AMACCPH, IPAH, IAOTH, CMA
Embark on your journey to recovery and self-discovery with Spencer, a dedicated counsellor, psychotherapist, and addiction psychologist with over 40 years lived experience. Specialising in addiction recovery, trauma healing, and personal transformation, I offer compassionate guidance and personalised treatment plans to help you overcome life's challenges and reclaim your future.
I’m Spencer, an addiction psychologist and psychotherapist with over 40 years of lived experience and professional practice in the field of recovery. My life’s work has been dedicated to helping individuals, couples, and families break free from the cycles of addiction and rediscover a path toward lasting healing and self-mastery.
I specialise in addiction solutions, relapse prevention, psychotherapy and addiction psychology that not only addresses the symptoms but also uncovers the deeper roots of dependency. With compassion, honesty, and understanding at the heart of my approach, I help clients explore the how, when, what, and why of addiction—making sense of the patterns that once felt overwhelming or unexplainable.
Whether working one-on-one, couples therapy, or guiding families through the challenges of supporting a loved one, I bring both expertise and empathy to every session. My mission is to create a safe, supportive space where transformation becomes possible, equipping you with the tools to achieve recovery, resilience, and lasting self-mastery.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Psychodynamic Therapy
Mindfulness Coaching
Family Therapy
Couples Therapy
Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP)
What I Offer
A safe, non-judgemental space to explore what’s driving your addiction.
Tools for managing cravings, triggers, and everyday stress.
Support for partners and families, because recovery works best when the people around you understand how to help.
A clear plan to build resilience, prevent relapse, and create lasting change.
My treatment philosophy centers on personalisation. I create tailored plans that address each individual's unique journey through addiction, trauma, and life challenges. I integrate the traditional 12-step programme while offering alternative behavioural programmes and self-mastery solutions to ensure a comprehensive "no stone left unturned" path to recovery.
Spencer Hill is an internationally accredited Addiction Psychologist specialising in substance and behavioural addictions affecting individuals, families, couples and business performance.
With over 40 years of lived experience, my mission is to guide individuals, families, and organisations in understanding and addressing the complexities of substance, alcohol, and behavioural addictions. Through compassionate, evidence-informed, and experience-driven practice, I provide one-to-one assessments, family and couples consultations, and corporate profiling designed to uncover the psychological roots of addictive behaviors.
I am committed to delivering clear, practical insights that empower personal growth, strengthen relationships, and foster healthier environments. Whether supporting court cases, social services, corporate institutions, or private family needs, my expertise is dedicated to constructing accurate and fact based profiles / assessments that not only identify challenges but also illuminate pathways to recovery, resilience, and lasting change.
I offer a deeply personalised, supportive, and caring therapeutic process tailored specifically to your unique challenges and goals. My structured approach ensures we address all aspects of your recovery journey while providing the flexibility needed for genuine transformation.
My ultimate goal is to guide you toward not just recovery, but a complete renewal of your relationship with yourself and others—truly experiencing "A Life Reborn."
Your transformation begins with a single conversation. Taking this step shows tremendous courage and self-respect. It means you recognise your worth and your capacity for change. Whether you're seeking recovery for the first time or returning after a setback, know that renewal is always possible.
"Wow where do I start I just wanted to say firstly say I’m lucky enough to have been blessed enough to have Spencer in my life it’s crazy I always knew that I was going to be successful and have mentors but I never thought I would meet some on the come up to my journey growing up and not have a father figure or trusting any family member I turned into a different life style and never really had any postive rules models until I met Spencer at my mums work place it’s crazy I remember walking into the office and seeing this guy in a green jumper at first i thought he was a body builder because of his size what I didn’t realise that this man would be my mentor we spoke and we really connected we talked about the gym and the roman Solider and for the first time in years I actually had a honest conversation with some about my goal witch was weird because I never trusted anyone fast forward a couple of weeks I had my first session with Spencer and wow I realised that I lacked certain things know me and Spencer are working on disciple and manny other things with out Spencer help I wouldn’t have been able to get into the property industries and learn certain things about my self all I’m going to say if you need to speak to someone who is real and doesn’t judge Spencer your man trust me peole he is Amazing at what he does The Real Deal"
– SB (Nottingham)
"After years of struggle and being pushed from pillar to post and being turned away and let down by NHS services, recovery services and rehabs I had nowhere to go and was approach by Spence who was at that time helping me through counselling and a recovery program to then start a rigourous 1 to 1 therapy program which changed my life from a rotting corpse of a human who couldn't deal with my emotions,mental health or anything to do with life to the man I am today who is curious, routines, constantly educating myself and learning and am a strong and constructive member of society and this would not be possible without Spence there was only 1 road for me that I could see and that was death and thanks to this legend of a man I myself have turned into a machine of a man that is determined and works through anything thrown at him.This company and man is a part of my life without them I would not be where I am."
