Noel Bell is an addictions counsellor and psychotherapist based in London Bridge. I can help with gambling problem support, alcoholism, substance misuse, problematical sexual behaviour and overspending. Addiction is not just about drink and drugs. I use an integrative approach to help clients overcome their difficulties by providing a listening ear and using the most effective tools and techniques from a number of therapeutic traditions. See my article on the best treatment plans for addictions.
Call Noel now on 07852407140 for help with addiction issues, whether you yourself are suffering or if you have a loved one caught up in an addiction.
Addiction can cause havoc to one’s self esteem and self worth as well as creating carnage in one’s personal and professional life. Acknowledging that there is a problem is often the first step on the road to recovery. Doing something about it is the next step. People with an addiction, whether that is a chemical dependence or a habitual behaviour, can often spend a long time contemplating whether to seek help as the struggle with shame can be a long one. The thought of letting go of the substance or behaviour can be scary as there can often be difficulty imagining life without it. The key is not to wait until you have hit rock bottom. With addiction, your life will only ever get more chaotic and more dysfunctional the more you try to maintain a measure of control.
Counselling and psychotherapy can help by taking away the burden of isolation, so often a common feature of the secretive nature of addiction. Letting someone else know what is going on in your internal world can help to begin the transformational journey of recovery. The constancy of therapy sessions can provide much needed structure in your life which can help to alleviate some of the chaos, so typical of active addiction. Making a commitment to therapy can be part of the willingness to start the journey of taking responsibility and addressing your life choices and previous decisions.
Recovery from addiction can actually be a liberating and exciting process as you begin to take more active participation in your wider social circle and begin to allow your hidden qualities to emerge from the shadows. Just think how creative and energetic you can become when set free from the tunnel vision of active addiction.
It is important to feel comfortable with your therapist. You will perhaps feel at ease if you sense that they themselves have done their own personal work on themselves. This can occur when it feels easy to talk about difficult personal material. Your unconscious will allow you to reveal more and enter into greater levels of rapport. You might feel restricted from sharing more intimate detail about your inner processing if you sense that they might not really be listening, are uncomfortable with your material, are speculative or discriminatory.
I have over 20 years experience of helping clients transform their lives in dealing with their addictions and you can call me on 07852 407140 to discuss how I can start to help you and answer any questions you might have.
My articles on addictions and addictions counselling
When financial trading becomes problem gambling
Now that you have stopped drinking
My son is addicted to computer games
What to do when your partner has an active addiction
How to know if you have a problem with porn
The most effective treatment for alcoholism
Why FOBTs are dubbed the ‘crack cocaine of gambling’
Thinking of stopping drinking and taking drugs?
My contribution to a Channel 5 news report on smartphone addiction in August 2016:
See also
Addiction: Disease or choice?
Common pitfalls of trading on Betfair
Dealing with gambling urges
