What if your drinking problem is really a thinking problem?
That’s the core message behind Colleen Freeland Kachmann’s unique and fast-growing approach to alcohol recovery. A former high-functioning daily drinker herself, Colleen spent over two decades secretly wrestling with alcohol before deciding to question everything the recovery world had taught her.
The result? Emotional Sobriety Coaching©: a science-informed, compassion-centered program she founded to help women reduce alcohol consumption by up to 80 percent without requiring full sobriety.
Her motto: Get happy, not sober.
Rethinking the Root Cause
Colleen isn’t running a sobriety program. She’s an Intuitive Drinking Coach with an MSc in Health Coaching, a BS in Biology and Chemistry Education, and certifications in addiction recovery and functional and integrative medicine for women. She believes that overdrinking is due to a disconnect between the mind and body in women who prioritize productivity and performance over their physical and emotional needs.
“It’s not your relationship with alcohol that needs to change. It’s your relationship with yourself,” she often says. Her method reframes alcohol use disorder as a symptom, not the cause.
By combining evidence-based tools in self-directed neuroplasticity and holistic strategies in nervous system regulation, Colleen helps high achieving women challenge perfectionism, burnout, and self-doubt, which are the real fuel behind compulsive drinking.
From Personal Battle to Purpose-Driven Work
Before launching her now 7-figure business, Colleen lived through what many of her clients face. As a mother, a professional, and a woman constantly striving to meet impossible expectations, she turned to alcohol for relief.
“I was drinking every day and thought I was getting away with it because no one knew I had a problem.” she recalls. “I didn’t realize I was betraying myself.”
Once she shifted her focus from looking good on the outside to feeling good on the inside, everything changed. “I now enjoy drinking socially, but most days I have no desire for alcohol.”
Moderation as a Valid Path
Traditional sobriety models often demand all-or-nothing thinking. Colleen offers a third way: one rooted in emotional intelligence and personalized support. Her program validates moderation as a science-backed, attainable goal.
Her approach directly challenges the disease model of addiction and calls out the fixed mindset embedded in the approach. “Alcohol was not my problem. It was my solution. And thinking I couldn’t trust myself to control my drinking only made it worse,” she says.
A Quiz That Sparked a Movement
One of her most popular tools is a viral quiz titled “Do you have a drinking or thinking problem?” It helps women identify the limiting beliefs that serve as the “kill-switch” on their motivation to build healthier habits.
The insight from the quiz often becomes the first step in redefining not only how clients see alcohol, but how they see themselves.
More Than a Coach—A Conversation Starter
Through her globally ranked podcast, It’s Not About the Alcohol, Colleen shares stories and struggles that so many women experience in silence. Her honest, compassionate tone resonates with listeners tired of rigid rules and hungry for a new approach.
Colleen isn’t trying to fix you. She’s here to help you feel again, think differently, and write a new narrative.
To learn more, visit Emotional Sobriety Coaching.
As she puts it: “The solution to alcohol use disorder is a feeling. When you feel good about yourself, you drink like someone who feels good about yourself.”