– GK (Carlton)
"Working with Spencer has truly been a pleasure. His guidance has completely changed the way I see and approach life, especially through the lens of stoicism.He’s helped me develop a calmer, more balanced mindset, and taught me how to navigate challenges with clarity and self-control rather than emotion.Each session has not only brought new perspective, but also a genuine sense of progress and inner peace. I’m genuinely grateful for the impact he’s had on my outlook and would highly recommend him to anyone looking to grow mentally and emotionally."
– AMP (Columbia)
"Working with Spencer Hill has had a profoundly positive impact on my personal growth and mindset. Through a combination of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), I’ve gained powerful tools to reshape my thinking, break limiting patterns, and approach challenges with a new level of clarity and confidence.The sessions were delivered with an exceptional level of professionalism, understanding, and genuine investment. Spencer has an incredible ability to create a space that feels both safe and empowering—allowing real transformation to take place. His skill in tailoring NLP and CBT techniques to my individual goals made every session purposeful and effective.I’ve noticed measurable improvements in my focus, motivation, and emotional resilience. The strategies I’ve learned continue to influence my daily life in positive ways, helping me maintain a strong, forward-driven mindset in both personal and professional areas.If you’re looking for someone who not only understands the science behind change but also truly cares about your progress, Spencer Hill is outstanding. His expertise and delivery make the process not just effective, but genuinely life-enhancing."
– RR (Mansfield)
"If fate didn’t bring me to Spencer, I fear that I wouldn’t be here, in such a privileged position to be able to write this testimonial. Every single letter I type contains the ‘undescribable’ amounts of gratitude, love, humility - all traits Spencer taught me how to harness and implement into my everyday life. I’m no longer the person I once was, I’m no longer letting my past and trauma define me, I’m no longer looking at the world through a black and white lenses, I’m seeing colour, ones I never even knew were there. I’ve learned how to be present, and fulfilled with where I am. I’m no longer walking the earth with a constant void."
– JR (Mansfield)
"I started working with Spencer when I left rehab. Spencer has helped me with my addiction alongside separate therapy work around my childhood traumas and grief. He has helped me navigate the grief I felt for many years around the death of my brother and father by doing a goodbye letter which by sharing with others relieved the unbearable pain and greif and supporting me to visit my brothers grave for the first time clean in 17 years. He had helped me overcome suppressed memory's of physical and sexual abuse as a child that I can now speak freely about as it holds no power over me and also how to be a better man without the use of drink and drugs which I used for years to forget such trauma as stated above. Spencer has taught me how to live in the present as I have always lived in the past, and also to stop running from the past, to deal with life day by day, gaining my self worth back, he has given me tools to now accept love and give love and taught me how to forgive the people that let me down, to not hold grudges and resentment as they are only hurting myself. Spencer has also taught me how to man up and stop behaving like a child.Truly grateful for all of Spencer's hardworking and dedication to me."
– ZG (Nottingham)
"I’ve been working with Spencer for about 9 months after battling with addiction issues for over 15 years and never really getting to the root cause of my trauma Spencer has welcomed me with open arms learning me to trust and getting some understanding of my past from dealing with my addiction my abusive relationship with my father and finally after 20 years of grieving finally letting go the therapy has given me me a new perspective on life and step by step it’s making me stronger each day i never thought its was possible to overcome these things until I started to work with Spencer."
– JR (Nottingham)
"The first time I met Spencer it was by chance, I didn't even realise I was looking for him, it was like divine intervention. We exchanged contact details and I never looked back. Spencer helped my find myself, and is also working with my partner and family. He's basically our Guardian Angel..."
