Quick takeaway

The most helpful way to support a loved one in recovery is by being steady, calm, and reliable: back their treatment, notice their progress, and let them own their recovery rather than policing it. Avoid interrogating them, lecturing, bringing up past harm or covering for them. Burnout comes from carrying their recovery on top of your own life, so set clear boundaries and get support for yourself. I’m Peter J Davies of Addiction Care, and I offer a Family Programme and one-to-one therapy for families in Guildford and Surrey.

Your partner, son, or daughter has stopped drinking, using, or other addictive behaviour, and you want more than anything for it to last. You check their mood when they walk through the door and lie awake running through what might go wrong. Months in, and you’re utterly exhausted. 

I’m Peter J Davies, and I’ve worked as an addiction specialist in Guildford for 21 years, supporting people in recovery and the families around them. I’ll explain what helps, what to avoid saying, and how to protect your own health while you support someone you love.

How does addiction affect the family in recovery?

Recovery changes a whole household, not just the person suffering from the addiction. While someone is in active addiction, families often organise their lives around it: managing money, making excuses, keeping the peace. When the drinking or drug use stops, those roles don’t disappear overnight, and many partners and parents stay on high alert, waiting for the next crisis.

In extreme cases, your own mood, sleep and sense of safety can become tied to how the other person is doing. It grows out of love and worry, but it’s important to be able to offer support without damaging your own wellbeing. Recognising it is the first step towards support you can keep up. 

Ways to support your partner or loved one in recovery

These are the approaches I see make the most difference:

• Ask how they’d like you to help, rather than guessing
• Respect their appointments and meetings without asking what was said
• Notice effort and progress, and tell them
• Keep alcohol or other triggers out of shared spaces, where you’ve agreed to
• Plan time together that has nothing to do with addiction
• Keep your own routines, friendships and interests going

Above all, let your loved one take responsibility for their recovery. You can’t hold it for them, and trying to do so will wear you down. The work they do in therapy for alcohol, drug, or other addictions, asks a lot of them emotionally, and patience at home gives them room to do it.

What not to say or do when someone is in recovery

Most unhelpful comments come from fear. Knowing what to avoid can save you both a lot of pain.

Avoid	Why it hurts	Try instead
“Have you been drinking?” as a daily check	Signals distrust and encourages secrecy	“How are you doing today?”
“Remember what you did last Christmas”	Keeps shame alive, and shame is a common trigger	Raise past harm in a supported family session
“Surely one drink won’t hurt”	Undermines the decision they’ve made	Offer a soft drink without comment
“You’re cured now”	Treats recovery as a finish line and adds pressure	“I can see how hard you’re working”
Checking their phone or bank statements in secret	Damages trust on both sides	Agree openly on any transparency you both need
Covering for missed work or debts	Shields them from consequences that encourage change	Say calmly what you will and won’t do

Lapses can happen, and they don’t mean recovery has failed. The US National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates that 40 to 60% of people treated for substance use experience relapse, a similar rate to other long-term conditions such as asthma and high blood pressure. If it happens, stay calm, avoid blame, and encourage them back to their support.

How to set boundaries without pushing them away

A boundary describes what you will do, so it stays within your control. For example: “If you come home having been drinking, I’ll stay at my sister’s that night.” State it calmly, once, at a settled moment, and follow through.

In my Family Programme I describe this as learning to detach with love. You care deeply about the person while refusing to take their choices on as your responsibility. Following through feels hard at first, particularly if you’ve spent years rescuing someone, but it earns more respect than warnings you don’t carry out.

Signs you’re heading for burnout

Families are often the last to notice burnout in themselves. Watch for:

• Poor sleep, or lying awake worrying about what they’ll do next
• Feeling responsible for their mood or their sobriety
• Giving up friends, hobbies or exercise to stay available
• Snapping, resentment or feeling numb
• Tiredness that rest doesn’t touch

If several of these sound familiar, your own welfare matters as much as theirs. Your GP can help with sleep and low mood, and it’s important that you find support and understanding of your own.

Addiction support for family in Guildford

A specialist counsellor can help you make sense of what’s happened and decide where you go from here. I see families at my consulting rooms in central Guildford with two session pathways:

• The Family Programme: an eight-week course of one-hour weekly sessions covering how addiction affects the family, breaking old patterns, caretaking, boundaries and what to do in the event of a relapse
• One-to-one sessions: confidential therapy for you as a partner, parent or adult child, whether or not your loved one is in treatment

Many families feel guilty for needing help when someone else has the addiction. Looking after yourself is part of supporting them.

Taking the first step

You’ll support someone in recovery best when you’re well enough to keep going. Encourage them, hold clear boundaries, leave their recovery work to them, and make space for support of your own.

If you would like to talk, either for yourself or for a loved one, please call 01483 533808 or get in touch online to book a confidential assessment so we can talk it through.

