I’ve been where you are and I remember how that feels.
You’re not broken.
You’re not weak.
And you’re not alone.
If you’ve ever thought, “Why can’t I have just the one like everyone else?” I see you because I asked that question too and wrestled the exhausting mental loop that always followed.
Your Story?
It used to be mine too.
I’ve lived that quiet, internal struggle: waking up with regret, promising myself I’d do better, holding everything together on the outside while unravelling on the inside.
So when I say, “You are me and I am you,” I mean this: I understand. Maybe not every detail, but the questions, the doubt, the emotional tug-of-war and the deep desire for something more. I know them.
And that desire? That’s where it all begins. When I finally stopped asking “Why can’t I?” and started asking “What if I don’t need to?”, everything started to shift.
About Me
This is where it all began, my personal experience with alcohol, identity and what it took to find the way back to myself.
For years, my life looked picture-perfect from the outside – healthy, social, active. I was ticking all the boxes. But behind the scenes, it was a different story.
Growing up in the UK, alcohol was woven into the fabric of life. Uni nights, work drinks, weekends with friends. It was just what everyone did. A way to connect, to escape, to belong. But over time, what started as casual social drinking became something else. Through heartbreak, change, motherhood, and identity shifts, alcohol became a constant companion. A coping mechanism. A reward. A release.
After the UK, I spent nearly a decade in Hong Kong, where I was working but also I became a mother and wife.
It was an exciting, fast-paced chapter of my life, but also one filled with deep transitions. And then came another shift – moving to Australia. I know firsthand what it’s like to lose the connective networks we build around family, work, or home, only to have to start over again.
These life changes, while full of opportunity, also brought a sense of disconnection. One that alcohol often tried to fill.
With each move and life change, alcohol became my constant. It was a way to take the edge off, to soothe the loneliness, to mark the end of the day. But the comfort it provided was fleeting. Mornings brought regret, exhaustion, and the familiar cycle of promising myself things would be different. It wasn’t dramatic enough to raise alarms from the outside. I exercised, raised my kids, showed up for life. But internally? It was quiet chaos. Shame. The mental tug-of-war between knowing better and still reaching for the glass.
I had “paused” drinking before, I had done Dry July, Feb Fast and I’d even had a few six-month breaks. But it never stuck. Not in a way that felt empowering or sustainable. Just sheer willpower and social avoidance. It wasn’t a life. It was a holding pattern.
The Turning Point
Then came the moment that changed everything.
I was at home with one of my children during COVID. I had been drinking and I was visibly drunk. This time, not at a dinner with friends or at a party, but in front of the people who mattered most. My children. And in that moment, I felt a shame deeper than I’d ever known. Not the shame of forgetting how I got home or saying something silly the night before. But a gut-punching grief that I was no longer the protector, the role model, the steady presence I wanted to be. I overheard my husband say to our kids, “Don’t talk to Mum she’s too drunk,” and something inside me broke.
That moment made me sit with myself and say, enough. Not just “I need to stop,” but “I want better.”
And it’s important to say this wasn’t a so-called rock bottom. No one else would have called it that. But for me, it was the line. The turning point. The moment I knew I couldn’t keep going the way I had.
So I went searching. Not for a label. Not for another plan to “cut back.” I wanted to talk to someone, someone outside of my life. Someone who would understand, without judgment. I started typing desperate, scattered words into Google, and as if the universe heard me, Facebook served me an ad for This Naked Mind.
That ad changed my life.
What was different about This Naked Mind was the way it gently lifted the shame off me and placed it where it belonged, on the substance. It pulled back the curtain on alcohol for what it really is: a substance designed to make you feel good in the short term while quietly stealing your peace. It made me angry. Angry that I hadn’t been told the full truth about its health effects, angry at the way it had been marketed to women like me. But more than that, it helped me see that alcohol had become my coping mechanism and it was slowly harming me.
That realisation sparked a shift.
I told my inner circle I wasn’t drinking for a year. Not to justify, not to explain, but to stay accountable. That was December 31st, 2021.
I haven’t looked back.
Beyond Work
When I’m not coaching, you’ll most likely find me walking, something I’ve always loved.
