meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
The Addicted Mind Podcast

293: Finding Emotional Freedom Through Sobriety with Veronica Valli

The Addicted Mind Podcast

Duane Osterlind, LMFT

Health & Fitness, Medicine, Mental Health

4.8621 Ratings

🗓️ 29 July 2024

⏱️ 37 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Can you imagine a life where alcohol isn’t the centerpiece of your social interactions? In this episode, Duane sits down with Veronica Valli, a recovery coach and psychotherapist, who challenges the deeply ingrained belief that a fulfilling life must include alcohol. She reveals the initial shock and eventual liberation that comes from meeting people who thrive without it. Having been alcohol-free for over 24 years, Veronica shares her deeply personal story. 

What began as binge drinking and drug experimentation in her teenage years in the UK led to severe consequences and a struggle for self-acceptance. Her tale is a testament to the power of emotional sobriety, which she considers the cornerstone of true recovery. Through candid anecdotes, she discusses the role of fear in maintaining alcohol dependence and how sobriety transforms one's perception of joy and connection. Veronica emphasizes the importance of managing emotions without alcohol and discovering the surprising joys of being fully present in life's moments.

This episode explores the rollercoaster of early sobriety and the necessity of a supportive community and the right tools to navigate this phase successfully. Veronica introduces her five pillars of sobriety – movement, connection, balance, process, and growth – as key components for maintaining and enriching a sober life. Duane and Veronica also cover addressing past trauma and shifting ingrained perceptions about alcohol. Veronica's journey is one of profound gratitude and clarity, offering hope and inspiration to anyone considering the path of sobriety.


In this episode, you will hear:

  • Why emotional sobriety is key to true recovery
  • Misconceptions tied to alcohol dependency
  • The struggle of managing emotions without alcohol
  • Addressing underlying issues like resentment, fear, and self-worth
  • The five pillars of sobriety


Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

Supporting Resources:

https://soberful.com/

NovusMindfulLife.com

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.


Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Hello, everyone. Welcome to the Addicted Mind podcast. My name is Dwayne Austerlund. I'm your host,

0:11.0

and we are on to another episode. Today, my guest is Veronica Vali. She is really changing the

0:17.6

narrative on sobriety. She's been continuously sober since May 2,000 and has over 22 years of experience as a recovery

0:26.6

coach and psychotherapist, and she really understands that there is no one path to recovery.

0:33.6

She's also author of the award-winning book Soberful, Uncover a Sustainable, Fulfilling Life

0:39.9

Free of Alcohol, and also co-host of the Soberful podcast. And she has helped thousands of

0:47.7

women not only recover from alcohol, but also transform their lives. And she really teaches that alcohol is not the problem.

0:56.6

And it's only a symptom of a deeper underlying problem.

1:00.5

And she helps women dig deep, embrace change, and become who they are meant to be.

1:05.0

So I'm really excited that she was willing to come on to the podcast and talk about her own story and share her

1:13.6

insights into what she calls emotional sobriety, not just stopping drinking, because how she sees it,

1:22.8

that's really only about 10% of the problem. The other 90% is our emotional sobriety. So she's going to come on

1:32.0

and talk about that and talk about her books over full. So I'm excited that she came on to the

1:36.9

podcast and was willing to share her story. So I think you're going to get a lot out of this.

1:40.9

Don't forget, if you're getting a lot out of the Addicted Mind podcast, please rate us

1:46.8

in whatever podcast app you're using right now. And if you're really feeling generous, write

1:53.9

us a review. That really does help the addicted mind get found, and I really appreciate it.

1:59.9

Thank you all who have taken the time to do that.

2:03.0

It means a lot to me. And don't forget, join our Facebook group. Just go to Facebook,

2:07.1

type in the Addicted Mind podcast, click join, and continue the conversation online. All right,

2:12.5

everyone, let's start this episode.

2:18.2

All right, everyone, welcome to the Addictive Mind podcast.

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Duane Osterlind, LMFT, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Duane Osterlind, LMFT and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2025.