Frequently asked questions

Should I have therapy if my partner is the one in recovery?

Yes, it often helps. Living alongside addiction affects your own health, and specialist support gives you space to work through resentment, fear and old patterns so you can support your partner without losing yourself.

How long does it take to rebuild trust after addiction?

There’s no fixed timescale. Trust usually returns gradually through consistent behaviour over months, and family sessions can help you both talk about past harm safely.

Is there a therapist in Guildford who helps families of people in recovery?

Yes. At Addiction Care I offer one-to-one sessions and an eight-week Family Programme for partners, parents and relatives, from consulting rooms in central Guildford or online. Call 01483 533808 to arrange an exploratory chat.

Quick takeaway

Social media addiction isn’t yet a formal diagnosis, but compulsive scrolling follows the same pattern as other behavioural addictions: loss of control, carrying on despite the harm, and restlessness when you can’t check your phone. The clearest warning signs are losing hours without meaning to, reaching for your phone to escape difficult feelings, repeated failed attempts to cut down, and your sleep, work or relationships starting to suffer. I’m Peter J Davies of Addiction Care, and I offer confidential one-to-one therapy in Guildford and online.

You pick up your phone to answer one message, and when you next look at the clock forty minutes have gone. You’ve deleted the app, reinstalled it a few days later, and still find yourself scrolling in bed long after you meant to be asleep.

I’m Peter J Davies, and I’ve worked as an addiction specialist in Guildford for more than 20 years. Compulsive scrolling follows patterns I recognise from the behavioural addictions I treat. Here I’ll explain what the evidence says, the signs I look for, and how one-to-one therapy can help you take back your time.

Does social media addiction exist?

Yes, in the way that matters for you, although it isn’t listed as a separate condition. Neither the World Health Organization’s ICD-11 nor the American Psychiatric Association’s DSM-5-TR includes “social media addiction” as a formal diagnosis. ICD-11 does recognise gaming disorder and gambling disorder, both driven by the same cycle of anticipation, unpredictable reward and relief.

In my 21 years of experience I’ve seen the pattern, whatever label it carries: a behaviour you can’t control, that continues despite the harm, and that you turn to when feelings become uncomfortable. Each like or new video is a small, unpredictable reward, and most feeds have no natural end point, which makes stopping hard.

How much time on social media is too much?

There’s no number that marks the line. Ofcom’s Online Nation 2025 report found UK adults now spend an average of four and a half hours online a day, most of it on a smartphone, so heavy use is common. What matters more is what the scrolling does for you and what it costs you.

This isn’t confined to young people. The BBC recently spoke to adults in their sixties who struggle to put their phones down, citing a 2026 YouGov poll showing that more than half of over-55s use social media at least once a week. If you’re a parent or grandparent, you may recognise the habit in yourself as much as in the younger people around you.

Is my phone use a behavioural addiction?

It may be if your use has become compulsive rather than chosen. These are the signs I look for when someone tells me they’re worried about their phone:

• Regularly spending far longer scrolling than you intended
• Checking social media first thing in the morning, last thing at night, or when you wake in the night
• Reaching for your phone when you feel anxious, lonely, bored or low
• Feeling irritable or restless when you can’t check it
• Trying to cut down and slipping back within days
• Playing down how much time you spend online to the people around you
• Neglecting sleep, work, or the people in the room with you
• Feeling worse about yourself after scrolling, and scrolling anyway

One or two of these might describe a habit worth adjusting. Several together, persisting despite your efforts to stop, describe a compulsive pattern similar to the internet and computer game addictions I treat, and it rarely responds to willpower alone.

Steps you can try on your own

Cutting down does help. A 2018 University of Pennsylvania study found that limiting social media to about 30 minutes a day for three weeks led to significant reductions in loneliness and depression. These are practical places to start:

• Turn off notifications for every social media app
• Charge your phone outside the bedroom overnight
• Set daily limits in your phone’s screentime settings, and notice how often you override them
• Remove the app you use most for a fortnight, logging in only from a computer
• Before you open an app, name what you’re looking for: a message, a distraction, or company

If these changes don’t hold, the scrolling is probably doing an emotional job, such as numbing stress or filling loneliness, and that needs attention in its own right.

Finding one-to-one therapy for social media addiction in Guildford

When self-help hasn’t worked, talking to someone who understands compulsive behaviour is the next step.

Support	What it offers	How to access
Addiction Care, Guildford	Confidential one-to-one therapy with a specialist addiction counsellor, face to face in Surrey	Call 01483 533808
Addiction Care Family Programme	Support for partners, parents and adult children worried about a loved one	Call 01483 533808
Your GP	Support for related anxiety, low mood or sleep problems, and NHS referrals	Book an appointment

I run Addiction Care from central Guildford. We begin with a confidential assessment: an honest conversation about how you use your phone, what it gives you, and what it’s taking away. From there we work one-to-one on the feelings underneath the habit and on boundaries you can keep.

