I have had plenty of counseling, enough to know that there were childhood issues - loss of my sister, and primary caregivers, absentee father, divorce, etc. I drank initially to overcome my attachment disorder, shyness and anxiety - but it became a regular habit. Once established, the shame from it, as well as relationship problems and codependency became toxic. By then I wasn't drinking that much, but it didn't matter because I couldn't stop, and once you're in the addiction, other disorders or problems cannot be resolved.
Many of us used alcohol to numb ourselves from other issues but eventually it takes over and nothing else gets resolved until you can quit.