Sober Coach For Women: Meet Melise Ammit

Beyond the Bio Interview Series

Ever wondered what inspires Alcohol Behaviour Change (ABC) coaches to do what they do?

In the Beyond the Bio Interview Series, we go beyond the professional profile to meet the people helping Australians and New Zealanders positively change their relationship with alcohol. We explore their backgrounds, approaches and techniques — and, importantly, what motivates them to do this life-changing work.

Why you’ll love this interview

Looking for insight into the work of a Sober Coach with lived experience and a research background in women’s alcohol use? In this Beyond the Bio interview, Melise Ammit shares her own journey to sobriety, her PhD research into women’s experiences of accessing treatment, and how that led her to create flexible, individualised sober coaching for women.

Sober Coach For Women: Meet Melise Ammit

As a Sober Coach with postgraduate qualifications in Clinical Education and Alcohol and Other Drug Nursing, Melise combines lived experience with clinical training and ongoing PhD research into women’s experiences of accessing alcohol treatment. Her work focuses on providing flexible, personalised support to women juggling work, study and family life who want to change their relationship with alcohol.

Hit us with the personal stuff first, we’re intrigued to learn more about your own background and experience with alcohol?

I grew up in Sydney, was sporty, and spent a lot of my younger years being social and enjoying life with friends. As a teenager, I decided to pursue nursing, which went on to become my career. Like many girls of my generation, alcohol (and cigarettes) was a normal part of life and socialising. Over the years there were periods when I drank more and periods when I drank less, but eventually both I and the people around me recognised that my drinking had become problematic.

Around 20 years ago, I decided to seek treatment and was introduced to the idea of abstinence, I have been sober since. While I understand that approach isn’t right for everyone, it has worked well for me and has enabled me to build a career, gain further qualifications, and undertake a PhD focused on women and alcohol use disorders.

Through both my research and professional experience, I’ve seen how shame and uncertainty about where to find support can be significant barriers to seeking help. That’s why I developed sober coaching for women: to provide a flexible, discreet, and accessible option that fits around the realities of work, study, family life, and the many competing demands women often face.

Now let’s cover off on the credentials – what makes you qualified to work in this specialised field of coaching?

I have postgraduate qualifications in Clinical Education and Alcohol and Other Drug Nursing. I currently work as a Casual Academic and am completing a PhD focused on women’s experiences of accessing treatment for problematic alcohol use, at a university in Sydney. In addition to my professional and academic background, I bring lived experience of changing my own relationship with alcohol, which gives me a practical understanding of both the challenges and possibilities involved in making change.

If I was to work with you, what should I expect?

You can expect daily, personalised support and a practical approach focused on achieving your alcohol-related goals from the very first session. I keep my programs short and affordable so I can provide individualised support rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

My style is straightforward, collaborative, and task-oriented. Together, we identify what you want to change, develop practical strategies that fit your life, and focus on taking realistic steps towards your goals. Whether your aim is moderation, harm reduction, or abstinence, the focus is on finding an approach that works for you and supporting you to put it into practice.

What sort of people do you normally work with?

I mostly work with women who are juggling a lot. They might be working, studying, raising children, caring for family members, or managing all of those things at once. Often they’re finding that alcohol is taking up more space in their lives than they’d like and they’re looking for support to make a change. Because life is busy, I try to be flexible with appointments and can often offer evenings or weekends.

Why would I choose you to work with?

I think that’s really up to the individual, but I bring a combination of professional experience, current research, and lived experience. I’ve worked in the alcohol and other drug field for many years and understand that there’s no single approach that works for everyone. I only work with one or two women at a time, so I’m able to provide a level of support that isn’t possible with larger programs or online courses. During the first week of any program, you’ll hear from me every day. I don’t use automated content – support is provided individually by phone or zoom, and it’s tailored to what’s happening in your life.

How can people wanting to work with you get in touch?

The easiest way is through my website, www.sobercoaching.com.au where you can find out more about me and my programs, and book a session.

NoLo Life thanks Melise for giving us deeper insight into her life and coaching practice.

You can review profiles of other ABC Coaches and Therapists in our Individual Support Directory.