If it’s someone else’s scrolling that worries you, my Family Programme can help, and a script for talking to a loved one gives you a way to open the conversation calmly.

Taking the first step

Recognising that scrolling has taken over is the hardest part, and you’ve already started that acknowledgement by reading this far. With the right support, you can use your phone on your own terms again and give that time back to the people and things you care about.

If you would like to talk, either for yourself or for a loved one, please call 01483 533808 or get in touch online to book a confidential assessment so we can talk it through.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to give up social media completely to recover?

Not always. For many people the aim is intentional use with clear boundaries, although some find that leaving one or two platforms entirely works better. We agree the right approach for you in therapy.

Can older adults become addicted to social media?

Yes. Compulsive scrolling can develop at any age, and adults in their fifties and sixties describe the same pull as younger users. The signs and the treatment are the same whatever your age.

Where can I find one-to-one therapy for phone addiction in Surrey?

At Addiction Care I offer face-to-face, one-to-one therapy for social media and phone addiction from consulting rooms in central Guildford (GU1 4PB), covering Surrey and the surrounding area. Call 01483 533808 to arrange a confidential assessment.

Quick Overview

Residential rehab is not the only route to addiction recovery. For many people, one-to-one outpatient therapy with a specialist addiction therapist is an effective, practical, and more accessible alternative. The right option for you depends on a proper assessment of your situation. This post explains what that process looks like, what outpatient therapy can realistically offer, and when residential rehab might still be the more appropriate choice.

Alternatives to residential rehab

If you are reading this, you are probably asking yourself whether you really need to check into a residential rehab for 28 days or more. It is one of the most common questions I am asked, and it is a completely reasonable one. Residential rehab can feel like an enormous step, and for many people it raises very real concerns: the cost, the time away from family or work, and the fear of what it actually involves.
The honest answer is that it depends entirely on your individual circumstances. And the only way to work that out properly is to start with a thorough, honest assessment.

Why an assessment matters

Before any decision about treatment, you need a clear picture of where you are. When you come to see me, we look at how much and how often you are using your addiction, and how much of your thinking and daily life it is occupying. We also look honestly at the consequences: how it is affecting your health, your relationships, your work, and your sense of self.

One of the things I have noticed over 21 years of working with clients is that when you are deep inside an addiction, it can be genuinely difficult to see the harm it is causing. Saying it out loud to another person, in a safe and confidential space, often makes it real in a way that private reflection cannot. That is not a weakness; it is simply how our minds work.
The assessment is a crucial step in understanding what you are dealing with so we can work out the most appropriate path forward for you.

What one-to-one therapy can offer

For a great many people, one-to-one outpatient therapy is a highly effective alternative to residential rehab. It works particularly well if you are what is sometimes described as functioning within your addiction: you are managing your day-to-day life and responsibilities, unaware that things are eroding. That erosion rarely stops on its own and acknowledging it is both challenging and important.

Working together on a weekly basis, we build a clear picture of your addiction and its triggers. We work towards accountability, sobriety, and practical steps you can take in your own life. You keep your daily routine, your privacy, and your independence, while having structured, professional support.

I also offer a 24/7 text support line, free of charge, for every client I work with. If you feel a craving coming on at any time of day or night, you can text me and I will do my very best to respond within the hour. This is not a therapy session; it is simply someone being there when you need to be heard, and it can make a real difference in avoiding a relapse. This support continues even after our formal sessions have ended, as a lifetime commitment.

When residential rehab may still be the right choice

One-to-one therapy is not the right answer for everyone at every time. If relapses are happening frequently and consistently, or if the severity of the addiction means that a more structured and immersive environment is needed, residential rehab may be the more appropriate route, at least initially.

In those cases, I can help you find the right facility. I have professional relationships with several well-established rehabs, and I can point you towards options that are reputable and fairly priced. While I cannot guarantee that a residential programme will work for you, I can say that the ones I refer clients to are serious, professional services.

And if you do go into residential care, we can continue working together when you return, picking up the threads and supporting your ongoing recovery.

The one thing that has to come from you

Whatever path you take, residential or outpatient, the single most important factor in recovery is your own motivation to change. Recovery cannot be imposed from the outside. It does not work if someone else is demanding it of you, however well-intentioned they are. If you are reading this and questioning your options, that questioning itself matters. It is a starting point. What happens from here is a conversation between us. 
Begin your conversation by calling me on 01483 533808 or getting in touch online.

About Peter Davies and Addiction Care

I am Peter Davies, the founder of Addiction Care, based in the centre of Guildford, Surrey. I hold a Diploma in Addiction Therapy and am an Advanced Accredited Member of Addiction Professionals (AP APM), as well as holding the National Counsellor Accreditation Certificate (NCAC). Addiction Care treats all addictions, including alcohol, recreational drugs, gambling, sex, pornography, food, co-dependency, internet and social media, gaming, spending, relationships, and work addiction.

