When your Partner Drinks... Couples Therapist Zach BrittleWhen your Partner Drinks... Couples Therapist Zach Brittle
Tribe Sober - inspiring an alcohol free life!
Zach Brittle shares his journey to sobriety amidst family challenges, offering insights into maintaining relationships when one partner continues to drink.
39:06•13 Dec 2025
When Your Partner Drinks: Sobriety and Relationships
Episode Overview
- Focus on personal stability and self-care first.
- Quitting alcohol is just the beginning; emotional recovery is crucial.
- Financial savings can be significant when quitting alcohol.
- Building a supportive community is key to maintaining sobriety.
- Relationships may change, but stability invites positive growth.
“"Take care of yourself first. Build your healthy place and invite your partner into it."”
Curious about how to maintain a sober life when your partner still drinks? In this engaging episode, Janet Gorond chats with Zach Brittle, a couples therapist from Seattle, who shares his journey of sobriety and the challenges of navigating relationships where one partner continues to drink. Zach opens up about his 'not this' moment during the COVID lockdown, a time when his drinking habits spiralled and strained family ties.
With the help of his friend Dave, Zach embarked on a transformative journey through the 12 steps, finding solace in an online South African AA group. Zach's story is a testament to the power of personal commitment and finding the right support system. He candidly discusses the impact of his sobriety on his marriage, where his wife, initially his drinking buddy, had to confront her own relationship with alcohol.
The couple's experience highlights the importance of individual stability in fostering healthy relationships. Listeners will find valuable advice as Zach emphasises taking care of oneself first and building a 'healthy place' to invite partners into. His analogy of a family being like a child's mobile—where stabilising one part causes others to wobble—beautifully illustrates the dynamics of change within family systems.
Zach's top benefits of sobriety include feeling like an adult for the first time, enjoying restful sleep, achieving mental clarity, and making substantial financial savings. His journey underscores that quitting alcohol is just a small part of recovery; true sobriety involves understanding oneself and cultivating emotional resilience. Whether you're in a similar situation or simply curious about the nuances of sober relationships, this episode offers relatable insights and practical advice.
Why not reflect on how you can create your own 'healthy place' today?
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