In England alone, from 2023-2024, there were over 1 million alcohol-related hospital admissions (1).
Alcohol is one of the most dangerous and addictive substances in the world, not only due to its general widespread availability, but also due to the unique ways in which it impacts and individual, their physical health, and their mental health.
Across the UK, as well as in Brighton specifically, there are many different sources of support for individuals who find themselves to be addicted to alcohol.
When an individual is addicted, they will repeatedly seek out and consume alcohol as a result of changes in the brain. This continues despite the negative effects that occur in the long-term – often with the individual’s full awareness.
This blog post will discuss how alcoholism (an addiction to alcohol) may be aided and benefited with the prescription of an alcohol therapist and/or counsellor within their wider rehabilitation programme.
Though the two terms are often used interchangeably, there are some small differences in the function and role of a therapist and a counsellor.
The distinction between them is made below:
In all cases, all counsellors and therapists must be fully trained and licensed in the UK to allow for the best suggestions and advice to be given to help the individual overcome their addiction.
An individual can find their local counsellors and therapists in Brighton by contacting their local health services, but also by contacting addiction referral services such as Rehab 4 Addiction.
As mentioned above, addiction is a unique and specific mental health issue which can occur for many different reasons, most of them related to mental health.
This is why getting help and support from a counsellor or therapist in Brighton is so often recommended and is also one of the most effective ways to deal with the deep-rooted issues that may be responsible for an individual’s addiction.
Generally, counsellors and therapists will help an individual in the therapy stage of care, as well as during aftercare, where they can continue to coach the individual through various mental health exercises, as well as developing coping mechanisms for the long-term.
No two individuals will have the same experience of alcohol rehabilitation; every individual will have different needs and requirements of care, as well as being uniquely impacted by the effects of alcohol, both in the short term and the long term.
This means, however, that there is no “one size fits all” approach to rehabilitation and every individual will require a tailored programme of care.
The following subheading outlines some of the types of therapy that an individual may encounter during their time in alcohol rehabilitation in Brighton.
The following points outline some of the most common types of therapy that an individual may experience in alcohol rehabilitation in Brighton:
For individuals who may not be able to attend residential rehabilitation (covered later in this blog post), most therapist and counselling services are available on an outpatient basis.
This refers to treatment and care that is received outside of a dedicated rehab centre and is therefore more part-time when compared to residential treatment.
Though many of the same treatments and therapies are available outside of a residential centre, an outpatient therapy programme can be more suitable depending on the individual and their specific needs.
For example, research conducted in the US found that outpatient care could be more effective when combined with a strong aftercare programme (2), highlighting the vital importance of continuing to learn after alcohol rehabilitation – even more so with the presence of a licensed therapist or counsellor.
As we are living in an increasingly online world, this means that many sources of addiction support are also offering virtual support and care for those who perhaps cannot leave their home, or for those who it may be more convenient for.
Telephone sessions, for example, are a quick and easy way to connect individuals struggling with an alcohol addiction to a specialist.
Just by speaking over the phone, individuals are able to discuss their issues and receive valuable advice for the next steps they should be taking.
Many different forms of therapy can occur this way, with the effectiveness being affected little.
Alternatively, and perhaps on a slightly more personal and intimate level, some addiction rehabilitation service providers offer video calls or online sessions.
Often including video calls, this is perhaps more suitable for individuals who prefer therapy when they can see the other person, making it feel closer to attending in-person.
In very few cases, individuals struggling with an alcohol addiction in Brighton may be able to partake in a home detox programme.
This is only suitable in a very small number of cases as a home detox is generally not supervised, meaning that substances that are more dangerous to withdraw from (including alcohol and heroin, for example) do not recommend a home detox programme.
During an alcohol home detox programme, individuals are often prescribed a substance such as Librium to help counteract the negative physical health impacts and discomfort, but this is not always suitable, especially if the individual has a long history of addiction and alcohol consumption.
This is why it is vital that all individuals looking to undergo a home detox have full approval from a medical professional, as well as suitable social support throughout the process – potentially including regular meetings with a licensed therapist or counsellor.
Before any individual begins any form of rehabilitation, for alcohol or another substance, residentially or on an outpatient basis, they must first gain approval from their local health services or addiction referral service.
Taking the form of a pre-assessment, an individual may be asked some or all of the questions below:
In all cases, an individual should be 100% honest about their experiences of addiction; no one should be judged for their substance use issues and being honest and open about experiences is the best way to get the most suitable and appropriate rehabilitative care.
As a final alternative, residential rehabilitation has been proven to be the most effective and efficient form of treatment due to its full-time, supervised, and highly facilitated centres.
During residential rehab, individuals live within a dedicated centre, taking part in therapies and other treatments as a part of their everyday lifestyle.
There are countless different residential rehab centres all across the UK, as well as specifically in Brighton. Contact your local health services or addiction referral service such as Rehab 4 Addiction to find the most suitable centre for you or someone you know.
To learn more about therapy, therapists, counsellors, and other treatments available for an alcohol addiction in Brighton, give our addiction support hotline a call on 0800 140 4690 and start the recovery journey as soon as today.
[1] UK Government; Alcohol profile: short statistical commentary, February 2025; 4 February 2025; https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/alcohol-profile-february-2025-update/alcohol-profile-short-statistical-commentary-february-2025
[2] Friedmann, P.D., Lemon, S.C., Stein, M.D. and D’Aunno, T.A., 2003. Accessibility of addiction treatment: results from a national survey of outpatient substance abuse treatment organizations. Health Services Research, 38(3), pp.887-903.