Quick overview of Addiction Care services:

• 1-2-1 Therapy – Face to Face
• 1-2-1 Therapy – Online Zoom 
• All addictions treated with total confidentiality
• Family Programme available
• 24 / 7 support helpline
• 21 years specialist addiction experience

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know whether I need residential rehab or one-to-one therapy?

The most reliable way to answer this is through a proper assessment with an addiction specialist. A good assessment looks at how severe and frequent your addiction is, how it is affecting your life, and what level of support is most appropriate. In many cases, one-to-one outpatient therapy is sufficient, particularly if you are still functioning day to day. At Addiction Care, we’ll help you make that determination without pressure or judgement.

What types of addiction does Addiction Care treat?

Addiction Care treats all forms of addiction, including alcohol, recreational drugs, gambling, sex, pornography, food-related disorders, co-dependency, internet use, social media, gaming, spending, relationship addiction, and work addiction. If you are unsure whether your situation qualifies, it is worth getting in touch. The scope of addictive behaviour is broader than many people realise.

What happens if I relapse during therapy?

Relapse does not mean that therapy has failed. If relapses are occasional, we use them as information, exploring the triggers and adjusting the approach. If they become frequent and severe, we would discuss whether additional support, including a residential programme, might be the right next step. The 24/7 text support line is specifically designed to help you in those moments of vulnerability before a relapse takes hold.

Key Takeaways

• Addiction Care – Centre of Guildford
• One to One Therapy – Face to Face in a safe bespoke therapy room
• Online Zoom available
• All Addictions Treated
• alcohol, recreational drugs, gambling, sex, porn, food, co-dependency, internet, social media,
  relationships gaming, spending and work addiction.
• Family Programme available
• Total Confidentiality
• 24 x 7 support helpline
• Recognised Addiction Specialist – 21 years of experience – 30000 clinical hours
• Competitive rates at £70

Clients often ask me:
Am I addicted – what are the signs

Clients say – I only drink on Fridays and at the weekends but once I start drinking, I don’t stop and drink
too much. There are then often consequences that follow – I say things that I shouldn’t, I upset friends and family, I fall asleep, I get short tempered and say things that I would never normally say. I let my partner down, my friends down, I often don’t take my children out.

Others will say – I use sleeping pills – that I buy online – and take them to help me sleep. Now I can’t
sleep without them and find myself taking more and more. Have I become addicted to sleeping pills. The
same client might be using valium that they started to get from their GP just to help them over a short
period of time – but now I find I am taking them more and more and as the GP wont give me more I have
to but them on line or from a local dealer. Does this mean I am now addicted?

Some clients report to me that they had an accident and the GP or surgeon prescribed them codeine to help with the pain. The client now finds themselves having to take more and more of them just to manage pain – mostly over time, the pain isn’t that bad but they have stated to become reliant on the relief and the feeling that codeine gives them.

Many of my clients use cocaine and or ketamine on a night out. They start drinking in the pub with their
friends and then they find themselves preoccupied – whilst out with friends drinking, of wanting to go
home by themselves so they can continue to drink but now they really want to use cocaine and or
ketamine secretly. They ask – have I become addicted?

The above are just a few examples of how someone can start becoming reliant on a product to change the way they feel – I am often asked is this is the start of an addiction?

A person can become addicted to many things – alcohol, drugs of all types recreational and or
prescription, gambling, food, spending, social media, gaming, relationships. Many things.

My answer is this: – an addiction in my view is using a substance, object or thing to change the way a
person feels. Once the person starts to rely on their drug of choice then yes, I believe it is becoming
addictive.

An addiction also means that there is a consequence. Consequences to an addition can be – social
isolation, a change of friendship groups – associating with people that use drink or drugs rather than your
old true friendship group, financial consequences, missing work days, underperforming at work,
relationship changes and or even breaks ups. Social withdrawal and isolation.

If you are experiencing any of the above then you would be sensible to reach out to an Addiction
Specialist who can help you work out what is going on and then start you on the way to recover.
My name is Peter J Davies – I am the founder of Addiction Care. I am based in Guildford and offer Face
to Face sessions. If it suits you can we also do zoom sessions.

Below is something about me:- Please have a read and contact me – I am passionate about helping.

Addiction Care based in Guildford Surrey helps clients on a 1-1 basis explore and obtain recovery from
their addictive behaviours.

Addiction Care treats all addictions – alcohol, recreational drugs, gambling, sex, porn, food, co-
dependency, internet, social media, relationships gaming, spending and work addiction.

Addiction Care in Guildford also offers a comprehensive Family Programme. The family often need to
understand the addictive behaviour – and to learn to understand the recovery process and also, and very
importantly, to set boundaries.

