Heather Ross
Heather Ross
EP123 Why It’s Not About the Alcohol with Guest Colleen Freeland
EP123 Why It’s Not About the Alcohol with Guest Colleen Freeland
EP123 Why It’s Not About the Alcohol with Guest Colleen Freeland
Saturday 16th August 2025
Join Colleen Freeland as she discusses emotional sobriety, self-trust, and reducing alcohol reliance for high-achieving women.
40 minutes
hopeful
challenging
informative
empowering
reflective
About this podcast
Author:
Heather Ross
Overview:
Categories:
Family Recovery from Addiction
Sobriety Toolkit
Understanding Addiction & Recovery
Navigating Intimate Relationships
Recovery from Trauma
Links:
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Episodes:
131 (View all)
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Get the buttons here!Emotional Sobriety: Beyond Alcohol with Colleen Freeland
Episode Overview
- Emotional sobriety focuses on self-trust over willpower.
- High-achieving women often hide struggles with alcohol.
- Negative self-talk can fuel addiction.
- Reducing alcohol doesn't mean losing joy.
- Support is key to overcoming perfectionism.
"Get happy, not sober. Emotional sobriety is about self-trust, not just willpower."
In this insightful episode, we delve into the journey of Colleen Freeland, a Master Certified Life Coach and founder of Emotional Sobriety Coaching. Colleen opens up about her own 20-year struggle with daily drinking, despite maintaining the facade of a high-achieving life. Her story is one of transformation, as she realized the root issue was not alcohol itself, but her beliefs about herself.
This pivotal insight led her to develop a philosophy centered around emotional sobriety, emphasizing the importance of self-trust over mere willpower. Colleen's approach has empowered thousands of women to cut back on alcohol consumption by focusing on awareness and self-trust. Unlike traditional methods that may rely on shame or surrender, her coaching is rooted in understanding and compassion. She emphasizes that emotional sobriety matters more than sheer willpower, and that reducing alcohol intake doesn't equate to sacrificing joy.
The conversation further explores the societal pressures on high-achieving women, who often mask their struggles with alcohol. Colleen discusses how perfectionism and negative self-talk contribute to these challenges, and how the obsession with alcohol can be exacerbated by behavior-based reduction programs. Through her personal experience and professional expertise, Colleen advocates for a supportive community where women can share their journeys, emphasizing the importance of feeling safe and secure in one's own skin.
Her work demonstrates that by solving the underlying issues contributing to alcohol dependency, women can achieve happiness without worrying about their relationship with alcohol. Listeners are encouraged to explore Colleen's resources, including her website EmotionalSobrietyCoaching.com and her podcast 'It’s Not About the Alcohol,' to learn more about her innovative approach to emotional sobriety and recovery.