Ditched the Drink

Ditched the Drink is an online sober coaching platform designed specifically for women, founded and led by Heather Lowe, a certified sober coach and business mentor. The service combines 1:1 coaching, self-paced courses, and a paid community for women who are questioning their relationship with alcohol or are already committed to sobriety. The company frames itself as distinct from traditional recovery spaces, marketing to "high-achieving women" who may not relate to 12-step programs or other conventional treatment models. Heather Lowe holds credentials in life coaching and sobriety coaching (BSW, CPRC, CPC, CFAA-HR, PHR) and reports working 1:1 with over 300 women and reaching thousands more through community, newsletters, speaking, and events.

What you get

The platform offers four main pathways to work with Ditched the Drink: the community membership (INSIDER), a self-paced digital course (Jumpstart), 1:1 coaching (Becoming), and business mentorship (Dare to Dream Collective) for those wanting to become sober coaches themselves. The INSIDER membership costs $34 per month with a free trial available. Members receive twice-weekly group coaching calls with replays always available, access to a private 24/7 app, a growing library of 30+ masterclasses, weekly coaching prompts, yoga nidra meditation curated for an alcohol-free journey, a members-only chat community, IRL retreats, and first access to new programs and discounts. The membership is self-paced and judgment-free, and members can participate as much or as little as they want.

The Jumpstart digital course is a self-paced, 42-day program designed for women who are quietly questioning their drinking relationship. The course features daily videos described as motivational and educational. It does not include community or ongoing coaching but is billed as an alternative for someone who wants structured guidance without the group aspect. No pricing is listed on the main pages.

The 1:1 coaching option is called "Becoming" and consists of 12 weeks of private coaching with a proven framework, including personalized strategy, between-session support, and optional Human Design readings plus custom Yoga Nidra sessions for deeper insight. The site offers a free consultation to discuss whether this is the right fit. No pricing is published for this tier.

The fourth option is Dare to Dream Collective, described as co-ed business mentorship and a mastermind community for alcohol-free entrepreneurs and those wanting to build or expand a sober coaching practice. Heather Lowe offers professional certification and business coaching for women interested in becoming coaches themselves or adding these tools to their practice. No pricing or program length is specified on the public site.

Beyond the formal programs, Ditched the Drink publishes Permission to Pause, a free private podcast described as a 5-part audio series designed for women who are quietly questioning and softly exploring sobriety, without pressure or commitment to full sobriety. The site also offers a free newsletter ("Weeklyish Thoughts") with first looks at new offerings, early access to programs, exclusive discounts, and reflections from Lowe's own alcohol-free journey. The site does not specify a wait list for 1:1 coaching or typical timeline to start any program.

Credentials and recognition

Heather Lowe's credentials are listed as BSW, CPRC, CPC, CFAA-HR, and PHR. The site describes her as a certified sober coach and certified life coach but does not expand on what each credential requires, what they regulate, or which are recognized by state licensing boards. The platform does not clarify whether the 1:1 coaching or group coaching constitutes clinical treatment, counseling, or coaching, nor does it state whether Heather Lowe is licensed in any state.

The site reports numerous accolades: Sober Coach of the Year by Sans Bar Academy, Top Sober Coach by Coach Foundation, Top Life Coach for Addiction and Recovery by Life Coach Magazine, Most Influential Person and Favorite Support Community in the Alcohol-Free Space by AFter Magazine, and inclusion on FeedSpot's Top 100 Sober Coaches list. No dates or years are provided for these awards. The site features numerous testimonials from members describing breakthrough experiences, with representative claims like "Being free of alcohol is one of the best things I've ever done in my life," "Heather helped me identify the triggers for my drinking," and "I felt like I could be 100% vulnerable and not feel judged." Most testimonials include first names only.

What is and is not published

The site does not publish pricing for Jumpstart, Becoming (1:1 coaching), or the Dare to Dream Collective. Only the INSIDER community has a listed price: $34 per month. No information is given about contract length, cancellation policies, or refund policies. The site does not state whether the $34 membership price increases after a trial period or whether it is the permanent rate.

The site does not name specific mental health conditions it addresses beyond the general phrase "sober-curious" and alcohol's impact on your life. It does not state whether 1:1 coaching or group coaching covers anxiety, depression, trauma, medication management, or other conditions often co-occurring with substance use. The platform is explicitly a sober coaching service, not clinical treatment, and makes no claim to be equivalent to therapy or counseling. The site does not address controlled substances, medication-assisted treatment, or medication management for co-occurring conditions.

Ditched the Drink does not specify any state limitations; it describes Heather Lowe as "Chicago-based" but says she serves "women everywhere," implying no geographic restriction. However, the site does not explicitly state that services are available nationwide or in all 50 states. The site does not address whether virtual coaching is available in all states or whether any state restrictions apply to business mentorship or coaching certification programs.

No success rate, completion rate, or clinical outcome data are published. The testimonials are anecdotal and unverified beyond a first name. The site does not provide a research basis for the methods used or any evidence that the approach works better than other recovery models.

Who it fits and who it does not

Ditched the Drink is best suited to a woman who is questioning her relationship with alcohol or has decided to quit, identifies as high-achieving or professional, and prefers a community-focused coaching model over individual clinical therapy or 12-step programs. The emphasis on women-only spaces, privacy, and judgment-free support suggests it appeals to someone who feels misfit in traditional recovery settings or is not yet ready for a formal program label. The flexibility to engage as much or as little as desired within the INSIDER membership attracts someone who wants support without rigid structure or scheduling.

It is not a clinical mental health treatment platform and should not be confused with therapy or psychiatry. Someone with acute mental health crisis, suicidal ideation, or severe co-occurring conditions should seek licensed clinical care, not coaching. It is not designed for men, though the Dare to Dream Collective is co-ed for business mentorship. Someone requiring medication management, psychiatric care, or evidence-based addiction treatment protocols should look elsewhere.

The lack of published pricing for 1:1 coaching and the courses makes it difficult for someone on a tight budget to evaluate affordability. Someone needing insurance coverage or who cannot pay out-of-pocket cannot use this service. The emphasis on high-achieving women, while inclusive by design, may not resonate with or accurately serve women in poverty, without stable housing, or in crisis. The coaching credential structure varies by jurisdiction, and unlike licensed clinical social workers or licensed counselors, sober coaches may not have regulated training or legal standing in all states. Someone wanting treatment recognized by their insurance company, employer assistance program, or court system should check whether Ditched the Drink qualifies before enrolling.