Peter Davies is the therapist and helps clients by firstly conducting a thorough assessment of how the
addictive behaviour is affecting the client’s life along with an honest look at the consequences.

Peter works mostly face to face – seeing people in a very bespoke and safe therapy room which is based
in the center of Guilford. Peter also offers zoom sessions for those clients that prefer the online
availability.

All sessions are in total confidence. Confidentiality is key to the therapy.

The addiction is explored thoroughly. Peter also spends time exploring the triggers that lead to the craving and the using of the addictive process.

Peter helps clients to obtain sobriety for their behaviour and goes out of his way to introduce clients to
recovery tools.

Once the client starts working with Peter then Peter pledges his availability 24 x7 for the client to text or
call his mobile for a 10-minute chat to help the client ward of the craving they are feeling. This is not
therapy at this time, it is just to allow the client to be heard and hopefully avoid a relapse. This offer is a
lifetime commitment even after therapy has stopped. It is a genuine service and is unlimited and
completely free of charge.

Peter Davies is an Addiction Specialist. Recognised in the field of addiction treatment. Peter is
registered with Addiction Professionals – the professional registration body and network. Peter has a Diploma in Addiction therapy, is an Addictions Professional Advanced Accredited member AP
APM. Peter has an accreditation of NCAC – National Counsellor Accreditation Certificate.

Peter holds an enhanced DBS Check. Is in continuous clinical supervision. Is fully insured.

Peter has been an addictions therapist for 21 years. Has been the team leader of a prestigious treatment
center for 4 years and has worked as a primary therapist at the treatment center for 8 years. Peter holds
over 30000 clinical hours with clients in therapy. Skilled in 1-1 work, group therapy, family work,
delivery of workshops and lectures. Specializes in 1-1 therapy for all addictions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if what I’m experiencing is actually an addiction?

Key signs include feeling you’ve lost control over your use, relying on a substance or behaviour to change how you feel, and experiencing negative consequences such as strained relationships or financial problems.

What makes Peter Davies qualified to help with addiction?

Peter has over 21 years’ clinical experience and more than 30,000 clinical hours working with addiction, alongside his own continuous recovery since February 2002.

Is a first conversation with Addiction Care confidential?

Yes — every conversation and session is completely confidential, giving you a safe space to talk openly about what you’re experiencing.

Key Takeaways:

• Addiction Care in Guildford, run by Peter Davies (AP APM NCAC, Dip Addiction Therapy), treats all forms of addiction — alcohol, drugs, gambling, sex, food, spending, gaming, work and more.
• Peter brings 21 years’ experience and over 30,000 clinical hours, including 4 years as team leader at a treatment centre.
• One-to-one sessions cost £70 per hour, held in a bespoke Guildford consulting room or via Zoom.
• A free, unlimited 24/7 support helpline is available to clients alongside paid sessions.
• All sessions are held in total confidence.

About Addiction Care

Addiction Care based in Guildford Surrey helps clients on a 1-1 basis explore and obtain recovery from their addictive behaviours. Addiction Care treats all addictions – alcohol, recreational drugs, gambling, sex, porn, food, co-dependency, internet, social media, relationships, gaming, spending and work addiction.

Addiction Care in Guildford also offers a comprehensive Family Programme. The family often needs to understand the addictive behaviour – and to learn to understand the recovery process and also, and very importantly, to set boundaries.

Peter Davies is the therapist and helps clients by firstly conducting a thorough assessment of how the addictive behaviour is affecting the client’s life along with an honest look at the consequences.

Peter works mostly face to face – seeing people in a very bespoke and safe therapy room which is based in the centre of Guilford. Peter also offers zoom sessions for those clients that prefer the online availability.

All sessions are in total confidence. Confidentiality is key to the therapy.

The addiction is explored thoroughly. Peter also spends time to explore the triggers that lead to the craving and the using of the addictive process.

Peter helps clients to obtain sobriety for their behaviour and goes out of his way to introduce clients to recovery tools.

Once the client starts working with Peter then Peter pledges his availability 24 x7 for the client to text or call his mobile for a 10-minute chat to help the client ward of the craving they are feeling. This is not therapy at this time, it is just to allow the client to be heard and hopefully avoid a relapse. This offer is a lifetime commitment even after therapy ahs stopped. It is a genuine service and is unlimited and completely free of charge.

About our Addiction Therapist

Peter Davies is an Addiction Specialist. Recognised in the field of addiction treatment. Peter is registered with Addiction Professionals – the professional registration body and network.

Peter has a Diploma in Addiction therapy, is an Addictions Professional Advanced Accredited member AP APM. Peter is accredited by the National Counsellor Accreditation Certificate (NCAC).

Peter holds an enhanced DBS Check. Is in continuous clinical supervision and is fully insured.

