Licensed counselor Laura Louise Green, Med, LPC, has developed a weekly series of prompts for people who are re-assessing their relationship with alcohol. The following has been edited and republished with permission. It is part four of a four-part series (read parts one, two and three). To learn more, visit www.healthypour.org.
We’re now rounding out the fourth week of working on your relationship with alcohol. It’s time to look towards the future. What happens when this month ends? What has changed? What does your relationship with alcohol look like moving forward?
These prompts are meant to help you process and navigate those experiences. It’s never a bad time to review your relationship with alcohol. Like all relationships, the healthy ones require care, patience and respect.
If you find you need help and support, please call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Helpline: 1800 622 HELP.
- Are there behaviors or activities I’ve been engaging in that I usually haven’t? Are they helpful? If they are, what do I have to do to keep them moving forward?
- How have my relationships changed? Have some strengthened? Have others suffered? Why is that?
- What is my work-life like with this new relationship with alcohol? Is work a barrier to maintaining a healthy relationship? What needs to happen so it’s safe?
- How is my work-life balance? Am I able to tend to the roles in my life that I want to? Is it easier or more challenging with or without alcohol?
- What would my life look like if I reverted to my old behavior regarding alcohol? Is that something I want? Will that benefit me long-term?
- What would have to change in my life to maintain and strengthen my healthier relationship with alcohol?
- What comes up when I think about going back to before? Are those feelings challenging? Do they feel good? What needs to be tended to?
Laura Louise Green, MEd, LPC is a licensed professional counselor and organizational consultant from Chicago, IL. After working in the hospitality industry for nearly 20 years, she utilizes her knowledge and skills as a trained and licensed mental health professional to facilitate training, growth, and healing within the hospitality sector. She is the founder of Healthy Pour, a consultancy seeking to improve the mental health and well-being of individuals, communities, and organizations within the hospitality and hospitality-adjacent industries through thoughtful education, coaching, future-building, intervention development, conflict resolution, and research. Find more information here.
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