– PH (Ravenshead)
"I started working with Spencer not long after my father had passed away. I was struggling the alot of guilt and shame as I felt I had neglected my father due to my addiction to drink and drugs. Spencer helped me navigate my way through this alongside working with me to deal with my overwhelming fear of abandonment which was bleeding into my relationship. With Spencer's guidance and hard work my relationship with my now husband is stronger than it has ever been and I dont feel so much guilt around my father’s passing."
– RG (Buxton)
My online sessions take place via Zoom. Shortly after booking and an hour before the session, you will receive a link to join the meeting.For in-person bookings, please note I will reach out to you to discuss travel cost.
1-2-1 Therapy
£100 – 1 Hour
Couples Therapy
£120 – 1 Hour
Family Therapy
£120 – 1 Hour
Corporate Therapy
£200 – 1 Hour
Psychological Profile Assessment
£180 – 1 Hour
Courts, Social Services, Family Courts & Corporate Assessment
Please click the link below to get a tailored price.
How CBT Helps With Addiction
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is one of the most effective and widely used approaches in the treatment of addiction. At its core, CBT is about helping people understand the relationship between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. Addiction doesn’t develop in isolation—it grows out of learned patterns, painful experiences, and often, unconscious ways of coping. CBT gives us a clear and structured way to make sense of these patterns, and more importantly, to change them.
For Individuals Living with Addiction
When working with someone struggling with addiction, CBT helps uncover the underlying thought processes that fuel compulsive behaviours. Many people carry beliefs such as “I can’t cope without using” or “I’ve failed before, so I’ll fail again.” These thoughts can feel absolute and unshakable. Through CBT, we gently challenge these beliefs, test their accuracy, and begin to replace them with healthier, more empowering ways of thinking.
This is not about forcing positivity—it’s about building a realistic sense of control and choice. By breaking the cycle of negative thoughts leading to destructive behaviours, CBT helps individuals develop tools to manage cravings, prevent relapse, and strengthen their sense of self-mastery.
For Couples
Addiction often places enormous strain on relationships. Partners can become caught in cycles of mistrust, resentment, or enabling behaviours without even realising it. In couples therapy, CBT provides a framework for both partners to identify these unhelpful patterns and learn healthier ways of communicating.
Together, we examine the thoughts each partner holds about themselves and the relationship—such as “They’ll never change” or “I’m to blame for their relapse.” By addressing these beliefs, couples can begin to rebuild trust, set healthy boundaries, and work as a team against the addiction rather than against each other. The goal is not only recovery from substance use, but also recovery of connection, intimacy, and mutual respect.
For Families
Families living alongside addiction often experience confusion, guilt, anger, and helplessness. Parents, siblings, and children may all develop coping strategies that unintentionally feed the cycle of addiction—such as avoidance, over-control, or denial.
Through family-based CBT, we explore how each member’s thoughts and behaviours interact with the addict’s recovery journey. For example, a parent might believe “If I don’t rescue them, they’ll fall apart”—which can lead to enabling behaviours that prevent growth. By gently reframing these beliefs, families learn how to support recovery without losing themselves in the process.
CBT equips families with communication tools, problem-solving strategies, and a shared understanding of how addiction operates. Most importantly, it restores hope—showing families that they can play an active role in healing rather than feeling powerless.
A Compassionate Perspective
Addiction affects far more than the individual—it ripples through relationships, families, and communities. CBT gives us a map to navigate this complexity with clarity and compassion. It allows people to step back from destructive patterns, recognise the power of their thoughts, and build new ways of relating to themselves and others.
As a professional with decades of lived experience, I’ve seen how CBT not only helps individuals stay sober but also helps couples and families rebuild lives, mend bonds, and rediscover trust. At its heart, CBT is about empowering people to believe that change is possible—because it truly is
How Psychodynamic Therapy Supports Addiction Recovery
Addiction is often misunderstood as simply a problem of willpower or poor decision-making. In reality, it is always a symptom of something deeper: personal trauma, witnessed trauma, unresolved emotional pain, early life experiences, unconscious conflicts, and relational wounds that remain hidden beneath the surface. Psychodynamic therapy addresses these roots, offering individuals the chance not just to stop addictive behaviours, but to truly understand why those behaviours took hold in the first place.