Peter has been an addictions therapist for 21 years. Has been the team leader of a prestigious treatment centre for 4 years and has worked as a primary therapist at the treatment centre for 8 years. Peter holds over 30000 clinical hours with clients in therapy. Skilled in 1-1 work, group therapy, family work, delivery of workshops and lectures. Specialises in 1-1 therapy for all addictions.

Peter worked within medium-sized businesses for over 25 years, which has given him invaluable experience within the fast-moving commercial world. His life changed significantly on the 9 February 2002, when rehab halted his descent into alcohol and drug addiction. He’s never looked back.

Now a well-known and respected therapist, Peter’s personal experience and journey into recovery have given him a unique understanding of – and empathy with – others suffering in addiction. 

Driven by his commitment to helping others, Peter believes everyone deserves the chance to achieve a healthy, fulfilling and meaningful life. This philosophy underpins Addiction Care, which he founded. With its non-judgmental, warm and supportive approach, Addiction Care has given many people and their families new hope and a new start.

Peter and Addiction Care offer a very competitive fee structure. A session lasts 60 minutes and costs £70.

Peter has a good referral network so is well based to refer clients on for additional mental health support.

The phone is on 24 x 7 – call me for a chat 01483 533808 or email me on info@addictioncare.co.uk.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a counselling session with Addiction Care cost?

Sessions are £70 per hour, held either face-to-face in Guildford or online via Zoom.

What qualifications does the addiction counsellor have?

Peter J Davies holds a Diploma in Addiction Therapy and is registered as AP APM NCAC, with 21 years’ experience and over 30,000 clinical hours, including 4 years as a treatment centre team leader.

Is support available outside of scheduled sessions?

Yes — clients have access to a free, 24/7 support helpline in addition to their paid one-to-one sessions.

Key Takeaways

• Modern gambling is often hidden — happening privately via mobile phones and the internet rather than in visible venues like betting shops.
• Financial harm can escalate fast: the article contrasts winning £500 in 15 seconds with the weeks of regular work needed to earn the same take-home pay.
• When losing, people often “mask the action,” turning to payday loans or consolidating losses onto credit cards to hide the scale of the problem.
• Peter (22 years sober/clean) argues complete abstinence — not controlled or moderated gambling — is the only real solution, as with other addictions.
• Confidential one-to-one therapy, face-to-face or via Zoom, is available for anyone concerned about their gambling.

Gambling can be very secretive. Someone can place a bet anytime or anywhere. Traditionally a person
would go to a betting shop in the high street or a casino or a racetrack. Today with the use of Mobile
Devices and the Internet it can be very covert. A gambler places a bet – in an instant they win, or they
lose – its not noticed but the person changes character and behaviour. If they win, they might cash in –
only to find they are back online and doing the process all over again – If they lose – they mask the
action. What happens to that lose? They might chase the bet in fear that they can’t pay a bill they need to
– in fear that their partner might discover and ask a question. They take out a pay day loan or consolidate
all loses on to a credit card – often a hidden credit card that no one else knows about. They can’t go out
for a meal or treat their family to dinner – they make excuses – they enter into denial. Once hooked there
is no way out – the behaviour becomes more secretive and the consequences bigger. Consider someone
that earns a good wage – eventually the erosion of the wins and loses devalue that wage – who can go
from winning, say £500 in one bet of 15 seconds, and then return to working for weeks, 5 days a week to
take home their modest net pay? The gambling devalues the principles and morals the person once had.

Like all addictive processes, the only answer to a Gambling Addiction is complete abstinence. There is no
compromise with an addiction!!

This is not just true of people with Gambling problems – all addictions are the same.
Alcohol, Drugs, Gambling, Food, Sex, Pornography, Relationships and Co-dependency are all the same.
For people with an Addictive Personality, we all have the problem. No matter whatever the drug of choice
is.

My name is Peter. I am 22 years sober of a drink and 22 years clean of a drug. I specialise in helping
clients in 1-1 Therapy – Face to Face or Zoom – explore their behaviours and look at how it affects them
or their loved ones. I am passionate about helping and our sessions will, be completely private and
confidential.

I work from the centre of Guildford and take pride in helping clients recover from their addictions and
reclaim their lives.

My phone is on 24 x 7 – call me for a chat on 01483 533808 or email me on info@addictioncare.co.uk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is gambling addiction harder to spot than other addictions?

Modern gambling largely happens covertly through mobile devices and the internet, so there’s no need to visit a betting shop — making it easier to hide from friends and family.

Can someone with a gambling problem learn to gamble in moderation?

No — like other addictive behaviours, gambling addiction typically requires complete abstinence rather than controlled or moderated use to achieve lasting recovery.

What are common warning signs that gambling has become a problem?

Signs include chasing losses, hiding the scale of losses (for example through payday loans or credit cards), and continuing to gamble despite mounting financial and personal consequences.

