Pia's Story

Pia Clinton-Tarestad is the co-founder and CEO of Clean Slate Clinic. But before she helped shape a service that’s now supported thousands of Australians, she was navigating her own private battle with alcohol. This is her story.

Pia grew up in Guernsey and, like many of us, was introduced to alcohol at a young age. By the time she entered the corporate world, drinking wasn’t just normal - it was expected.

“Corporate culture celebrated burning the candle at both ends - work hard, play hard - but no one talked about the personal cost. The access to free alcohol was out-of-control. I could attend a booze-laden client or internal event every night - and was often expected to. Add to this the frequent travel, with airport lounges opening their bars up at lunchtime - next time you’re in an airport lounge mid-afternoon, look around - you’ll see dozens of men and women in corporate wear making repeated trips to the bar.”

On paper, Pia’s life looked perfect. A thriving career in healthcare consulting. Leadership roles. The kind of CV that sparkles. But inside, it was a different story.

“I was excelling professionally, ticking all the boxes, but internally I was struggling. Despite working in the healthcare industry for 20 years, I had no clue how or where to look for help.”

By late 2019, she was drinking 1-2 bottles of wine a night. Sometimes she hid it by pre-loading before events. Other times she poured white wine into a mug during Zoom calls so it looked like tea.

“I distinctly remember sitting in an afternoon Zoom meeting, drinking white wine from a mug and realising that this really wasn’t normal.”

The shame was crushing. “There’s still so much stigma for professionals struggling with alcohol. It’s terrifying to think that being honest about it could cost you your career.”

For Pia, there was no dramatic rock bottom. No single incident that forced her hand. Instead, it was a series of quiet realisations - small moments that added up to a truth she couldn't ignore for any longer.

In 2020, after years of pushing herself to breaking point, Pia walked away from her corporate career. She and her fiancé packed up their lives, grabbed their dog, and set off in a caravan to explore Australia. 

At the same time, a piece of fate landed in her lap. Her best friend, Dr Chris Davis, asked if she’d help him get his virtual dependence treatment model off the ground. He had no idea that she was struggling with the exact same issue herself.

Testing the program was a wake-up call, particularly when Pia discovered that she met the criteria for a medicated detox. “That shocked even me,” she admits, now understanding the extent of her alcohol dependence. She then became “patient zero” in what would later become Clean Slate Clinic.

Pia went through detox and a full 12 months of aftercare. It wasn’t easy - recovery rarely is - but what surprised her most was how quickly the benefits began to appear.

“I knew I needed to stop, but I had this deficit mindset, which was ‘I need to stop because I’m tired of being tired, I’m scared of my increased cancer risk, I’m scared of my increased dementia risk, I’m getting older.’ I really hadn’t thought about the good stuff that would come. And there’s just so much good stuff, quite quickly as well. My anxiety, which was one of my main causes for picking up the bottle of wine every night, just disappeared. You feel this sense of control over your life. Life isn’t rainbows and unicorns all the time, but you can cope with everything so much better when you have clarity and good quality sleep.”

One of her favourite quotes sums it up with humour and truth: “I’ve never met a person who says they wish they’d stayed up later and drank more the night before.”

Today, Pia’s life feels grounded in purpose. She’s grateful for the unexpected chain of events that gave her the support she needed - support she didn’t know how to find, even after two decades in healthcare.

“I’m incredibly grateful for the serendipitous events that led to me getting the support I needed - I really don’t know where I’d be today had I not had that opportunity. I’m happy in the purpose I’ve found at Clean Slate Clinic - helping others in a similar situation brings me a lot of joy. Addressing my alcohol use has taken me on a journey of self-discovery that has brought me clarity, purpose and peace.”

She’s honest that life isn’t perfect. She still struggles with overcommitting and setting high expectations for herself - but now she has healthier ways to cope. Recovery didn’t erase life’s pressures, but it gave her the tools to face them head-on.

If you see yourself in Pia’s story, know this: recovery isn’t about what you lose - it’s about what you gain. Better sleep. Less anxiety. More peace. A sense of control you might not even remember having.

“There’s so much good stuff on the other side. I never expected that. And I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”