Jo’s story

My name is Jo and I’m an adult child of an alcoholic. I lived with an alcoholic father up to the age of 16 years old, when he kicked me out of the house. I didn’t know any different, the life I led with my Mum, older sister and my Dad was all I knew. It was chaotic, money was an issue, there was little connection with my Dad, I experienced physical and mental abuse and forever heard “when are you going to change”.

Life was a challenge and I could only talk to my sister about things, no one outside of the house knew what was going on. Leaving the house at 16 was a shock but it also brought with it a sense of freedom. I no longer had to cope with what it was like to live with an alcoholic father. Home life was hard, I felt very alone, mis-understood, different and totally disconnected. After leaving home I could do what I wanted and there were no rules.

After my step-brother died in a tragic accident at the age of 21 (I was 17), things went downhill for my family. Dad’s drinking worsened, my Mum and Dad got divorced and my father moved out of the family home.

Two months before my 21st birthday my father passed away due to his alcoholism. It was a massive shock and I just went into auto-pilot to cope. After two years of grieving and adjusting to my father’s death, I decided that years of issues with friends and relationship problems I needed help.

I knew something wasn’t right and that I upset people, I had a lot of anger and so many questions with no answers. I had no idea who I was, how I felt or really much about myself. There was a lot of denial and naivety. I was in my early twenties but mentally at times I acted like a child.

Visiting my first counsellor was an interesting experience but one that hasn’t really stopped 20 years later. I’ve experienced over 20 years of self-development in one form or another and tried a myriad of different therapies. Each time learning something new, growing and experiences so much more out of life than I ever did. I qualified as a Master Neuro Linguistic Programming Practitioner and trained as an Emotional Freedom Technique practitioner, in short I’m qualified to facilitate change.

The changes I’ve experienced have changed me hugely, of course there are aspects that I still need to work on, living in a home with addiction and trauma is complex and it impacts on your life as an adult in so many ways. That is what has led me to set up my own business to help others like me, not only did I train to help others but I’ve done the development myself, I’ve also lived in a home with addiction so I get it. Empathising with clients and being able to share my story is the best way I can offer them connection and support so they no longer feel alone. My journey will continue until the day I die. Investment in myself and my wellbeing is paramount and I hope to inspire and motivate others to do the same.