When Angie Thomson decided to quit drinking, she had no idea it would lead to a complete transformation -not just in her own life, but in the lives of others. Nearly two years into her alcohol-free journey, she’s now a trauma-informed coach, guiding people through the deeper reasons behind their drinking.

“Take that leap of faith and just go for it. You won’t regret it – you’ll never look back.”

For Angie, sobriety wasn’t just about removing alcohol. It was about understanding why she drank in the first place. That realisation pushed her into a new career, one rooted in healing.

Finding the ‘Why’ Behind the Drinking

Angie describes herself as the life of the party -the first to arrive, the last to leave, always pushing others to drink just as much as she did. But behind the fun-loving image was something deeper.

“Drinking was something to stop myself feeling all of that trauma people tend to suppress.”

Like many, she didn’t initially connect her drinking to her past. She grew up in a volatile household, where shouting and name-calling were the norm. As a child, she internalised it. “We don’t think logically as kids. We think, ‘My parents are arguing because of me.’” Those feelings of unworthiness followed her into adulthood, shaping her drinking habits.

It wasn’t until she stopped drinking that she recognised the underlying wounds that alcohol had been numbing.

“Trauma isn’t what happens to you. It’s what happens inside of you because of what happened to you.” 

From Healing to Helping Others

Once Angie confronted her own past, she felt called to help others do the same. She trained as a trauma-informed coach, working with people to explore how past experiences fuel their drinking.

“People can go into rehab and stop drinking, but nine times out of ten, the root problems are still there, pulling them back to their old habits.”

Her coaching doesn’t focus on traditional talk therapy alone. Instead, she helps people release suppressed emotions through somatic techniques like rage release and inner child work.

“It’s about sitting with those feelings rather than running from them.”

This approach is particularly important when working with clients who have experienced narcissistic abuse. Angie understands firsthand how toxic relationships can further damage self-worth and reinforce destructive habits.

“Being in a narcissistic relationship is the worst kind of crazy. And problematic drinking often becomes a way to cope with that.”

The Confidence of Sobriety

Like many who quit drinking, Angie once feared a sober life would be boring. Would she still have fun? Would people still want to spend time with her? But what she found was the exact opposite.

“I spent so many years thinking I needed a drink to have confidence. But now that I’ve stopped, I have more confidence than I ever thought possible.”

Sobriety has allowed her to have deeper, more meaningful conversations without the fear of saying something she’d regret. It has also given her clarity about her purpose.

“This is the greatest gift I could have ever given myself.”

Looking Ahead

Angie’s work isn’t stopping with coaching. She’s already looking into further training, including somatic hypnotherapy and EMDR – modalities that help process trauma in more profound ways.

“I never, ever thought I’d be able to do this. But here I am, nearly two years sober, helping people find the freedom I never thought possible.”

Her message to anyone considering an alcohol-free life? Don’t be afraid to do the work.

“In that moment when you want to reach for a drink, take a breath and ask yourself: Why? What’s really happening inside me? Is there a better way?”

For Angie, that question changed everything. Now, she’s helping others find their own answers.

You can find out more about Angie at  angiethompson.thementalwellbeingcompany.com/  and on instagram @AngieMWC