
Welcome to Day 1 Coach
Less alcohol, more of the life you want.
Karen Cairnduff, RN
Certified Coach

Karen Cairnduff, RN
Certified Coach
Day 1 Coach has been created for women who are looking for private support to change their relationship with alcohol. Coaching is one to one, and personalised to meet each client's individual needs and unique circumstances.
If you have found yourself in an unhealthy relationship with alcohol, you might be frustrated with how difficult it can be to change and feel uncomfortable about seeking help. This is not a weakness or failing, alcohol change can be complex, so it's important to find the right support that will work for you. Your thoughts and feelings about your drinking are personal, and so it's understandable that you want to keep things discreet and confidential.
There are many reasons why professional women can drift into a middle-area drinking pattern. Feeling trapped in a cycle with alcohol is often the point when we know things need to change. One to one coaching can help you to understand more about why you drink, why it is diffcult to change, and how to use strategies that will work for you, now and in the future.
Trying to change your drinking can be an exhausting and isolating experience. I hope to change that by offering coaching, support and connection for women who are choosing to change their drinking and get more out of life.
I work with women who are not clinically dependent on alcohol, but they are concerned they are probably drinking too much, too often, and relying more on alcohol to help them relax, socialise or cope with stress.
What you may be noticing:
- Drinking more than you planned to
- Not sleeping well
- Being unhappy with your drinking
- Not achieving goals
- Cancelling plans
- Drinking alongside stress
- Worried about burnout
- Concerned about how your drinking patterns are changing.
If you’re unhappy about how your relationship with alcohol has changed, private coaching can give you the support you need to rethink alcohol, so you can regain control and feel more like yourself again.
I created Day 1 Coach to support women who are working in high pressure roles, managing the combined pressures of career and midlife stress, but relying on alcohol to relax, socialise, or just to cope.
This is a respectful, compassionate space for you to pause, think and explore what is important to you and how you want to change, with the benefit of evidence informed and personalised coaching guidance.
I use a blended approach:
- Breathwork, mindfulness and burnout prevention to find calm and build self compassion.
- Life coaching, reflection and learning to give you clarity and focus.
- Alcohol behaviour change strategies to bring alignment between your decision not to drink and your individual challenges.
- Connection and group support to maintain an alcohol free lifestyle.
I bring a range of skills and experience from three decades working as a senior nurse, certification as a life coach and accredited training in alcohol change.
My work is evidence informed and directed by what each client wants to focus on, so their decisions and choices are realistic and sustainable.
90-minutes
Private 1:1 session
£120
A single coaching session with Karen is a good choice if you are unsure about coaching and want to try it out first.
This can be valuable if you have a particular situation to work through, or need support for an upcoming event.
One off sessions are also helpful to review new opportunities during early sobriety.
Includes 1-month membership of The Connection group.
Live online group
Two 60 minute meetings per month. £30 monthly
A regular meeting for Day 1 Coach clients to connect, share experiences and learn together.
Facilitated sessions are alternated with focus topic workshops.
Example focus topics include alcohol and stress, burnout, menopause, nutrition, and sleep.
Sessions are live and not recorded.
This is a small, private group for ongoing support.
Exclusively for Day 1 Coach clients.
Personalised support
Private 1:1 sessions
£600
We start with a 90-minute session followed by five 60-minute sessions.
Individualised regular support. Each session builds towards your longer term goals.
Includes a personalised workbook, curated homework and bespoke mindfulness recordings.
Access to support and accountability between sessions.
Includes 4-months membership of The Connection group.
Preferred rates for NHS practitioners, please enquire.
1. Book your introductory conversation.
2. We talk confidentially online for about 30 minutes.
3. We both decide if my coaching feels right for you.
4. You will be able to consider the best option for you, in your own time.
5. Your coaching sessions will be booked flexibly to meet your needs.
6. You will have renewable membership of The Connection Group.

I don't like labels, but it’s helpful to recognise patterns of drinking that fall within the scope of coaching.
Coaching is not medical treatment, therapy or detox and it is not suitable for people with alcohol dependency.
Grey area drinking is an informal term used to describe drinking habits where the amount, frequency and personal impact of alcohol no longer feels comfortable or fully under control.
You may be thinking that your alcohol intake has changed, drinking is no longer giving you as many benefits, and you're more aware of problems it may be contributing to.
For many women, increased alcohol impacts negatively on sleep, emotions and energy. For some, anxiety and menopause symptoms can be worse with regular drinking.
Despite the impact alcohol can have on physical, emotional and mental wellbeing, grey area drinkers may be feeling increased reliance on alcohol to help relax, socialise or cope with stress.
If you‘re unhappy with your drinking, or concerned about how it’s affecting other areas of your life, let's have a conversation.
Sign up for the Day 1 Coach evidence informed newsletter.
Please contact me in confidence to enquire
Karen@day1coach.co.uk Telephone: 07356 224056
My work as a coach is private, and independent from my employment as a nurse/nurse teacher. As a registered nurse I only work within my scope of professional practice (Nursing & Midwifery Council code of conduct).
I understand why privacy and confidentiality are important. You can trust that our sessions together will be private and confidential, providing a non-judgemental space to explore your choices.
I am a trained coach. I do not offer coaching to people with alcohol use dependency, acute withdrawal or those in need of addiction recovery support.