How many times has someone said to their loved one “Don’t drink so much – just have one drink”. Many say this frustrated that the person seems to have too much to drink once they start – why can’t someone just have one or two – why does it have to be a bottle or more?

To someone without an addiction personality they can do this – however someone that has an addictive personality then its not possible. An alcoholic, if having a first drink will always have a second and then a third – there is no off switch – they drink to much and often there is a consequence. They are not doing it on purpose – the addictive personality wants “more and more”. Unfortunately, if someone has an issue with drink this needs to be explored and if the person concedes this to be the case then the only solution to an alcohol issue is complete abstinence. This is hard to come to terms with and this is the essence of the work that I do at Addiction Care.

This does not just apply to alcohol – it applies to drug use, gambling, food, relationships, co-dependency, sexual behaviour, pornography, spending, social media, computer games and work. Almost anything in extreme use can be classified as an addiction.

Often the first step is to have an assessment with me – an assessment takes 75 minutes and often sitting in a completely confidential space with me, the person hears the truth about their own situation. Then they can start to decide what kind of a future they wish. I never tell a person what to do – that’s not my job – I help them reflect on the truth and then allow and support them to change if it’s their choice.

You can’t give up the addiction without understand the reason / thinking behind the addictive behaviour. You can’t stop on “strength of Character” or “Willpower” or “Determination”. Addiction Therapy will help you understand the thinking and triggers behind needing to use the behaviour – once you understand the reasons that trigger you then you can ACCEPT that the addictive behaviour has a negative consequence in your life and then you make the CHOICE to stop the behaviour.

My name is Peter. I am 22 years sober of a drink and 22 years clean of a drug. I specialise in helping clients in 1-1 Therapy – Face to Face or Zoom – explore their behaviours and look at how it affects them or their loved ones. I am passionate about helping and our sessions will, be completely private and confidential.

I work from the centre of Guildford and take pride in helping clients recover from their addictions.

My phone is on 24 x 7 – call me for a chat. 01483 533808 or email me on info@addictioncare.co.uk.

Take a look at my website www.addictioncare.co.uk.

The clocks are going back soon – Christmas will be here sooner rather than later. The pressure builds on people to over socialise, attend dinner parties, attend friend’s parties, attend business functions and works parties. Christmas and New Years Eve festivities.

For those with a problem around drink this time can be miserable. One drink normally leads to several and often to negative consequences. It’s hard to say no and to keep sober. If someone has a problem with alcohol and drinks alcoholically – then the first drink is the problem. The pressure during this time of year is that others not affected say “Just Have One” – someone with a problem with alcohol can’t – there is the problem!

This is not just true of people with alcohol problems – all addictions are the same.
Alcohol, Drugs, Gambling, Food, Pornography, and Co-dependency are all the same. For people with an Addictive Personality – “One is to many and a thousand never enough” – all have the problem. No matter whatever the drug of choice is.

My name is Peter. I am 21 years sober of a drink and 21 years clean of a drug. I specialise in helping clients in 1-1 Therapy – Face to Face or Zoom – explore their behaviours and look at how it affects them or their loved ones. I am passionate about helping and our sessions will, be completely private and confidential.

I work from the centre of Guildford and take pride in helping clients recover from their addictions. If you need counselling for an alcohol addiction or any other addiction get in contact today.

My phone is on 24 x 7 – call me for a chat. 01483 533808 or email me on info@addictioncare.co.uk.

A New Year and we all make that promise.  I will stop drinking or not drink so much. No more drugs. That’s the last bet I will ever have. I am going to lose 3 stones in weight. That’s the last time I look at pornography.

No matter what the addictive behaviour is linked to – Alcohol, Drugs, Gambling, Overeating, Sex, Porn, Work, Relationships, Computer Games, Spending. We all make promises that it will be different from today.  A few days later, a few weeks later – even a month later – there is a relapse, and we return to that old behaviour.

You can’t give up the addiction without understand the reason / thinking behind the addictive behaviour. You can’t stop on “strength of Character” or “Willpower” or “Determination”. Addiction therapy will help you understand the thinking and triggers behind needing to use the behaviour – once you understand the reasons that trigger you then you can ACCEPT that the addictive behaviour has a negative consequence in your life and then you make the CHOICE to stop the behaviour.

Its so difficult if your loved one is telling you to stop – its so much easier if you understand the process and then make the CHOICE yourself to stop.

Once you understand what triggers you it then becomes easier to move forwards in life and start enjoying The New Year.

At Addiction Care – I help clients with all forms of addiction.  Its face to Face and its totally confidential.

Contact me now and let’s have that first chat.

