Everything you need to live your best no-alcohol / low-alcohol lifestyle.
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 an accredited Grey Area Drinking Coach who supports women in midlife? In this Beyond the Bio interview, Sarah Rusbatch shares her 29 years as a grey area drinker, how she changed her relationship with alcohol in April 2019, and how that led her to train as a coach and build the support she wished she’d had.
As an Accredited Grey Area Drinking Coach and Menopause Coach, Sarah combines neuroscience, nervous system regulation and behaviour change with her own lived experience. Her online programs, including the 30-Day Alcohol Reset Challenge, support women in midlife, mostly in their 40s, 50s and 60s, who want better sleep, more energy and less anxiety.
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 the UK and started drinking around the age of 14 to ‘fit in’. I worked in the recruitment industry in my 20s, worked hard and partied even harder! After having children, the mummy wine culture kicked in. By 2017, my life looked “fine” from the outside. I was a busy working mum juggling work, kids, housework and exercise, and at the end of every day a glass of wine was how I switched off. Inside, I was exhausted and heading straight for burnout. My anxiety was creeping up, my sleep was poor, my hormones were changing, and I was battling fatigue, irritability, weight gain and low mood.
I wasn’t an “alcoholic”. I didn’t drink every day, and I could take breaks. I just couldn’t stay stopped; my drinking always crept right back. Eventually I realised alcohol had become my solution for stress, overwhelm, loneliness, sadness and pretty much any uncomfortable emotion I ever felt. I’d been a grey area drinker for 29 years, and I didn’t need to hit rock bottom to know I wanted something different.
In April 2019 I changed my relationship with alcohol for good, and I’ve never looked back. My sleep, anxiety, energy and clarity all improved, and I felt more connected to myself than I had in years. I also saw how many women were quietly stuck in exactly the same grey area I’d been in, with nowhere that felt right to turn. That’s what led me to train as a coach and build the support I wish I’d had.
Now let’s cover off on the credentials – what makes you qualified to work in this specialised field of coaching?
If I was to work with you, what should I expect?
All of my programs are online, so women can join from anywhere in Australia, New Zealand or the rest of the world, with support across time zones. Most women start with my 30-Day Alcohol Reset Challenge. It’s a structured, daily program that teaches the science of how alcohol affects women’s brains and bodies, gives you practical tools for stress, emotions and cravings, and includes daily coaching, accountability and a really supportive community. It’s not about willpower or white-knuckling. It’s about understanding why you drink and building a life you don’t need to escape from.
From there, women can keep going with Rediscovering Me 2.0 (reconnecting with your values, boundaries, purpose, fun and identity after alcohol), Thrive After 40 (women’s health, nutrition, metabolism and menopause), The Hub membership for ongoing support, and the RESET app for daily support on your phone. My free Women’s Wellbeing Collective community is a great first step if you’re just curious. I work alongside a team of coaches, so there’s always someone in your corner.
My approach is science + psychology + heart. I blend neuroscience, nervous system regulation and behaviour change with my own lived experience, and there is never any shame. Self-sabotage is usually self-protection, and lasting change comes from self-awareness, compassion and small repeated actions, not perfection.
What sort of people do you normally work with?
I work with women in midlife, mostly in their 40s, 50s and 60s, across Australia and around the world. They’re often professionals, business owners, mums and carers, and many are going through perimenopause or menopause. On the outside they’re highly capable; on the inside they feel exhausted, anxious, flat or disconnected. A lot of them are having a glass or two of wine most nights to cope.
They don’t see themselves as “alcoholics”, and they’re right. They’re grey area drinkers or sober curious women who want better sleep, more energy, less anxiety and to feel like themselves again.
Why would I choose you to work with?
Because I’ve been exactly where my clients are. I spent 29 years in the grey area, so I understand the “busy but bored”, “functional but unfulfilled” feeling from the inside, and I pair that lived experience with formal accreditation in both grey area drinking and menopause.
That combination matters. Perimenopause changes how our bodies handle alcohol, and it affects sleep, anxiety and mood. My programs are designed specifically for women in midlife, so we look at hormones, the nervous system and emotional wellbeing together, not just the drink in your hand. Changing your relationship with alcohol isn’t only about removing something from your life. It’s about rebuilding your wellbeing and reconnecting with the woman you really are. And you won’t do it alone: you’ll be part of a community of thousands of women doing the same thing.
How can people wanting to work with you get in touch?
Website: sarahrusbatch.com
Book a free 15-minute discovery call: slrwellness.as.me
30-Day Alcohol Reset Challenge: programs.sarahrusbatch.com/alcohol-reset
Instagram: @sarahrusbatch
Facebook: facebook.com/sarahrusbatchcoach
Podcast: Stronger, Bolder, Wiser
Email: hello@sarahrusbatch.com
NoLo Life thanks Sarah Rusbatch 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.
