Meet Stephanie Brislin | Certified Alcohol Freedom Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Stephanie Brislin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Stephanie, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Starting my own business wasn’t just a career move—it was the next step in redefining my life. It was the key to unlocking a life of passion and purpose, where I could help others reclaim their freedom and joy, just as I once did. For years, I was trapped in a vicious cycle, convincing myself that wine was my only comfort, the only thing that held my life together. Yet, I was haunted by the guilt, the shame, and the overwhelming sense that I was going to lose everything, even as I clung to the very thing that was robbing me of any possibility of peace or joy.

This is what cognitive dissonance feels like the unbearable tension of a crumbling relationship – with yourself. It’s the pain of being at war with yourself, your own beliefs clashing violently with your actions. I lived in that battle for far too long. But through a journey of self-discovery and healing, I uncovered the unconscious beliefs that had bound me. And in that process, I rewired my desires, stripping away alcohol’s grip on my life. Without the desire, there was no temptation. Without temptation, I finally found the freedom I’d been searching for.

Now, as a Certified Alcohol Freedom Coach, I am deeply honored to guide others on this same path of liberation. The work we do together is not just about changing behaviors—it’s about uncovering the root of the pain, the emotions that drive us to seek solace in destructive habits. This isn’t easy work; it’s transformative, and it demands courage. It’s about understanding that every action we take, every choice we make, is fueled by a desire to feel something—to numb pain, to escape fear, to find comfort, to receive validation.

At the core of this journey lies a profound truth: our thoughts shape our emotions, and our emotions shape our actions. So, to truly change, we must go beyond the surface. We have to dive into the heart of our beliefs—the ones that have shackled us, the ones that have kept us stuck. Instead of judging ourselves for these choices, we approach them with compassion and curiosity. We give ourselves permission to slow down, to quiet the noise in our heads, and to listen—to truly listen—to the whispers of our hearts. In the stillness, we can ask the hard questions, and in doing so, we begin to heal.

Healing begins when we understand that our struggles with alcohol weren’t born out of weakness or failure but as a means of protecting ourselves from life’s heavy burdens—the pain, the loneliness, the suffocating overwhelm of simply being human. When we come to this realization, something miraculous happens: we find hope. Hope that there’s a life on the other side of this pain, a life filled with clarity, joy, and freedom. Hope that we can live without a crutch, that we can face the world head-on with a heart full of peace.

Choosing healing is not just about letting go of the past; it’s about opening the door to a future brighter than we ever imagined. It’s about rediscovering our worth, our joy, and our capacity to live fully—without shame, without regret. The transformation we undergo isn’t just personal; it’s a ripple that touches everything. As we heal, our families heal. Our communities heal. Even the world has the potential to heal when we make the conscious decision to step into our light, to align with the truth of who we are.

The decision to heal, to live authentically, is the most powerful choice we can make. And when we make it, we don’t just change our own lives. We change the world.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
When I was pregnant with my second child, I entered a season of profound transformation. It wasn’t just the physical changes of pregnancy—it was emotional, spiritual, and mental as well. I knew that having another baby would require me to dig even deeper into my commitment to an Alcohol-Free life. I needed new tools—tools that would help me navigate the challenges of motherhood and the unpredictable journey ahead. So, I reached out for support. I joined a group that helped me stay grounded, reconnected with my incredible psychiatrist, and dove into books, learning, and open, honest conversations with my husband.

Above all, I made sure to care for myself first. This became the foundation for everything else—because if I didn’t care for myself, I couldn’t care for my family.

But nothing could have prepared me for the storm that hit when my second daughter was born. It was one of the most challenging times in my life. Beyond the overwhelming demands of a newborn, I was dealing with heartbreak within my family. The weight of it all was crushing, and I was forced to revisit parts of me that were hiding for self-perseverance. Yet, I never once thought that alcohol could offer me comfort. I had learned enough to know that I was strong enough to face the storm without falling back on old, destructive coping mechanisms.

Because I had aligned myself with who I truly was—because I was devoted to my inner work—I could hear my heart when it told me that returning to my full-time job wasn’t the right path. I knew that my family, and my passion for helping other mothers, was the direction I needed to follow. I trusted myself. I trusted God. So, I took the leap—I resigned from my role as a property controller. I didn’t have a plan, but I had faith in the journey unfolding before me.

Staying at home with a newborn who was completely dependent on me, while also trying to build a business from the ground up, was not easy. There were days when the weight of it all felt unbearable. But my passion for my work and the belief that I was on the right path kept me going. Looking back now, at the start of this journey, when I was just beginning to change my relationship with alcohol, I see how every fall was a lesson. Every setback was an opportunity to grow. I stumbled, but I always got back up, just like a baby learns to walk. I kept going because I knew that the only way forward was going through it.

This journey has taught me so much about myself, most importantly, that I need to get out of my own way. Letting go of my fears and self-doubt has been a hard and continual lesson. It has been crucial to recognize and reward every step forward as a victory.

