Frequently Asked Questions
No. Day 1 Coach specialises in supporting women who may be questioning their relationship with alcohol but do not identify with alcohol recovery services, rehab, or Alcoholics Anonymous. (More questions about alcohol dependence are in my Further FAQs section below.)
Most of my clients fit the description of "grey area drinkers." They are functioning in life, but feel that drinking is holding them back, and their drinking patterns are becoming difficult to change. My clients are genuinely curious about what life could be like with a meaningful break from alcohol, and usually commit to taking at least a three month break.
I also have clients come to me after months of sobriety who are looking to build on their insights from early sobriety and we work together on their transformative and life changing goals.
Absolutely not, and seriously, please do not wait for a crisis to reach out for support to change. Many women seek support because they are noticing that alcohol is affecting their sleep, stress levels, confidence, performance, relationships, energy and/or overall wellbeing. This could be the perfect time to explore change.
You do not need to be in crisis to decide that you would like things to feel different - this is exactly where my coaching is positioned to support you.
(More questions about alcohol dependence are in my Further FAQs section below.)
Yes. Confidentiality and psychological safety are central to the Day 1 Coach approach.
Many professional women worry about judgement or professional stigma. As a registered nurse myself I understand this, and I am practised at upholding confidentiality as a healthcare professional. Day 1 Coach is committed to providing a private, respectful space to explore change without judgement, labels or pressure.
No. Coaching focuses on your present circumstances and future goals. It is a collaborative process whereby you coach is skilled in supporting you to talk openly, think clearly, gain insights, develop practical strategies and build confidence in making sustainable changes in your life.
If specialist therapy, psychological or medical support is required in addition to, or instead of coaching, appropriate signposting will always be discussed.
Karen is a Registered Nurse with over 30 years of experience in healthcare practice as a senior critical care nurse, hospital matron, and principal lecturer in nurse education. Karen has additional training in sobriety coaching, trauma informed life coaching, mindfulness and breathwork.
She trained as a Certified Coach with the MOE Foundation and has completed the accredited Sober Coach training programme through the Sober Club. She is accredited with International Practitioners of Holistic Medicine (IPHM) and a member of the Association for Coaching (AC), adhering to the principles and ethics for coaching and the code of conduct for registered nurses.
Karen continues to engage in ongoing professional development to ensure that Day 1 Coach offers a contemporary, evidence-informed and professionally grounded approach to her coaching.
Day 1 Coach combines evidence informed coaching frameworks and tools alongside mindfulness, breathwork, reflective practice and nervous system regulation techniques. This approach is holistic and personalised for individual needs and preferences.
Karen's training and experience blends:
- Nursing, health and wellbeing insights
- Understanding of high pressure/high stakes professions and workplace culture
- Mindfulness practices
- Breathwork techniques to support nervous system regulation
- Evidence-informed behaviour change coaching
- Compassionate communication grounded in curiosity rather than judgement
Yes. Research suggests that being alcohol free for even relatively short periods of time may lead to improvements in sleep quality, energy levels, concentration, mood and overall well being.
More importantly, taking a structured break can provide valuable insight into your patterns and the role alcohol currently plays in your life. This creates space for us to work together and change some of the underlying reasons for your drinking, so that change is personal, realistic and sustainable.
Breathwork refers to intentional breathing techniques that can help regulate the nervous system, reduce feelings of stress and improve emotional awareness.
Simple breathwork practices are offered to support grounding during sessions, and build some calm and resilience between sessions.
Yes. Mindfulness is offered in a practical and accessible way. The focus is on developing greater awareness of thoughts, emotions and habits, allowing you to respond with intention rather than react automatically.
Personalised mindfulness and breathwork recordings are available to clients for use between sessions.
Yes. In-person sessions may also be arranged in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire by prior agreement.
Yes. Further coaching sessions are available for clients who would like ongoing support as they navigate a longer break from alcohol, significant life events and the many "firsts" that can arise during the first alcohol free year.