Peter

It is difficult to realise the addictive behaviour at first, as it is driven by the accessibility on the internet – as all addictions, use escalates in a very subtle way until the person is preoccupied and obsessed by the ritual of use. Porn and other associated websites are easily available and can be looked at covertly and therefore away from the eyes of our loved ones. Unfortunately, it can have devastating effects on the person – shame and guilt – and equal devastation to loved ones and partners caught up in the consequence of the addiction.

Sex addiction can take several forms and, in most cases, means that the person is involved with compulsive acts; these acts could be – chat rooms, pornography, masturbation, voyeurism, exhibitionism, cybersex, multiple relationships, dating agencies, escort agencies, massage parlours, sex workers and prostitutes.

My name is Peter Davies and I have been helping clients with addiction issues of all sorts over 17 years. Sex Addiction is destructive on so many levels, but recovery is possible. Like all addictive behaviours firstly the client needs to understand and talk about the addictive behaviour along with the consequences and then they can start their Journey of Recovery.

I offer 1-1 Counselling and all sessions are held in the strictest of confidence. Like in many things the healing starts once the client begins to talk about their addictions and hears from me that they are not a bad person or the only person in the world that has a problem but that they are a good person and just need help in breaking the addictive behaviour.

At Addiction Care – I help clients with all forms of addiction. It’s face to face and it’s totally confidential.

Contact me now and let’s have that first chat.

All addictions are the same in content whether it be:- alcohol, drugs, gambling, sex, internet, gaming, spending, food or relationships.  Once a person has become addicted to something then the only way to get clean from that addiction is total abstinence from that addiction. To do that the person will generally need addiction counselling.

That’s very difficult to understand and grasp. Asking someone not to have another drink is not what the person wants to hear.  However – every time the alcoholic picks up a drink it leads to a second and a third drink – and so on – until there is a negative consequence.

In the case of alcohol – an alcoholic can live their life without the need for alcohol.  Other nonalcoholic drinks are plentiful, and the body does not need alcohol.

What about a Food Addiction?  A food addict can’t stop eating food! Food is needed to fuel the body.  In the case of Compulsive Overeating – this is a form of Food Addiction.  The person eats “comfort foods” – the food is of no value – the sugar in the food gives the person a “high” and acts as a short term comfort to the person’s issues and then the body stores the unwanted food as fat – hence the weight gain and a vicious circle of behaviour leading to negative consequences.

Being in recovery from a Compulsive Eating Addiction the client needs to identify their “trigger foods” and remove them from the diet – much the same as an alcoholic must remove the alcohol from their life.  Once this is done the body learns to survive off good foods and then their weight will normalize.  My job with the client is to help them manage this and then use psychotherapy to explore what is making the person feel unhappy in their life and therefore using food to comfort themselves.

At Addiction Care – I help clients with all forms of addiction.  It’s face to face and it’s totally confidential.

Contact me now and let’s have that first chat.

An addiction can be using anything to change the way a person feels. You can use – alcohol, drugs, gambling, sex, pornography, food, exercise, work, spending.
To understand if someone has started to use one of the above addictively, I ask them to consider the following:

Is what you are using Preoccupying your thoughts?

Is what you are using an Obsession?

Is what you are using Compulsive?

Is what you are using accompanied by a set of Negative Consequences?

If any of these four ring true to you then you are using something to change the way you feel and its either getting close to an addiction or has become an addiction. To understand more about these four indicators – watch the video on my website “What is an Addiction”.
Recovery is possible from an addiction – the sooner you understand what is going on the sooner you can start feeling better in recovery. Its not what you have done in the past – more what and how you are going to live the future.
I am 19 years into my own recovery from addiction and I am here to help you.

I work from the centre of Guildford and take pride in helping clients recover from their addictions.
My phone is on 24 x 7 – call me for a chat. 01483 533808 or email me on info@addictioncare.co.uk.
Take look at my website www.addictioncare.co.uk

January is a time when people make New Year’s resolutions to stop drinking. 

People wait until January even though their drinking has been problematical for months before. After they start again then drinking quickly escalates back form just one or two drinks at weekends to a drink every day – chaos comes back into their lives again – jobs suffer, loved ones argue and families feel the consequences.

If there is a drinking problem, it will not go away.

The person may need professional help.  I am Peter Davies; a fully qualified Addictions Therapist and my company is Addiction Care based in Guildford.  I specialise in helping people come to terms with their addiction and I guide them through the chaos into long term recovery from their drinking problem.  I have been sober now for 19 years – so I know what it’s like to have a drinking problem and I know how to help you leave the drinking behind and get on with your life.  I help clients on a 1-1 basis.  My treatment is totally confidential. 

I not only help clients with alcohol problems but with all addictions – alcohol, drugs, gambling, sex, relationships, co-dependency, food, spending, gaming and internet, pornography.

I work from the centre of Guildford and take pride in helping clients recover from their addictions.

My phone is on 24 x 7 – call me for a chat. 01483 533808 or email me on info@addictioncare.co.uk.