About James

Founder of Detox Today.

Author of Alcohol: Cut Down. Stop. Stay Stopped.

I’m James McInally. I’ve spent around 15 years working with people affected by alcohol, alongside 15 years of lived experience of recovery myself.

That combination has shaped the way I think about alcohol problems and, ultimately, why I created Detox Today and wrote the book Alcohol: Cut Down. Stop. Stay Stopped.

Over the years, I’ve spoken to and supported people at almost every stage of the journey. Some are beginning to wonder whether they’re drinking too much. Some want to cut down. Some know they need to stop. Others have stopped before but are struggling to make the change last.

I’ve also spoken to many worried partners, parents and family members who simply don’t know what to do next.

One thing I’ve learned is that there isn’t one answer that works for everyone.

A different approach to alcohol

Alcohol problems exist on a spectrum.

You don’t necessarily need to identify as an alcoholic or commit to a particular recovery philosophy before asking for help.

For one person, change might begin with cutting down and understanding the habits and triggers behind their drinking. Another may need to stop completely. Someone who is physically dependent may need medical help to stop safely. And for someone already alcohol-free, the challenge may be learning how to stay stopped and building a life in which alcohol no longer has the same pull.

That’s why my approach isn’t built around one treatment, one recovery method, one philosophy, belief system or approach.

I’m interested in what actually helps the individual in front of me cut dow, stop drinking and stay stopped – whatever their goal is..

That can mean looking at behaviour and habits, psychology, cravings, medication and medical treatment, physical and mental wellbeing, sober support, AA, SMART Recovery and other approaches to maintaining change.

Sometimes it simply means having an honest conversation with someone who understands what they’re going through and helping them work out what to do next.

Cut down. Stop. Stay stopped.

That philosophy eventually became the basis of my book, Alcohol: Cut Down. Stop. Stay Stopped.

I wrote it because I wanted to bring together the different things I’d learned through years of working around alcohol treatment and recovery, my own lived experience and the many different approaches I’ve seen help people change.

Rather than arguing that there is one correct way to recover, the book brings together ideas from behavioural change, psychology, neuroscience, medicine, medication, nutrition, therapy and established recovery approaches.

The principle behind it is simple:

Understand what’s happening. Understand your options. Then find the combination that works for you.

That same principle now sits at the heart of Detox Today.

How I can help

Today, my role through Detox Today is primarily about alcohol recovery guidance, sober coaching and signposting.

You can talk to me if:

• you’re worried about how much you’re drinking;
• you want to cut down;
• you think you need to stop;
• you’ve stopped and want help staying stopped;
• you’re worried about somebody else’s drinking;
• you’re confused by the different treatment options
• you simply don’t know where to start.

A large part of what I do is helping people make sense of the options.

Sometimes private treatment isn’t necessary. Your GP, an NHS alcohol service, AA, SMART Recovery, a charity or another community service may be the ideal and perfectly appropriate place to start.

Where someone wants or needs specialist professional help, I can also signpost them towards appropriate services.

Sober coaching and recovery support

I also provide one-to-one sober coaching and practical recovery support.

This isn’t therapy.

It’s practical help with the realities of changing your relationship with alcohol: understanding patterns, getting through difficult days, dealing with cravings, building new routines, finding appropriate support and putting a recovery plan into practice.

My own experience has taught me that stopping drinking can be only the beginning. Learning how to live differently afterwards is often where the real work takes place.

When medical help is needed

It’s equally important to be clear about what I don’t do.

I am not a doctor, nurse, psychologist, psychotherapist or alcohol counsellor. Detox Today does not diagnose alcohol dependence, prescribe medication or provide medical detoxification.

Where medical assessment is appropriate, I can introduce someone to an independent doctor or prescribing nurse who can assess them and decide whether medical treatment is suitable.

Those healthcare professionals provide their services independently and are responsible for their own clinical decisions, prescribing and treatment.

Sometimes, I may receive commission when someone I introduce goes on to use certain private medical services. No one is under any obligation to use any service I point them towards, whether free or private.

I believe people seeking help with alcohol should understand who is providing their care and whether there is a commercial relationship involved, which is why I want that relationship to be clear.

Start where you are

You don’t have to have everything worked out before getting in touch.

You don’t need to know whether you need to cut down, stop completely, see a doctor, take medication, go to meetings, have therapy or do something else.

That’s often the point of the first conversation.

Start where you are, tell me what’s happening, and we can look at the options from there. I truly believe that anyone can change their relationship with alcohol.

James McInally

Founder, Detox Today
Author of Alcohol: Cut Down. Stop. Stay Stopped.
Alcohol Recovery Adviser & Sober Coach