About Me

Hi, I’m Ilaria (she/her)

At Sober Rebel, I will help you to understand the problems that alcohol tried to solve for you, the reason why it became a solution and tap on them so that you can transform your life, free yourself from the crutch that alcohol became and feel confident and empowered without the need of anything external.

EFT can help you address and release all the emotional contributing factors that led you to develop your drinking problem and, as a result, help you to maintain your sobriety and successfully navigate life in a society where alcohol is ever-present.

Testimonials

I feel blessed and grateful that I had the chance to work with you. I learned a lot! And I got to that place of peace with alcohol. I feel solid enough to do that right now without falling back into previous habits. The sessions with you have allowed me to gain some awareness, and I continue to gain more as time passes. Without your guidance, I would not be where I am today. I appreciate your kindness for making me feel like you care and I matter.

A.P., Colorado, USA

I am so thankful to have found Ilaria because I have been concerned about my drinking habits for many years and was starting to feel the detrimental effects on my physical and mental health. I loved Ilaria’s structured approach, which made me take a serious look at my relationship with alcohol without feeling judged in any way. For the first time in my life, I felt empowered and motivated to make a start, and throughout the regular Skype sessions, her compassion and continuing support made it so much easier for me to stay focused on my goals. My energy levels and sleep patterns have improved, and I feel far happier than I have in many years. Thank you once again.

A.E., Northern Ireland, UK

Before going to Ilaria, I had so much fear about what a life without alcohol could look like, and even though I knew that I had to stop drinking, I wasn’t happy about it, to put it mildly. The sessions I had with her changed that for me. She allowed me to be me and tap through all my worries, fears, triggers, and so many memories that I had that I didn’t even know had such a significant impact on my life. I wouldn’t be where I am now if it had not been for my sessions with her. And now, I know how to use tapping correctly on myself, which is a big bonus.

K.D., London, UK

My philosophy

If alcohol has become a problem for you, whatever your drinking level, I believe that your habit or compulsion is only the external symptom of a more deep-seated issue, or issues, it is a solution to a problem that was already there.

If alcohol has become a problem for you, whatever your drinking level, I believe that your habit or compulsion is only the external symptom of a more deep-seated issue or issue; it is a solution to a problem that was already there.

When I stopped drinking, I realised that quitting drinking was only the tip of the iceberg because once the “crutch” was gone, all the underlying issues came floating back to the surface. I believe that unless we deal with those, we can’t consider ourselves to be “free”.

When the lid of alcohol is gone, you are left with everything that was bubbling below the surface, and it’s coming up in different ways, in different directions and different areas of your life.

It’s now time to address your emotional recovery, to attend to those parts of yourself that need attention and that were buried by the alcohol.

I am invested in providing trauma-informed care and creating a safe and welcoming space for anyone in the LGBTQA+ and gender-expansive community.

I am excited to help you and it would be my honour to be a part of your journey

Why I am passionate about helping you

I am a Trauma-Informed Therapeutic Coach, and I have extensive experience in supporting people with varied mental health issues, such as anxiety, stress, depression, PTSD and traumas.

What brought me here is a long journey which has seen me struggling with depression, compulsive eating disorder and alcohol abuse and has then seen me coming to the other side as a more robust and better person. Finally, deciding to get to the root of my discomfort made all the difference, and that’s what led me to a journey of self-discovery and healing, which I could not have experienced without EFT.

As an adolescent, I suffered from a lack of self-confidence and self-worth. Being a compassionate human (which I only discovered years later) meant I used to feel everything too much. I remember thinking at some stage that I felt like I had no skin and that everyone could hurt me however they wanted, either on purpose or with carelessness and lack of consideration. I became an excellent people pleaser.

There is nothing better to avoid pain than trying to be what other people want you to be. At the same time, I started to find comfort in food. That made me feel “better” for a while; then I found alcohol, the most easily accessible and socially accepted anaesthetic, potion for all problems, and the new “me” was born.

Pushing the pain down always forces it back to the surface, like trying to hold a balloon underwater.

When I started to look at my coping mechanisms, I managed to identify where my discomfort stemmed from, and it took me a few years to get to where I am now. I tried different therapies, and I gained something from all of them, but EFT is the one that made the most significant difference in my life because it allowed me to go deeper quickly. Now, I feel more connected with myself than I have ever felt.

What gives me incredible joy is the honour of working with other people on their journeys. Everyone is different, but we have something in common. We all need some help at some stage in our lives, and being even a tiny part of someone’s journey gives me the energy to wake up with a smile and hope in my heart.

I support gender diversity and welcome members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

I am a fully insured and certified Professional Development Coach, an Advanced Level Certified Practitioner, and a Matrix Reimprinting and NLP Practitioner.

I am an Advanced Accredited Practitioner with EFT International, the leading international professional association for EFT. As a result, I engage in annual Continuous Personal Development training courses and regularly undergo mentoring and supervision.