. I am here for my son now, which is the best gift I could ever given myself. I’m calm, clear headed and content and I look forward to waking up every day, sober. I look forward to living my life and experiencing things I’ve never noticed before! Not once have I ever thought having a drink would make my life better. Because it won’t, and I know that now.

Jodi, 3 weeks sober - The Before

I came to Gary in desperation, really. I couldn't get out of a 4-day cycle: drink, despair, self-loathing, repeat. I knew I needed help from somebody who would understand, and most importantly for me, finding his Sobernsound account on Instagram and reading about his story, I knew that I could be completely honest about where I was at, and that I could set aside the shame and focus on what I needed / need to do.

The Turning Point

From our first session, I felt so much hope, and that had been keeping me stuck. I lacked the belief that I could ever stop; this was a massive shift. And I knew that I needed to follow his advice and do exactly what he recommended. The daily non-negotiables.

The Result + Recommendation

Since reaching out to Gary to begin coaching in the first week of May this year, 99 days ago to be precise! :) I have only had alcohol three times, which is nothing short of a miracle. And I am working towards complete abstinence. I couldn't have done this without our coaching and the incredible support. A tiny investment for my life, my future and my health. Incredibly grateful.