Lizzie Kincaid

I am able to offer evening or weekend sessions if required

If alcohol, substances, or certain behaviours feel like they鈥檙e running your life, you鈥檙e not weak 鈥� you鈥檙e stuck. And stuck patterns can change with the right support.

I鈥檓 Lizzie, a counsellor specialising in addiction and recovery support for individuals and families. I work with people affected by alcohol use, substance use, and compulsive or addictive behaviours 鈥� including gambling, sex, shopping, and other behaviours that feel difficult to control. I also support the emotional difficulties that often sit alongside addiction, such as anxiety, depression, shame, stress, low self-worth, and relationship problems.

My work is grounded in professional training and lived experience. Having navigated my own journey from addiction to recovery, I understand how complex, personal, and often hidden these struggles can be. This informs how I work 鈥� with empathy, honesty, and a deep respect for the courage it takes to ask for help.

I believe change happens through a strong therapeutic relationship. I aim to offer a space that feels safe, non-judgemental, and real, where you can talk openly about what鈥檚 going on without fear of being criticised or misunderstood. I work collaboratively, at your pace, helping you understand your patterns, strengthen healthier coping, and move towards a life that feels more manageable and meaningful.

You don鈥檛 need to be certain or have everything figured out. If you鈥檙e questioning your relationship with alcohol, substances, or behaviours 鈥� or wondering whether things could be different 鈥� that鈥檚 enough to start.

Clients often come to me feeling conflicted, ashamed, or unsure where to begin. Some know addiction is a problem; others are simply questioning whether their coping strategies are causing harm. Many feel exhausted by cycles they can鈥檛 seem to break.

In our work together, I take a holistic view of your life. We look not only at the addictive behaviour itself, but also at what鈥檚 driving it 鈥� emotional needs, past experiences, relationships, stress, trauma, or ways you鈥檝e learned to cope. This isn鈥檛 about blame or labels. It鈥檚 about understanding and choice.

Sessions are led by what matters most to you. I work relationally and collaboratively, checking in regularly about how therapy feels so it can be shaped around your needs. I鈥檓 honest, compassionate, and direct when helpful 鈥� supporting you to explore difficult thoughts and feelings while also helping you build safer, more supportive ways of coping.

I also work with family members and loved ones affected by addiction, and with people who may not identify as 鈥渁ddicted鈥� but feel something isn鈥檛 sitting right. You don鈥檛 need to be at crisis point to benefit from therapy.

Above all, you can expect a space where you are taken seriously, treated with respect, and supported to make sense of your experiences at a pace that feels manageable.

The first session is a chance for us to slow things down and begin where you are. Many people arrive feeling nervous, unsure what to say, or worried about being judged 鈥� especially when addiction or compulsive behaviours are involved. You don鈥檛 need to prepare, explain yourself perfectly, or have clear goals. We take it one step at a time.

We鈥檒l talk about what has brought you to therapy and what鈥檚 been feeling difficult. That might include alcohol, substances, or behaviours you鈥檙e concerned about, as well as the emotional impact they鈥檙e having on your life and relationships. You鈥檙e always in control of what you share, and there鈥檚 no pressure to disclose anything you鈥檙e not ready to explore.

I鈥檒l ask some gentle questions to help me understand your situation and what support might be most helpful. This isn鈥檛 an assessment or interrogation 鈥� it鈥檚 a conversation. I鈥檒l also explain how I work, answer any questions you have, and outline practical details such as confidentiality, boundaries, and how sessions usually run.

By the end of the session, we can reflect together on how it felt to talk and whether ongoing therapy feels like the right next step. Some people want clarity and structure; others want space and time. We鈥檒l shape the work around what feels safest and most useful for you.

If you鈥檙e unsure about starting therapy, I also offer a free 15-minute phone call. This gives you the opportunity to ask questions, talk things through, and get a sense of whether working together feels right before committing to a first session.