Alcohol and Drug Psychology - our ‘why’

Hi, my name is Hollie.

I am a psychologist who has worked in the field of alcohol and drug treatment for the last 20 years. I have worked in regional, rural and metropolitan areas, as a clinician, supervisor, manager and service leader in this area of expertise, and have extensively studied the area including having a PhD in the field. I am so excited to launch my new venture, ePsychologists, which aims to provide accessible and discreet psychology services for people with alcohol and drug concerns across Australia.

I want to start with some information about why I established this new service. We know that in Australia it takes on average 18 years for someone to seek support for their alcohol use, and 7 years for other drugs. Family members take on average 6 years to access support if they have a loved one with an alcohol or drug concern.

These statistics have always stayed with me, and have been the driver of everything I have done in my career. I know that our current system needs to improve. People should have options for treatment if and when they start to experience concerns, without delay.

Many times when people enter into treatment they do so because there has been an event or a breaking point. They may have had a relationship breakdown, a medical scare, or felt as though they have hit rock bottom. But we know, that rock bottom is just where you stop digging. Many people suffer greatly for these years, and when a person finally does seek support, they also often come across several barriers to accessing it.

There is still widespread stigma that prevents a person from seeking help. Stigma and shame can entrench issues as people feel that they don’t have anywhere to turn for help. Unfortunately, the stigma around alcohol and drug use is quite pervasive, as it is by some people in society deemed to be a moral issue - which can lead to a very real fear of judgment.

Many specific alcohol and drug treatment services are also public services on non-government organisations, where demand greatly exceeds capacity. The most recent data indicates that we only treat between 30-48% of people who may seek or benefit from support for their substance use. There are also often waitlists and delays, which can make someone motivated for change reluctant to continue to engage, which is concerning given how long it has taken them to get to that point. Some people prefer not to access public services due to these limitations and limited choice of treatments or treatment providers. On the other end of the spectrum, there are private rehabilitation and withdrawal management services that are extremely expensive, often costing several thousands of dollars per week, with notably no improved outcomes over standard treatment.

I established ePsychologists because I know the gap exists in the middle. There are few private psychology services with a focus specifically on alcohol and drug presentations. We know the therapies that work, and we have a passion for working with people on their own recovery goals, and supporting families.

We look forward to hearing from you! Please make contact with us if you’d like to book an appointment.