But even in my growth, I know that there’s always more to learn. Life is a continuous journey, and every step, no matter how small, is part of the bigger picture. Along the way, I’ve surrounded myself with like-minded entrepreneurs who inspire me and keep me going on the tough days. I never imagined I would enjoy networking and collaboration as much as I do now—especially since for most of my life, I believed I needed alcohol to connect with others.

What I have been working on is realizing that I’m okay with not knowing what the future holds. I’m still a planner at heart, but I’ve learned to release my need for control and embrace flexibility. Trusting that living in alignment with my values and purpose will guide me to where I need to go has been the greatest gift I could ever give myself.

This is the power of transformation—of believing in yourself and trusting the process. The challenges are inevitable, but the growth that comes from them is unstoppable. And when you start living in alignment with your true self, you’ll discover that the life you’ve been searching for was always waiting for you.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Living alcohol-free has opened up a world of possibilities, not limited them, as I once feared. I now have the freedom to explore San Diego County without any worries about how much wine I can drink or how to safely get myself and my family home. It’s a huge weight off my shoulders!

As a mom, our adventures out of the house are geared for fun for the whole family. We’re always on the lookout for playgrounds with stunning views of our beautiful home. One of our favorites is at La Jolla Shores, which is also the perfect spot for splashing in the waves. We love hiking the easy trails that take us out of city living and reconnect with nature; from the coast of Torrey Pines to East County’s Cowles Mountain. We’re regulars at the SD Zoo and often find ourselves wandering the gorgeous Balboa Park. We support local farmer’s markets and find it’s a fun place to meet up with friends.

Point Loma holds a special place in my heart—it’s where I met my husband and where my journey really began. The breathtaking views from Shelter Island and Cabrillo National Park never get old, and there’s always something fun happening at Liberty Station.

While we don’t dine out as much as we used to, we still love experiencing new things. My husband is the Executive Chef for a charter cruise line on the San Diego Bay, so we get to enjoy the beauty of sea life while savoring incredible meals. When we do go out, we seek places with elevated (or alcohol-free) drink menus that perfectly complement the wide variety of food that we enjoy. I’ve discovered that food tastes so much better when I’m fully present in the experience—not distracted by wine, which dulls the flavors.

Living alcohol-free has made everything feel more vibrant, and I couldn’t be more excited to continue exploring all that San Diego has to offer!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
One of the most profound lessons I’ve learned on my healing journey is this: I need other people. We all do. Humans are not meant to navigate life alone. We are wired for connection, built for collaboration. Our survival, our very essence, depends on the bonds we share with others. Yet, for so long, I believed I could do it on my own—isolated, hiding behind a mask of self-reliance. It wasn’t until I was overwhelmed by life’s challenges, suffocating in the grip of anxiety, and drowning in alcohol, that I realized how off-course I was.

Towards the end of 2019, I was lost. Alcohol had become my crutch, my way of numbing the pain, dulling the anxiety that felt unbearable. And just as I was about to lose myself completely, a friend—Ash—offered me a lifeline in the form of a book. This Naked Mind by Annie Grace. Little did I know, those pages would unravel everything I thought I knew about addiction and my drinking habits.

What struck me most was how the book challenged everything I believed about alcohol. Rather than a moral failing, Grace introduced the idea that addiction stems from the brain’s unconscious drive to survive. Further, alcohol is a highly addictive substance to all humans, not just a select few of us. I began to understand that the anxious feeling I had after a drink wasn’t just “me”—it was the brain’s way of compensating for the imbalance that alcohol created. Consuming alcohol was like flipping a light switch off, and in the brain’s way of navigating in the dark, it would send stress hormones rushing through my body. Wine, the thing I thought was easing my stress, was actually fueling it. That realization was like a cold splash of water to the face. It woke me up.

But understanding this was just the start. The real healing began when I connected with others on the same path. I joined a group under the guidance of Coach Pam, a community of people who, like me, were working towards their freedom. Their strength, their vulnerability, and their shared journey helped me believe that true transformation was possible. It inspired me so deeply that I decided to become a certified coach myself, to pay it forward and help others reclaim their lives.

Through it all, I had one constant: my husband, Marc. His unwavering support, his faith in me even when I couldn’t see it in myself, carried me through the darkest moments. I think of it like our kitchen remodel. The process was messy—demolition, destruction, dust everywhere. But it was all necessary. The mess was the foundation of something beautiful. That’s what my healing felt like—chaos at times, but also the birth of something new.

Life is messy. We often crave a neat, perfect existence, but that’s not how change happens. Growth doesn’t unfold in a straight line. It’s uncomfortable, imperfect, and raw. But it’s real. And it’s worth it.

So, let’s embrace the mess. Let’s roll up our sleeves, dig in, and walk this journey together. We’re not meant to do it alone. And together, we can create something far more beautiful than we ever imagined.

Website: https://www.thelifewithincoaching.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachstephaniebrislin/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-brislin-780b6226/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stephanie.brislin.3/

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@thelifewithin

Image Credits
Marc Brislin
Charlie Curzon