Alcohol Counselling
Free, confidential support - whenever you are ready.
At Murray’s Initiative, we provide free and confidential one-to-one counselling for anyone impacted by their own or someone else’s relationship with alcohol.
Our qualified counsellors provide a safe and supportive space to explore any alcohol related harms. Grounded in empathy, collaboration and respect, our service aims to bring a holistic approach to your wellbeing and mental health.
The alcohol counselling service is free to anyone who is resident or works in Glasgow, East Dunbartonshire or East Renfrewshire.
The service is available six days a week from our Head Office in Glasgow at the following times:
Monday to Thursdays 9am to 9pm
Friday 9am to 6pm
Saturday 9am to 5pm
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Our alcohol counselling service is available at various community locations throughout Glasgow on weekdays.
Appointments can be arranged at our Glasgow office six days per week, including evenings and weekends. We are also happy to offer online or telephone counselling to anyone unable to travel to our service.
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Our alcohol counselling service is available in Kirkintilloch and Milngavie, with face-to-face appointments offered on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
If these days do not work for you and you can travel, we can also arrange appointments for you at our Glasgow office. For anyone unable to travel, we are happy to offer counselling by telephone or online.
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You can access our alcohol counselling service in Barrhead and Eastwood, where we offer face-to-face appointments on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
If those days are not convenient and you can travel, appointments can also be arranged at our Glasgow office. If travelling is not possible, telephone or online appointments can be arranged.
Flexible
Our service is available six days per week, including evenings and weekends.
Accessible
You can access our service at accessible locations within your community, online or by telephone.
Confidential
Anything you share with your counsellor will remain private, unless there is a concern for your safety or the safety of others.
Partner Testimonials
“I believe GCA provides an invaluable service to people and services based in the Glasgow Area. GCA offer a confidential space where people can feel supported and receive advice for excessive alcohol consumption and mental health. GCA also offer a robust menu of training for people who work in the field of addiction to better understand the challenges faced by our clients. I personally refer to GCA for clients on my caseload and would recommend their counselling service for anyone struggling to cope with excessive alcohol consumption.”
Andy Lennie
Social Care Worker
South ADRS
“I refer service users frequently to the Glasgow Council on Alcohol as I feel it is an excellent service. I have had feedback from service users that the GCA provides an efficient and effective service that they find extremely helpful in reducing their alcohol use and they also comment positively with regards to GCA staff. In addition, I know that the service helps to support service users accessing other supports including Elevate. I find that the GCA is an invaluable resource for people within Glasgow who would like to address their alcohol use.”
Jenny Burns
Senior Addictioon Nurse
South ADRS
“I refer clients to GCA most weeks as I feel that the support clients get from GCA is great and the feedback I get from clients about GCA has been very positive and the times that they can be offered appointments work well with clients that are in employment. Referral process is also simple to follow.”
Fraser McLean
Social Care Worker
North East ADRS
“I have several clients who are engaged with your service both for counselling and general recovery events and have always received positive feedback. GCA is always dependable and reliable and top of my list of suggestions to eligible clients. One of the few organisations in the city that provides recovery support for the LGBTQ+ community. I rate this service very highly indeed.”
Andrew Burns
Support Worker
Withyou
“When I made the referral, it was very easy to do and staff were helpful when I called as well. ”
Olly Shields
NHS
“The referral process is easy, user friendly and very efficient. I have no improvements to suggest.”
Kaitlyn Reilly
Social Care Worker
North East ADRS
“Referral paperwork is clear, uncomplicated and does not require a lot of information. This help busy care managers to refer without a lot of unnecessary paperwork.
Client feedback has been positive. Clients report finding GCA helpful. They report flexibility with times and prompt contact after referral. Clients have also reported that the counselling they receive is appropriate, helpful and enables them to see how their drinking has impacted them and others. They also report positive outcomes. All in all this is a service which I would recommend to anyone who is currently struggling with alcohol or have previously had issues with alcohol.”
James Haggart
Social Care Worker
South ADRS
Our Impact
Client 1
Our client was referred for alcohol support in early 2025, presenting with extremely high daily alcohol use that was significantly impacting their well-being. Alcohol had become a coping mechanism for stress, low mood, anxiety and the pressures of caring for family members.
The client’s main goal was to reduce their alcohol use and ultimately become completely abstinent. The counsellor used various techniques to explore the physical and psychological impact of alcohol, alongside developing healthier coping strategies. Together, a gradual reduction plan was agreed upon, supported by practical changes at home. The client later sought medical support and was prescribed medication to reduce cravings, which contributed positively to their progress.
After engaging well with the service, the client was discharged, having maintained abstinence for approximately two months. They reported feeling pleased with their progress and expressed that counselling provided a safe space to talk openly and honestly about their drinking for the first time. The client shared very positive feedback about their overall experience of the service.
Client 2
Our client self-referred to the service, seeking support to stop daily drinking and make wider lifestyle changes. They felt more motivated than in previous attempts and recognised that alcohol was holding them back from reaching their potential and returning to work. Low self-esteem and anxiety were also contributing factors.
Therapeutic work focused on understanding their relationship with alcohol, addressing triggers and exploring how it conflicted with personal values. The counsellor worked collaboratively with the client, adopting various techniques to help the client develop healthier routines and coping strategies. The client stopped drinking by session three and continued building positive habits such as exercising and practising anxiety-management techniques.
After six sessions, the client confidently chose to continue making progress independently, with the option to return if needed. They shared very positive feedback, stating that being listened to and understood helped motivate them to make changes.
Client 3
A client was signposted by their GP and self-referred for support with anxiety and high alcohol use. They had been drinking daily to cope with anxiety, which had gradually increased to a problematic level and was affecting their health, family life, career opportunities and confidence.
Counselling focused on reducing both alcohol use and anxiety while building healthier coping strategies. Through a combination of person-centred work, CBT and acceptance-based approaches, the client was supported to understand the link between negative thinking, anxiety and drinking behaviour. Motivational and compassionate interventions encouraged lifestyle changes, including regular exercise and a gradual, manageable reduction in alcohol use.
By the end of 12 sessions, the client had significantly reduced their alcohol intake with several alcohol-free days and felt equipped to continue independently. They had begun pursuing employment and no longer felt dependent on alcohol or GP support for anxiety. The client expressed gratitude for the service and confidence in their ongoing progress.
How to Access Our Service
You can easily self-refer by completing the referral form below. We also welcome referrals from health and social care professionals, including GPs and ADRS teams.
If you would prefer to speak with someone directly or have any questions, please do not hesitate to call our Freephone Helpline at 0808 802 9000 — we are here to listen and support you.