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For decades, moderate alcohol consumption was not only socially acceptable but also considered to be healthy for most people. But with the release of the World Health Organization’s statement in 2023 that “no level of alcohol consumption is safe,” people are struggling to justify their drinking habits.

“I talk to so many women who are worried about their health while at the same time, finding it difficult to cut back,” says Colleen Freeland Kachmann. “And I know from personal experience that labeling your drinking as a problem makes it worse, not better.”

Is this a Drinking or a Thinking Problem?

Colleen Freeland Kachmann is the founder and CEO of Emotional Sobriety Coaching© and a pioneering Intuitive Drinking Coach.

She also hosts the globally top-ranked podcast It’s Not About the Alcohol, which is currently among the top 1% of podcasts worldwide. Colleen’s revolutionary approach is transforming how high-achieving professional women—entrepreneurs, executives, and career moms—manage their relationships with alcohol.

Colleen, who had secretly battled alcohol use disorder for over two decades, saw the limitations of traditional sobriety-focused recovery approaches. As she says, “Drinking was mostly a symptom of my addiction to productivity. I used alcohol to give myself a break and to quiet the noise in my mind. Of course, it felt good to quit drinking, but I still needed something to take the edge off.”

Although Colleen initially followed the typical sobriety route, she quickly recognized that simply being sober didn’t address the underlying problem. “Instead of relying on alcohol, I switched to using sobriety as a way to cope with my perfectionism. I finally realized that the all-or-nothing mindset was the problem, not the solution,” she reflected.

As a result, Colleen formed her unique approach, which she came to refer to as Emotional Sobriety Coaching©. Challenging the traditional addiction treatment industry, Colleen Freeland Kachmann’s Emotional Sobriety Coaching helps high-achieving women address the thinking problems behind overdrinking so they can learn how to see themselves as someone who prefers drinking in moderation.

“The solution to alcohol use disorder is a feeling. When you feel good about yourself, you drink like someone who feels good about themselves.”

Emotional Sobriety

This unique treatment method allows clients to reduce alcohol consumption by 80% without strict abstinence. Instead, Colleen incorporates evidence-based strategies in self-directed neuroplasticity and holistic, mind-body tools in nervous system regulation to help women regain control of their minds.

Her viral quiz, “Do you have a drinking or thinking problem?” guides women to decide if her approach is suited to their specific needs. “My approach isn’t for everyone. For some people, it’s just easier to quit,” she explained.

Colleen’s method emerged from personal experience and deep research into the science of addiction. “I studied the long-term outcomes of self-directed neuroplasticity, addiction and recovery. The reality is that, for most people, identifying as an alcoholic and committing to life long abstinence increases the risk of relapse into addiction. Because the belief that you can’t control yourself turns one drink into a life or death decision. And the shame and fear of making a mistake create a self-fulfilling prophecy.”

Colleen has an MSc in Health Coaching, a BS in Biology and Chemistry Education, and certifications as an addiction and recovery life coach and a women’s functional and integrative medicine professional. After overcoming her recovery experience, she founded her successful coaching business, which now generates seven figures.

Final Thoughts

Colleen Freeland Kachmann’s Emotional Sobriety Coaching© program teaches that alcohol is not the enemy but that learning from mistakes is more important than avoiding them. The goal of her technique is to build emotional sobriety and empower women to redefine their relationship with themselves so they no longer have to worry about alcohol. While many others encourage outright, strict sobriety at all costs, Colleen actively challenges these assumptions and instead promotes moderation as a valid, science-backed alternative.

Visit her website today to learn more about her innovative and highly effective approach to combating the forces behind alcoholism.