Going Beyond the Surface
While short-term strategies can help manage cravings or prevent relapse, many people find themselves repeating old cycles if the deeper emotional drivers of addiction are not addressed. Psychodynamic therapy goes beneath the surface to explore:
Unconscious motives – The hidden reasons a person turns to substances or behaviours, often linked to unresolved trauma or unmet emotional needs.
Early attachment patterns – How childhood experiences with caregivers shape one’s sense of safety, self-worth, and the ability to regulate emotions.
Repressed emotions – Anger, grief, fear, or shame that has been buried and numbed through addictive behaviours.
Repeating patterns – Self-sabotage, unhealthy relationships, or destructive cycles that continue unconsciously until they are brought into awareness.
By identifying these underlying dynamics, individuals can begin to understand their addiction not as a personal failure, but as a coping strategy that once served a purpose—but no longer does.
Why This Matters for Long-Term Recovery
Addiction often returns when the root causes remain unaddressed. Psychodynamic therapy helps prevent relapse by resolving the very issues that made escape, numbness, or disconnection so compelling in the first place.
By working through unresolved trauma, repressed feelings, and unconscious beliefs, individuals gain freedom not just from the addiction, but from the patterns that kept them stuck in cycles of self-destruction. Recovery then becomes about more than abstinence—it becomes about transformation, self-mastery, and reclaiming one’s true identity.
Healing Through Awareness
Psychodynamic therapy creates a safe, non-judgmental space where clients can reflect on their inner world and history. In this process:
Insight develops – Clients learn to connect past experiences with present struggles, gaining clarity on how addiction became a survival mechanism.
Self-compassion grows – Instead of viewing themselves with shame, individuals begin to understand their behaviour as an attempt to cope with pain.
Emotional resilience strengthens – By processing old wounds, clients develop healthier ways to regulate feelings without needing substances.
Authentic self emerges – As unconscious conflicts are brought into awareness, individuals rediscover who they are beyond the addiction.
By identifying these underlying dynamics, individuals can begin to understand their addiction not as a personal failure, but as a coping strategy that once served a purpose—but no longer does.
A Compassionate Perspective
Psychodynamic therapy honours the complexity of addiction. It does not reduce a person to their behaviour, nor does it ignore the real pain that fuels it. Instead, it offers a pathway to deeper healing—helping individuals understand their story, reclaim their voice, and move toward a life of authenticity and freedom.
1. Breaking the Cycle of Automatic Behaviour
Addictive behaviours often happen on autopilot: the craving arises, and the individual reaches for a drink, a pill, or a behaviour without conscious choice. Mindfulness interrupts this cycle. By learning to pause, notice the craving, and observe it without immediately reacting, individuals begin to regain control.
2. Managing Cravings Without Resistance
One of the paradoxes of addiction recovery is that the harder we fight cravings, the stronger they can feel. Mindfulness teaches people to sit with urges—acknowledging them, noticing how they rise and fall, and allowing them to pass like waves. This practice reduces the power cravings hold and helps prevent relapse.
3. Healing the Nervous System
Addiction often dysregulates the nervous system, keeping people stuck in cycles of stress, anxiety, or emotional numbness. Mindfulness practices such as breath awareness, body scans, or gentle movement help calm the nervous system, creating a sense of stability and safety in the body.
4. Developing Emotional Awareness
Many who struggle with addiction find it difficult to recognise or tolerate their emotions. Substances and behaviours become a way to avoid feelings of sadness, anger, loneliness, or fear. Mindfulness helps individuals notice emotions as they arise, name them, and create space to respond instead of react. Over time, this builds resilience and emotional intelligence.
5. Reducing Shame and Self-Criticism
Addiction often brings feelings of guilt and shame, which can fuel the cycle of relapse. Mindfulness encourages self-compassion—learning to observe thoughts and feelings without judgment. This shift helps individuals see themselves not as “bad” or “broken,” but as human beings learning and healing.
6. Strengthening Relapse Prevention
Mindfulness is a core component of relapse prevention because it helps individuals:
Notice early warning signs of stress or triggers.
Create a pause between craving and action.
Choose healthier coping strategies in difficult moments.
Addiction never affects just one person—it reverberates through the entire family system. In psychodynamic family therapy, we examine how unspoken rules, generational patterns, and family roles contribute to the cycle of addiction.