Follow-on coaching is available to book as individual sessions, or a package over six weeks or 3 months.
Follow-on coaching is flexible, you may prefer sessions once a week, alternate weeks, or monthly. We will tailor this to your needs and preferences.
Absolutely. Karen welcomes opportunities to support wellbeing champions and organisations with alcohol wellbeing through workshops, guest speaking and educational events.
Please contact Karen@day1coach.co.uk to find out more.
Plans are underway to offer small group Day 1 Coach Reset Retreats in the beautiful Ashridge Estate area of Hertfordshire.
These supportive experiences will introduce participants to alcohol free wellbeing, mindfulness, breathwork and practical strategies for taking a break from alcohol in a calm and restorative environment.
I also offer alcohol-free wellbeing retreats exclusively for registered healthcare professionals.
The Day 1 group coaching programmes take place in October, January and July.
The October Group 2026 - A five week structured group coaching programme for connection and support to help you change your relationship with alcohol, reduce stress and create lasting change.
Small group of women with booking by appointment only - please contact Karen to enquire.
The best place to start is by booking an initial conversation with Karen. This provides an opportunity to explore your current situation, ask questions and consider whether Day 1 Coach feels like the right fit for you.
You do not need to have all the answers before reaching out. Sometimes the most important step is simply becoming curious about whether life could feel different - let's meet and talk about what that means for you.
Ready to take the next step?
Book a free call to discover if my coaching feels right for you
Calm. Clarity. Alignment.
Further questions about alcohol dependency
If you are concerned that you may be physically dependent on alcohol, it is important to seek medical advice before making significant changes to your drinking*. Signs that medical assessment may be needed can include:
- needing alcohol to function or get through the day
- drinking shortly after waking
- finding it difficult to go without alcohol for even short periods of time.
- experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you stop drinking, such as shaking, sweating, seeing things, difficulty sleeping, nausea or anxiety
https://alcoholchange.org.uk/ has excellent resources to help you to understand more about alcohol dependency and signposting to specialist help.
*Stopping alcohol suddenly can be unsafe for some people. A GP or local alcohol support service can advise you about the safest approach.
Yes. As part of the initial conversation, I will apply the principles of Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), and if necessary clients may be invited to complete this themselves to help with understanding their drinking and risks.
AUDIT is a widely recognised screening tool to help identify different levels of alcohol related risk, but it is not a diagnosis.
My safeguarding screening takes place discreetly during our introductory conversation and provides a useful starting point for our discussion and helps determine whether Day 1 Coach is the most appropriate source of support for you at this time.
Your wellbeing and safety will always come first.
If our conversation indicates that you may benefit from specialist medical assessment, detoxification support or alcohol treatment services, this will be discussed with compassion and without judgement. Appropriate signposting may be offered.
A sober coach provides independent, privately paid mid-level support. They offer guidance, mentorship, support, and accountability for the early stages of sobriety.
At Day 1 Coach, sober coaching is integrated holistically within life coaching, and is tailored for each individual client.
A sober coach helps their clients maintain sobriety naturally. They help you create a new and healthy way of living, responding differently to your challenges and managing the real life practicalities of becoming a non-drinker.
A sober coach does not provide formal treatment such as counselling or therapy.
They help clients learn how to understand and shift their own thought patterns, identify obstacles, and restore and create relationships with others.
In many cases, a sober coach is someone who previously struggled with a substance use disorder of their own. Because of this, they can deeply understand and relate to the nuanced struggles faced by those in recovery.
Coaches each have their own style, they may have undertaken specific sober coach training and/or life coach training and usually have expertise through lived experience.
There is currently no statutory regulation of coaches in the UK so it is advisable to check you are comfortable with the credentials of your coach and take time to meet them before booking, with a no-pressure initial conversation or discovery call.
Source: Alcohol Change UK
Content by Karen
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