In Hong Kong, I had Ma On Shan, a 700-metre mountain, quite literally at my back door, and now I’m lucky to live beside the beach in Melbourne. It’s flat but stunning. Beautiful in the four-seasons-in-one-day way that Melbourne weather regularly brings. Walking clears my head, grounds me, and keeps my two very happy dogs moving too.
I’m married with three teenagers, so life is lively, messy and full of learning, just the way I like it. My family is spread across South Africa, New Zealand, and the UK, so travel has always been part of my life. I love connecting with people and learning about different cultures. A great way to do that is through food. I’m a real foodie and always try to take a cooking class in every place I visit. It’s my favourite way to connect and learn.
Over the years, I’ve found myself in places that stretched me, surprised me, and shaped me. From trekking solo in Ethiopia (which may have sparked my lifelong love of coffee!), to running my own dog sled team in the Arctic. I’ve been charged by a lion in Zimbabwe, caught in a wild storm sailing off the coast of Greece, lost hiking in a forest in Nova Scotia and marvelled at the sunrise in Angkor Wat. These experiences weren’t about ticking boxes—they taught me who I was, what mattered, and how to stay steady when life throws curveballs.
I’ve been a runner (on and off) since my early twenties, and I’ve recently committed to running a marathon. These days, I balance running with strength training, yoga, and Pilates—all of which help hold me together physically and mentally.
It’s the small, quiet moments that fill me up. Strong coffee in the morning light. Deep, soul-stirring conversations. A sunrise that reminds me I get to begin again. I’m not one for small talk or reality TV—though I make an exception for Australian Survivor, because my daughter curls up beside me to watch! My husband, two boys, and a circle of close friends are my anchor—the ones who keep me laughing, steady and real.
And my not-so-secret indulgence? Red Rock Deli lime and black pepper crisps. Always in the pantry. Always mine.
Why I Coach
I’ve lived the questions so many women carry and I coach because I know real change is possible when you’re supported, not judged.
Have you ever found yourself Googling “how to stop drinking” late at night—heart racing, feeling ashamed, and wondering if it’s really come to this?
Maybe you’ve told yourself, “I’m not that bad,” because you’re still holding everything together—your home, your job, your family. Maybe you’ve tried to cut back: switching to low-alcohol options, setting drinking rules, only having one… until one turns into three, and you wake up the next morning full of regret. Again.
You might be looking around and it seems like everyone else can drink “normally.” But for you, alcohol has started to feel like a problem you can’t quite name—a source of comfort that’s quietly stealing your peace.
I know those thoughts. I lived them.
You’ve probably tried to moderate, to take breaks, to push through with sheer willpower. You might even listen to sobriety podcasts or follow Instagram accounts that make you feel a little less alone. But the internal struggle stays. The tug-of-war between the life you’re living and the one you know, deep down, is possible.
I get it because I’ve been there. In 2021, I hit that point—the emotional burnout, the self-questioning, the endless loop of “I’ll stop tomorrow.” And eventually, something inside me said, enough. Not just “I need to stop”—but “I want better.”
That moment was the beginning of a new chapter. One where I stopped surviving and started living in a way that finally felt aligned.
Fast forward a few years and I realised my experience wasn’t unique. So many women were living the same cycle I had. They were successful, capable, juggling it all and yet privately struggling with alcohol in a way that felt isolating and shameful. Not rock bottom, but not in control either.
I knew I could pay that insight forward. What I’d learned had changed my life, and I wanted to help other women make lasting change too. So I trained in the very methods that supported my shift, and built Within You Coaching to meet women exactly where they are.
I don’t coach from a pedestal, I walk beside my clients. At the heart of Within You Coaching is this truth: the strength to change your relationship with alcohol isn’t out there—it’s already within you. I’m just here to help you access it.
My mission is simple:
To help women feel free. Free from shame. Free from the endless rules. Free from seeing alcohol as the only way to switch off or feel like themselves.
Life without alcohol isn’t the end—it might just be the beginning of something better.
Behind the Brand
Why Eucalyptus?
Eucalyptus is more than a design choice—it’s a symbol of everything Within You Coaching stands for.
Spiritually and culturally, eucalyptus has long held deep significance in the healing and ceremonial practices of Australian First Nations peoples. It represents strength, protection, and abundance. As a symbol of resilience, it is believed to safeguard against emotional disruption while restoring balance and clarity. Its cleansing properties are said to clear space—physically, emotionally, and energetically.
