According to NIH Medicine Plus, one in every 10 persons who is at least 12-years-old suffers from an addiction or dependence to drugs/alcohol. This means you should not feel alone in your struggle. More importantly, you should take comfort in knowing that millions get help each year and establish a drug- and alcohol-free life for themselves, and you can do the same. To ensure you get the most out of your treatment program and recovery as a whole, you might want to consider hiring a recovery coach.
The primary responsibility of a recovery coach is to help ensure that you stay actively involved in your recovery. Most times, recovery coaches meet with their clients before treatment begins, and once it is over, they assist in making decisions that positively affect clients’ lives. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, there are four primary aspects that must be addressed in order for a successful recovery to take place:
- Health
- Home
- Purpose
- Community
A recovery coach addresses each of the above mentioned aspects even after a treatment program has ended.
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How do recovery coaches work?
Many people become confused about what it is that a recovery coach does. This type of professional may or may not help you find a rehab program, and regardless of the one you enter into, the coach does not stay with you; however, he or she may maintain some type of contact with you through treatment. You should not misinterpret a recovery coach as a sponsor or therapist. The goal of a recovery coach is to stay in contact with you on a daily basis and help you solve any issues that become present. Take for instance that your job requires you to attend a banquet where alcohol will be served. Your recovery coach would tag along with you to ensure you are not spending too much time close to the bar, which would likely result in a relapse.
Recovery coaches also assist with the following matters:
- Choosing where to rent or buy a home
- Finding a job
- Helping you steer clear of bad influences
- Avoiding triggers
Some recovery coaches even go on vacation with their clients, especially those who are in the early stages of recovery. Being in close contact with each client is paramount to the success that a recovery coach can bring to a client’s recovery, which is why many recovery coaches work with only one to two clients at any given time.
Difference between a therapist and recovery coach
Both a therapist and recovery coach will have been highly trained to understand the ins and outs of addiction; however, your recovery coach will be much more accessible than a therapist. No matter the time of day or night, you will be able to speak with your recovery coach. A therapist is ideal if you are working through past issues such as domestic or sexual abuse. In fact, a therapist helps you deal with your past, while a recovery coach acts as an aide for helping you establish a bright future.
Difference between a sponsor and recovery coach
In order to acquire services from a recovery coach, you will likely have to pay the person. After all, this is what the he or she does for a living. The cost of a recovery coach isn’t cheap, as the person is usually accessible to you 24/7. The coach might even live with you during early recovery. A sponsor, however, does not get paid. He or she will meet with you at 12-step meetings, providing advice on how to stay clean. You may or may not meet up with this person for lunch or recreational activities that the local 12-step chapter hosts.
It’s all about helping you enjoy life
If you are miserable with your life, you are much more likely to relapse. With a happy and enjoyable life, though, you’ll likely stay clean. A recovery coach provides advice and suggestions to you about all areas of life, always focusing on decisions that will improve your quality of life. Your coach will assess your strengths and weaknesses, providing you with the resources and support you need to stay clean.
Creating a long-term plan
When you go to treatment, a substance abuse specialist will create a recovery plan for you, including an aftercare regimen. However, aftercare may only be planned out for a time period of six to 12 months. What happens after 12 months has passed? You’ll still be in early recovery, and this is why a recovery coach is so valuable. He or she can create a long-term aftercare plan, always centering the recommendations around the goals that you want to achieve.
What qualifies a person to be a recovery coach?
Just because a person says he is a recovery coach doesn’t mean its true. A qualified recovery coach will be someone who has had in-depth training in both coaching and addiction. The person may or may not be a recovering addict as well, and this doesn’t really matter as long as the training has been obtained and the person is remaining clean and sober.
Who needs a recovery coach?
If you find yourself asking ” do I need a recovery coach ” then you’ll definitely want to take several factors into consideration. If you answer yes to any of the following questions, then a recovery coach will be beneficial to you:
- Have you went through treatment before and not successfully maintained recovery?
- Does stress largely influence your ability to stay sober?
- Do you feel that a recovery coach will be beneficial to you?
- Do you have a history of relapse?
We are here to help
If you are interested in finding a recovery coach, we have a vast directory that you can use as a go-to resource. We can also assist in finding a rehab center, including facilities that provide extended care, short-term and outpatient services. And keep in mind that many of the treatment centers that we connect you with accept a variety of insurance plans, meaning you may be able to have a portion or all of your associated expenses paid for.