Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you might want to know before we start, laid out plainly.
What actually is coaching, and how is it different from therapy?
Coaching is a structured partnership. You bring what you want to change or build, I bring questions, frameworks and honest observation, and we work on it together. It isn't therapy, counselling or medical care, and I'm not a doctor or addiction treatment provider. If something you tell me needs a clinician, I'll say so plainly rather than trying to cover it myself.
Are you a therapist or an addiction specialist?
No. I'm a coach. I hold a diploma in Coaching and Positive Psychology from Coach Business School, accredited by the ICF, the Association for Coaching and the EMCC, and I trained separately as an Alcohol-Free Performance Coach with the Andy Ramage Training Academy. I've also applied for individual accreditation with the EMCC and work to their Global Code of Ethics.
Do you draw on your own experience of stopping drinking?
Yes, and it shapes how I listen. It doesn't make my path a template for yours, and I won't treat it as one.
Do I need to have already stopped drinking before we start?
No. Some clients are still drinking when we begin, some have already stopped, and some stop partway through and then have a slip. All of those are places we can work from. What matters is that you tell me honestly where things actually stand.
What if I'm not sure my drinking is even a problem?
That uncertainty is a reasonable place to start from, not a reason to wait. If your focus is Alcohol-Free Performance Coaching, the intake form includes the AUDIT, a screening questionnaire from the World Health Organization. It isn't a diagnosis. I use it, alongside what you tell me, to work out with you whether coaching fits right now, or whether medical support should come first or run alongside it. A score of 20 or above suggests you may be physically dependent on alcohol. If that's your score, I'll ask you to speak to your GP or a clinical service before we begin.
Is it safe for me to just stop, given how much I drink?
Not always, and it's worth being direct about that. Stopping suddenly can be dangerous if you drink heavily or daily, or if you've had withdrawal symptoms before, such as shaking, sweating, seizures, or seeing or hearing things that aren't there. If that sounds like you, speak to your GP or another medical professional before you change how you drink. Coaching can run alongside medical support once that's in place. You'll find numbers to call on my support page.
What if I drink, or have a slip, during our work together?
Tell me honestly and we'll work with what's real. I won't end the coaching over it. The one exception is a session itself: if you arrive too intoxicated for us to do the work, I'll end that session, and it counts as used.
Who is this not for?
Coaching works best when you're safe and any medical needs are covered. If you're in danger, or you might harm yourself, use the numbers on my support page first. If you drink heavily or daily, or your AUDIT score suggests dependence, I'll ask you to speak to your GP or a clinical service before we begin, and coaching can run alongside that support.
What does a coaching block actually involve?
Six sessions, 45 minutes each, by video call over Google Meet, roughly every two weeks over about three months. Every session is online, wherever you are.
Can I message you between sessions?
Yes, by email or on WhatsApp. I reply as soon as I can, and within 48 hours unless there's been an emergency or I've told you in advance that I'll be away. Messaging suits short questions and accountability; longer conversations belong in a session.
What happens if I need to reschedule or miss a session?
Give me at least 48 hours' notice and I'll rebook it inside the same block. Less notice than that, or missing a session without word, means it counts as used, though I'll always make an exception for a genuine emergency.
Do you record sessions?
I keep brief notes to track your goals and progress. I may ask to record a session for my own professional development, and I only do so if we both agree first, before the session starts. If you'd like to record one, the same applies.
Do you offer sessions in person?
No. Every session is online.
What does it cost, and what happens on the chemistry call?
The chemistry call is £50 for thirty minutes. It comes off the price of your block if you go ahead. A block itself is £900 for six sessions, paid as one payment by bank transfer before your first session. If we agree together that it isn't the right fit, the £50 is refunded in full. It's forfeited if you don't attend without notice.
Am I committing to more than one block?
No. You're committed to one block only. Many people continue for longer, up to four blocks over roughly a year, but that's a decision you make block by block, not something you're signing up for at the start.
Can I change my mind after I've paid?
Yes. If you're buying as a consumer, you have 14 days from payment to cancel, no reason needed, by emailing me. If we've already started sessions inside that window at your request, you'd pay only for what's been delivered, and I'd refund the rest within 14 days. The full terms are at camspringett.cloud/terms-conditions.
Can I stop partway through a block?
Yes. You can end the coaching at any time by emailing me. I refund the sessions you haven't used, after deducting £150 for each session already delivered or counted as used. In the first 14 days after paying, the cancellation rules above apply instead.
Is what I tell you confidential?
Yes, with three narrow exceptions: a serious risk to your life or safety or someone else's, a legal requirement to disclose, or a safeguarding duty involving a child or vulnerable adult. Outside of that, nothing you tell me goes further, and I'll always try to tell you first if one of those exceptions ever applies. Full details are in my privacy policy at camspringett.cloud/privacy-policy.
Will coaching definitely work?
I can't promise a result, and I don't think anyone honestly can, including how long you'll stay alcohol-free. What I can promise is my full attention, my preparation and my honesty. Sobriety is not a destination. Sobriety is a doorway. What happens on the other side of it is built session by session, not guaranteed in advance.