A method aimed at altering the relationship professional women have with alcohol is gaining attention, focusing on emotional well-being rather than traditional sobriety. Colleen Freeland Kachmann, founder and CEO of Emotional Sobriety Coaching©, developed this approach, which she also discusses as host of the podcast 'It’s Not About the Alcohol.' Her work is directed at professional female clients, including entrepreneurs, executives, and career mothers, to address thinking patterns associated with alcohol use.
Kachmann's philosophy centers on the idea to "Get happy, not sober." This perspective aims to correct dysfunctional thinking patterns she identifies as driving alcohol use. Her personal background informed this method; she reported hiding heavy daily drinking for over 15 years, during which she believed alcohol was a reward for her high productivity, ultimately leading to exhaustion.
Traditional, sobriety-based recovery methods, according to Kachmann, did not provide a solution for her. She found that identifying with a past drinking problem perpetuated a feeling of being stuck. She stated that focusing on sobriety did not alleviate her obsession with alcohol, nor did it resolve the underlying anxiety, perfectionism, and negative self-talk that she felt initially prompted her drinking. This led her to research the science of addiction.
Her studies included neuroplasticity, addiction, and recovery. Kachmann concluded that labeling individuals as 'alcoholics' and fostering a belief that one drink constitutes a life-or-death decision can create a self-fulfilling prophecy, potentially increasing the risk of relapse. Building on this research and her personal insights, Kachmann formulated her unique method.
Academically, Kachmann holds a master’s degree in health coaching and a bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry education. She is also certified in addiction and recovery, as well as women’s functional and integrative medicine. From this foundation, she established Emotional Sobriety Coaching©.
The method claims to allow clients to reduce their alcohol consumption by more than 80 percent, without requiring rigid abstinence. It integrates holistic techniques with evidence-based strategies, including self-directed neuroplasticity and mind-body tools for nervous system regulation. The goal of these techniques is to rewire subconscious thinking habits that contribute to the desire to drink.
Kachmann states that the focus is not on changing one's relationship with alcohol, but rather on one's relationship with oneself. The approach emphasizes reclaiming personal power and revising outdated belief systems. She views addiction not as a disease, but as a symptom of lost autonomy. She explains that while addressing a drinking problem with sobriety offers an improvement, the ultimate goal is freedom from the negative self-talk that fuels drinking and hinders a fulfilling life.
Kachmann acknowledges that her method may not be suitable for everyone, noting that some individuals may find it simpler to quit drinking entirely. She offers a viral quiz, titled “Do you have a drinking or thinking problem?”, to help women assess if her program aligns with their needs. She further clarifies her approach by explaining that she does not advise clients to quit drinking because the objective of emotional sobriety is to learn from mistakes, not to avoid them. On social media, she is known as @thehangoverwhisperer.
Through her method, Kachmann reports assisting thousands of professional women in transforming their relationship with alcohol, moving from it being a problematic habit to a more controlled pleasure. This work has also led to the development of a seven-figure coaching business. Her stated aim is to help women address alcohol use disorder by reaching a higher level of consciousness where the inclination to use alcohol for numbing purposes no longer exists.
