Saying out loud that your drinking or drug use has become a problem is one of the harder conversations to start. It can feel like an admission, even when it isn't one. Online counselling means you can have that conversation from somewhere private, by secure video, with an accredited counsellor, wherever in Ireland you are. You don't need to have it all worked out first.
Substance Abuse Counselling
A private place to talk honestly about drinking or drug use, with an accredited therapist, by secure video from home.
Accredited therapists
Fully confidential
Evening & weekend times
Everything is confidentialWhat you say in a session stays in the session.
Secure video, Ireland-wideFrom wherever you feel comfortable, on any device.
No GP referral neededBook online in a couple of minutes.
Evening and weekend timesSessions that fit around work and family.
What is online substance abuse counselling and how does it work?
It is professional addiction counselling delivered remotely, usually through a secure video appointment, or by telephone where that works better for you. Sessions are a conversation: what you are using, how much, what it does for you, what it costs you, and what you actually want to change.
It helps to know the difference between the main kinds of support, because people often use the words interchangeably.
| Type of support | What it usually involves | Often useful when |
|---|---|---|
| One-to-one counselling | Regular private sessions with one counsellor, working at your pace on your own goals | You want to understand your use and change it, with someone who knows your history |
| Structured recovery programme | A set course of group and individual work, often several days a week, run by a service | Use is heavier or more entrenched, and more structure is needed |
| Peer support group | Free meetings led by people in recovery, not by clinicians, such as those listed by Alcoholics Anonymous Ireland | Alongside counselling, or between appointments, for ongoing connection |
How often you meet and how long support lasts depends on where you are starting from and what you are aiming for. Weekly to begin with is common. Some people move to fortnightly once things steady.
Is online counselling right for my substance use?
Counsellors work with a wide range of substance misuse, including:
- alcohol, which is still the most common reason people in Ireland seek help, according to drugs.ie
- cannabis
- cocaine and other stimulants
- opioids, including heroin and prescribed painkillers
- benzodiazepines and sleeping tablets
- prescription medicines taken outside what was prescribed
- more than one of these together, which is more common than people expect
It may suit you if you want to cut down or stop, if you have noticed something shifting and want to look at it early, if you are protecting a recovery you have already built, or if you have relapsed and want to understand what happened. Suitability depends on a few real things: how physically dependent you are, your general physical and mental health, whether there are safety concerns, whether you can get a private hour and a decent connection, and whether you want to be there at all.
On effectiveness, be a little careful with confident claims. Based on available research, remotely delivered psychological therapy can work well for some people with substance difficulties, particularly when it uses established therapeutic methods. That is not the same as saying it works equally well for everyone. Online counselling gives you convenience, reach, and continuity when life gets busy. A day programme or residential treatment gives you structure and clinical oversight that an hour on video cannot match. The HRB National Drugs Library holds the Irish research if you want to read further.
Not sure if this is the right fit?
A first session is just a conversation.
What happens during an online counselling session?
The first appointment is mostly your counsellor getting a clear picture: what you are using now, your physical and mental health, anything you have tried before, any immediate risks, who is around you, and what you would like to be different. Nobody is scoring you.
After that you agree a plan between you, how often to meet, and one or two practical next steps. Small ones.
For the sessions themselves you need:
- a reasonable internet connection, or a phone if video isn't practical
- a charged device with a working camera and microphone
- headphones, which help more than people expect
- somewhere you won't be overheard, a room with a door, or a parked car if that is what's available
Sessions run on a secure platform, and your counsellor handles your information in line with data protection law as set out by the Data Protection Commission. What you say stays between you, with the usual limits: if there is a serious risk to your life or someone else's, particularly a child, your counsellor may have to act on it. That gets explained to you at the start, not sprung on you later.
Worth doing beforehand: test the link, jot down anything you don't want to forget, and come to the session sober if you possibly can.
What can addiction counselling help me work on?
Much of the work is about pattern. When does it happen, what comes just before, and what is the use doing for you that nothing else currently does? Once that is visible, it becomes something you can plan around rather than something that keeps happening to you.
- spotting triggers and the situations where the odds are stacked against you
- managing cravings without white-knuckling through them
- building coping strategies that hold up on a bad Tuesday
- handling difficult emotions, including the ones that surface once the substance is out of the way
- relapse prevention: warning signs, what to do in the first hour after a slip, and how to keep going afterwards
- repairing the relationships that have taken the hit, and involving a partner or family member where you want that and consent to it
Stress, anxiety, low mood, trauma and relationship difficulties often sit underneath substance use, and counselling can take those seriously. That said, not every counsellor can assess or treat every condition, so ask directly about the overlap. Some things need a psychologist, a psychiatrist, or your GP.
Can online counselling help me through withdrawal safely?
Counselling supports the emotional and behavioural side of stopping. It does not replace medical assessment, medication, or supervised detoxification, and it cannot monitor you physically.
This matters, because withdrawal from alcohol and from benzodiazepines can be genuinely dangerous, including seizures and, rarely, a severe state called delirium tremens. NICE guidance on alcohol dependence is clear that assisted withdrawal needs medical management. Stopping abruptly on your own is not the safe option it sounds like.
Speak to a GP or an addiction service first if any of these apply:
- you drink daily, or feel shaky, sweaty or sick in the morning
- you have had a bad withdrawal, a seizure or a blackout before
- you take benzodiazepines or opioids regularly, prescribed or not
- you are pregnant
- you have another significant physical or mental health condition
Online counselling can work well alongside medical treatment, before a detox, during it, and especially in the months after, when clinicians consider it appropriate.
How do I choose a qualified online addiction counsellor in Ireland
Counselling titles are not yet fully regulated here, so check rather than assume. Look for a recognised qualification, real experience with addiction specifically, and current accreditation with a professional body. You can check status with Addiction Counsellors of Ireland or with a general body such as the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. Verify it directly with the body, not just from a website badge.
Reasonable things to ask before you commit:
- what approach they use, and why it suits your situation
- whether they receive regular clinical supervision
- whether they hold professional indemnity insurance
- how confidentiality and record-keeping work
- what happens if you are in crisis between appointments
- how much experience they have with your particular substance
Then have an initial conversation and notice how it feels. Do they talk to you respectfully? Do they seem to understand what you are actually asking for?
Frequently asked questions
How much does online addiction counselling cost in Ireland?
Fees vary by provider, session length and the counsellor's experience. Confirm the current fee, whether the first assessment costs more, the cancellation policy, and whether any reduced-cost places exist before you book. Some health insurance policies contribute towards counselling, so it is worth checking your cover.
Can I access free or low-cost substance misuse support in Ireland?
Yes, though availability and waiting times differ a lot by area.
- the HSE Drugs and Alcohol Helpline, freephone 1800 459 459, listed on hse.ie
- HSE-funded and community addiction services in your region
- your GP, who can refer you on
- free peer support meetings, many of them online
- Citizens Information for how services are organised locally
What should I do if I or someone else needs urgent help?
If there is immediate danger, a suspected overdose, a severe withdrawal reaction or a risk of harm, ring 112 or 999, or go to your nearest emergency department. Routine counselling appointments are not crisis care, and no counsellor should be your only plan in an emergency.
How can I take the next step?
You can book a confidential initial consultation with a qualified addiction counsellor, by secure video, from wherever you are in the country. Booking takes a couple of minutes and you don't need a GP letter. Evening appointments are available.
- Book an online session, or get in touch if you would rather ask a question first.
- For immediate medical or safety concerns, ring 112 or 999.
You don't have to know what you want to do about your use yet. That is usually what the first session is for.