Western Counselling, how it works

Why we do what we do and how…? Western Counselling deploys an Integrative Approach to supporting people who suffer from various addictions, incorporating 12 Step solution focussed philosophy, with a whole range of traditional and innovative counselling...

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Do the 12 steps work?

Working the 12 step programme   Do the 12 steps actually work? A question that can provoke a plethora of responses depending on the opinion of the individual asked. It’s not always as straightforward as a simple yes or no.     My early experience with a...

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Why am i an addict?

Why am I an addict, when my friends use drugs too? Understanding drug addiction.   Drug use in the UK is extremely common, almost considered a rite of passage for our youth. With drug use evident on our streets, and drug-related deaths in the UK higher than...

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Letting go

A lesson in letting go   When we were approached by a Portuguese hotel chain to deliver addiction treatment from their gorgeous tiny hotel in rural Alentejo, we were both incredibly proud and excited.  To be able to deliver services in Portugal where so many of...

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Why Can’t I Stop Drinking?

Western Counselling Why Can’t I Stop Drinking? Overcoming alcohol addiction How to stop drinking and start a recovery life This is such a common lament we hear from people trying to quit and feeling more and more hopeless and miserable with each attempt.  “I make...

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Horrors of Alcohol

Alcohol is no laughing matter Alcohol, legal, sociable and currently the third leading cause of preventable death.   Quite a shocking statistic isn’t it?  Alcohol will kill 1 in 10 Americans aged 20-64 this year and someone somewhere will die every 10 seconds...

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Staying sober at Christmas

Staying Sober This Christmas and New Year   Christmas is a wonderfully joyful time for many people, it can also induce fear and terror in others. A period when everyone is meant to be happy and perfect creates a pressure that can be hard to fulfil.  The holiday...

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Recovering from addiction, abroad.

Rehabilitation in Portugal An exciting collaboration between a boutique hotel situated in the tranquil region of the Alentejo, Portugal and an internationally acclaimed UK treatment centre, Western Counselling. The staff team includes a Psychiatrist, Psychologist and...

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Western Counselling in Africa.

Western Counselling has been working with The Addictions and Recovery Trust in Harare, Zimbabwe to set up a 12step recovery programme, the first of its kind in Zimbabwe.   Read our other articles about our time in Africa here and here.   The First Step...

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Western Counselling in Zimbabwe

Week commencing 09 January 2017.   Read our previous entry.   We’ve arrived in Harare and its raining! Can you believe that? We leave the cold and frozen UK for Africa and its raining!! January is apparently the rainy season, we were warned, however nothing...

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