This symbolism speaks directly to the work I do.
To me, eucalyptus is a reminder of what we carry within ourselves: the power to heal, to grow, to return to balance. It reflects what I hope to create for every woman I work with—a calm, grounded space to reconnect to yourself, release what no longer serves you, and move forward with clarity and confidence.
It’s woven into the landscape I now call home. Living and working on Bunurong Country, eucalyptus trees are ever-present in the landscape. They remind me of the wisdom of those whose connection to this land stretches back beyond memory, and to the traditions of mentorship, guidance, and inner strength that run deep through First Nations cultures.
Eucalyptus captures the spirit of Within You Coaching: calm, clear, resilient—and rooted in something far greater than ourselves.
Guiding Values
These values shape everything I do. They’re the heart of how I support women who are ready for something more. Ready for a calm, clear, and alcohol-free life.
Hope
Change is Always Possible
No matter how stuck you feel, there’s always a path forward. I hold that hope for you, even when you can’t yet see it for yourself.
Grace
Self-Compassion Over Perfection
Change isn’t linear, and you’re not here to get it “right.” I lead with compassion, helping you let go of shame and grow with kindness.
Authenticity
Be Real, Be You
This space is real, honest, and safe. I don’t do judgement or quick fixes—just grounded, supportive coaching from someone who’s walked it too.
Joy
Rediscover What Fulfills You
Going alcohol-free isn’t about missing out. It’s about creating a life that feels lighter, more connected, and filled with joy you can actually feel.
My Commitment
How I Show Up
Integrity matters. I’ve been alcohol-free since January 1, 2022, and I’m committed to living a full, abundant life without alcohol. One that is built on self-trust, clarity, and joy.
My coaching is grounded in evidence, compassion, and both lived experience and professional training. I believe we can only support others as far as we’ve been willing to go within ourselves. That’s why I actively invest in my own growth—through advanced training, ongoing study, and deep personal reflection. This ensures my coaching is always evolving and aligned with my values enabling me to facilitate meaningful, lasting change in
What I Live By
The Guiding Values aren’t just something I coach by, they’re how I live. Hope guided me through my own turning point and continues to shape how I show up, even on the hard days. I lead with Grace, reminding myself (and my clients) that growth is never linear, and self-compassion is non-negotiable. Authenticity is at the heart of everything I do. I’ll never ask you to be real without being real with you too. And Joy? That’s the whole point. I believe in making space for joy in everyday life, in quiet rituals and bold choices alike. These values are alive in my work, my relationships, and the way I continue to walk this path, both personally and professionally.
What I Believe is Possible
I believe every woman already holds the strength to transform her relationship with alcohol. My mission is to offer coaching that empowers women to reclaim their confidence, clarity, and calm. Especially those juggling motherhood, work and everything in between. Through a holistic approach that blends mindset work, body-based practices and lived experience, I support authentic, lasting change. My coaching is grounded in self-trust, hope and honest self-discovery, helping women move beyond drinking into a life they love.
Coaching Experience & Training
I combine lived experience with professional training to offer coaching that’s grounded, practical, and deeply compassionate
As a qualified sobriety coach with extensive training in alcohol-free coaching, I combine professional knowledge with personal experience. Because I’ve walked this path myself, I understand not just the challenges, but the emotional rollercoaster that comes with rethinking your relationship with alcohol. That lived experience means I don’t just ‘get it’—I’m able to offer practical insights, deep empathy, and the kind of support that only comes from someone who’s been there.
I’m committed to helping you build lasting change, with personalised strategies and a holistic approach that empowers you to live alcohol-free and thrive. My passion for helping others and my deep understanding of this journey means you’ll always receive the guidance and support you deserve.
Lived Experience
Alcohol-free since January 1st, 2022
Alcohol-Free Living Coach
Affective Liminal Psychology Certification, trained by Annie Grace of This Naked Mind Institute
Grey Area Drinking Master Coach
Nourish Method, trained by Jolene Park of Gray Area Drinkers Resource Hub
Results Coach
Mindset Transformation, a IFC accredited training by Authentic Education
Find inspiration in the stories of those who’ve walked this path before you.
My approach is supportive, empowering, and tailored to your needs. I’m here to help you stay accountable to your goals, offering meaningful perspectives and practical tools I’ve gained through my own journey to help smooth your path.