For example, families may unconsciously adopt roles such as the enabler, the hero, the scapegoat, or the lost child. These roles often develop as ways to cope with unresolved family trauma or dysfunction. Unfortunately, they can unintentionally keep addiction alive by preventing honest communication and emotional healing.
By exploring these dynamics, families can begin to see the bigger picture of how addiction has taken hold—and how each member has been affected. This deeper awareness allows families to:
Break free from destructive cycles of blame, denial, or enabling.
Create healthier boundaries that support recovery rather than sabotage it.
Begin healing long-standing wounds that may predate the addiction itself.
Family therapy that I offer isn't exclusively related to addiction, I also help navigate bereavement communication breakdowns, betrayal, infidelity, and various other aspects that detach family members from each other and the family dynamic.
Addiction often places enormous strain on relationships. Partners can become caught in cycles of mistrust, resentment, or enabling behaviours without even realising it. In couples therapy, I will provide a framework for both partners to identify these unhelpful patterns and learn healthier ways of communicating.
Together, we examine the thoughts each partner holds about themselves and the relationship—such as “They’ll never change” or “I’m to blame for their relapse.” By addressing these beliefs, couples can begin to rebuild trust, set healthy boundaries, and work as a team against the addiction rather than against each other. The goal is not only recovery from substance use, but also recovery of connection, intimacy, and mutual respect.
Couples therapy that I offer isn't exclusively related to addiction, I also specialise in navigating bereavement communication breakdowns, betrayal, infidelity, and various other aspects that detach one another from our once united goals and therefore help reignite the love that feels abandoned.
Addiction is not only a physical or chemical dependency—it is also a deeply ingrained set of thought patterns, emotional responses, and behavioural habits. Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) is a therapeutic approach that focuses on how we process experiences, use language, and create internal “programs” that shape our behaviour. In addiction recovery, NLP helps individuals rewire the way they think, feel, and respond to cravings, triggers, and life challenges.
Understanding NLP in the Context of Addiction
At its core, NLP is based on the idea that our brain works like a highly adaptable system. Much like software can be reprogrammed, our thoughts and behaviours can be updated to create healthier patterns. In addiction, many unconscious mental “programs” keep the cycle going—for example:
Associating stress relief with drinking or using.
Linking social connection with substance use.
Replaying internal stories like “I can’t cope without it” or “I’m destined to fail.”
NLP helps interrupt these automatic associations and replace them with empowering alternatives.
1. Reframing Limiting Beliefs
Many people struggling with addiction hold deep-seated beliefs such as “I’m powerless,” “I don’t deserve happiness,” or “I can’t live without using.” NLP techniques help uncover and challenge these limiting beliefs, reframing them into empowering truths like “I am capable of change” and “I have choice.” This shift creates a stronger foundation for recovery.
2. Managing Cravings and Triggers
NLP uses visualization and anchoring techniques to change the way the brain responds to cravings. For instance, a craving can be reframed by linking it with unpleasant imagery, or replaced with an anchored state of calm or strength. Over time, this reduces the emotional pull of addictive urges.
3. Changing Automatic Behaviours
Addiction often operates on autopilot—people reach for a substance before they even consciously think about it. NLP teaches strategies to “break state” and interrupt these unconscious patterns, giving individuals more space to choose a healthier response.
4. Building Motivation and Future Vision
Recovery can feel overwhelming when viewed only as giving something up. NLP helps shift focus toward what is being gained: health, freedom, connection, and self-respect. Techniques like “future pacing” allow individuals to vividly imagine a life beyond addiction, strengthening motivation to follow through.
5. Enhancing Communication and Relationships
Recovery can feel overwhelming when viewed only as giving something up. NLP helps shift focus toward what is being gained: health, freedom, connection, and self-respect. Techniques like “future pacing” allow individuals to vividly imagine a life beyond addiction, strengthening motivation to follow through.
A Compassionate Perspective
Addiction often convinces people that they are stuck, broken, or powerless. NLP therapy offers a different perspective: that the mind is adaptable, capable, and resourceful. By learning how to “reprogram” old thought patterns and create new responses, individuals rediscover their ability to make conscious choices, regain control, and move forward into recovery with confidence.My NLP approach isn't exclusive to addiction, it also helps embrace change and true personal authenticity in all aspects of life.