Alcohol & Other Drugs Counselling in North Lanarkshire
Free, confidential support - whenever you are ready.
Murray’s Initiative Alcohol & Other Drug Counselling in service provides individual, confidential and free counselling for people experiencing harm from their own alcohol and/or drug use in North Lanarkshire. This is a free service, fully funded by North Lanarkshire Alcohol and Drug Partnership (NLADP).
This service can only accept referrals from North Lanarkshire Addiction Recovery Teams.
-
We deliver the Alcohol and Other Drugs Counselling in the following locations:
Cumbernauld
Coatbridge
Airdrie
Bellshill
Motherwell
Wishaw
-
There are no set number of sessions. Sometimes one session can be enough, but it will depend on the clients personal needs. Most clients have between 6 and 12 sessions. This is for the client and their counsellor to discuss.
Each session lasts 50 minutes and are fortnightly..
-
Our counselling service is confidential so the content of sesisons remain between the client and the counsellor unless there are concerns about the client or someone else’s safety.
Sometimes we may produce attendance reports at the request of the worker with the clients permission.
Our Impact
Client 1
Our client was referred for alcohol support in early 2025, presenting with extremely high daily alcohol use that was significantly impacting their well-being. Alcohol had become a coping mechanism for stress, low mood, anxiety and the pressures of caring for family members.
The client’s main goal was to reduce their alcohol use and ultimately become completely abstinent. The counsellor used various techniques to explore the physical and psychological impact of alcohol, alongside developing healthier coping strategies. Together, a gradual reduction plan was agreed upon, supported by practical changes at home. The client later sought medical support and was prescribed medication to reduce cravings, which contributed positively to their progress.
After engaging well with the service, the client was discharged, having maintained abstinence for approximately two months. They reported feeling pleased with their progress and expressed that counselling provided a safe space to talk openly and honestly about their drinking for the first time. The client shared very positive feedback about their overall experience of the service.
Client 2
Our client self-referred to the service, seeking support to stop daily drinking and make wider lifestyle changes. They felt more motivated than in previous attempts and recognised that alcohol was holding them back from reaching their potential and returning to work. Low self-esteem and anxiety were also contributing factors.
Therapeutic work focused on understanding their relationship with alcohol, addressing triggers and exploring how it conflicted with personal values. The counsellor worked collaboratively with the client, adopting various techniques to help the client develop healthier routines and coping strategies. The client stopped drinking by session three and continued building positive habits such as exercising and practising anxiety-management techniques.
After six sessions, the client confidently chose to continue making progress independently, with the option to return if needed. They shared very positive feedback, stating that being listened to and understood helped motivate them to make changes.
Client 3
A client was signposted by their GP and self-referred for support with anxiety and high alcohol use. They had been drinking daily to cope with anxiety, which had gradually increased to a problematic level and was affecting their health, family life, career opportunities and confidence.
Counselling focused on reducing both alcohol use and anxiety while building healthier coping strategies. Through a combination of person-centred work, CBT and acceptance-based approaches, the client was supported to understand the link between negative thinking, anxiety and drinking behaviour. Motivational and compassionate interventions encouraged lifestyle changes, including regular exercise and a gradual, manageable reduction in alcohol use.
By the end of 12 sessions, the client had significantly reduced their alcohol intake with several alcohol-free days and felt equipped to continue independently. They had begun pursuing employment and no longer felt dependent on alcohol or GP support for anxiety. The client expressed gratitude for the service and confidence in their ongoing progress.
How to Access Our Service
This service can only accept referrals from the North Lanarkshire Addiction Recovery Teams. If you are not an A.R.T. Worker, please contact your local A.R.T. Service.
If the client needs support outside of service hours, please do not hesitate to call our Freephone Helpline at 0808 802 9000— we are here to listen and support you.