Have you ever felt like you understand the basic concepts of recovery but need help implementing them in your day-to-day life? Recovery coaching services can be very useful in these sorts of situations. This care provides personalized assistance so you get advice that works for you. If you think you could benefit from a recovery coach, here’s what you need to know.
What Is a Recovery Coach?
Also called a sober coach or an addiction coach, a recovery coach is a type of professional that provides ongoing assistance while you work to get sober. Different coaches specialize in different fields, but overall, they help you stay sober and improve your life. Coaches can assist you with your job, housekeeping, family, romantic relationships, and more.
Coaches are not licensed therapists or psychiatrists, but they have far more training than the sponsors you’ll find at an AA program. The main goal of a coach is to provide mentorship while helping patients overcome obstacles. A coach does not make decisions for you or provide therapy for you. However, they ensure you have ongoing support and help you get appropriate care throughout your journey.
Here are some examples of the ways a coach will help their client.
- Suggesting diet and exercise changes that could be beneficial
- Identifying potential sobriety roadblocks you might want to address
- Providing emotional support as you deal with challenges
- Recommending new communication techniques to try
- Listening sympathetically to your struggles
- Assisting you with finding 12-step meetings and other treatment options
- Letting you know about harmful behavioral patterns they notice
- Guiding you through the process of setting sobriety goals
- Giving tips for how to handle tricky situations
Recovery Coach Types
Some coaches provide generalized assistance, but others specialize in certain subjects. If you are struggling with a particular area of your life, it can be helpful to consider these types of coaching programs.
Re-entry Coaching
These coach types are helpful if you are just starting to re-enter society after a long stint in rehab. They specialize in easing the transition for their clients. Your coach might help you do things like find a sober living house or get a new job. They’ll also help with sobriety-related issues like finding a new therapist or giving you tips for remembering to take your medication.
Relationship Coaching
Relationship coaches often specialize in the relationship between spouses. However, some can also help you with dating and friendships. A relationship coach aims to help you learn how to interact with people healthily. Addiction often destroys relationships, so your coach can assist you with making amends, learning healthy communication patterns, and starting new relationships.
Family Coaching
These coaches help you to rebuild your family following addiction. They often help to facilitate interactions with family members and assist you with regaining trust. Family coaching can identify parenting skills you need to learn, suggest interactions to help strengthen bonds and find other ways to enhance your familiar relationships.
Sobriety Coaching
This type of coach focuses on helping clients with sobriety. They may help you create a sobriety plan or remain on-call when you feel triggered to abuse substances. Some sobriety coaches even provide companionship when navigating social events, grocery stores, or other sobriety challenges.
How to Choose a Good Recovery Coach
When looking for recovery coaches, asking what types of services the coach provides is often helpful. As you can see, many different coach types exist, so you need one that works with your needs. Consider whether you want a practical coach offering clear-cut advice in scheduled sessions or a coach engaging your emotions and socializing with you.
Take the time to meet with the coach and ask about details like how long they coach for and how they interact with clients. It can also be helpful to request testimonials from past clients or see which reputable organizations the coach works with. Good coaches often have certifications from organizations like The International Coach Federation or The International Association of Professional Recovery Coaches.
If you want recovery coaching services, turn to Mind Body Wellness. This innovative mental wellness facility combines traditional clinical techniques with holistic care. Whether dealing with mental health, addiction, or co-occurring conditions, this facility helps you rebuild your life and improve your well-being. In addition to coaching, the Mind Body Wellness outpatient program offers options like EMDR, ketamine therapy, and TMS. To get started on your path to recovery, call Mind Body Wellness today.
