More than a staggering 20 million Americans battle at least one addiction, yet only 10% seek out treatment.
A crucial step in recovering from addiction is by joining an addiction treatment program. However, going through a program isn’t easy. Many people can feel isolated and overwhelmed during this period.
Fortunately, there are several aspects of a support system that can help patients through it. Sober coaching can play a huge role in helping addicts get back on their feet.
This article will explore everything you need to know about sober coaching services and the benefits they provide.
Keep reading to learn more.
What Is Sober Coaching?
A rehabilitation program has many different steps to help addicts recover and live healthy lifestyles. However, the journey doesn’t end when the program ends.
Recently, there has been an increase in recovery support services that provide more support to patients as they transition back into their natural environments. One of those services is a sober coach, also known as a recovery coach.
Their role is very clear: to provide patients with support for long-term recovery from substance abuse.
However, it is important to note that they provide non-clinical support. As opposed to clinical professionals, professionals in recovery coaching don’t need to have official or formally acquired credentials. They instead use their expertise and experiential knowledge to help maintain lasting sobriety.
This experience often comes from their own previous addiction experiences or from helping other patients recover from their addictions.
How Do Sober Coaches Aid In Addiction Recovery?
The sober coach becomes an advocate for the patient as they navigate the trials that come from the early stages of recovery. The main goal of the sober coach is to give them an actionable plan that can support their sober lifestyle.
When it comes to sober coaches, there are usually four different types of support that they provide their clients:
- Emotional support
- Informational support
- Instrumental support
- Affiliational support
Emotional support deals with any emotional concerns that the patient might have. This can include inspirational coaching, encouragement, or a simple partner to listen to their issues.
Informational support connects patients with resources that might help their recovery, like learning new skills or coping strategies for their addiction problems.
Instrumental support provides help with concrete tasks such as finding a job or a new place to live.
Lastly, affiliational support helps connect patients with other people and communities that can help them get the support they need on their recovery journey.
Let’s take a deeper look at some of the tasks a sober coach will help with that fall into each of these categories.
Set Plans and Goals for Recovery
Even though a patient might finish treatment, the path to recovery is far from over. It’s important to set realistic goals that they can focus on as well as actionable plans and strategies to aid them in the process. Sober coaches help by creating these plans based on strategies that are proven to work.
Finding Sober Housing
Depending on the client’s situation, they may need help finding a sober and supportive living environment where they can continue their recovery process. The sober coach can help in this process.
Improving Skills and Exploring New Hobbies
Once clients are back in the real world, it is important for them to refine the skills that will be needed to get a sustainable job in the real world. Their sober coach can help them narrow down what to focus on to get a job.
They can also help them find new, healthy hobbies that will help them during their recovery process.
Find New Peers
Oftentimes one of the main reasons that people fall into destructive, addictive habits is the company they choose to be around. Sober coaches can help them find new peers that will be healthy relationships to help aid their process.
Help Establish New Routines
After treatment for addiction, it takes time and discipline to build new routines. A sober coach can help them with several different aspects of this, including creating a sleeping schedule, encouraging a healthy diet, and reinforcing other positive habits.
Improves Family Dynamics
The sober coach will be heavily involved in helping their patient reintegrate with their families and friends. Family members might not be fully aware of the patient’s dysfunctional tendencies, so the sober coach will help create a healthy dynamic and living environment.
Provide Transportation to Recovery Services
After treatment, it’s crucial that patients continue to attend various care and recovery services consistently. A sober coach can help transport them or arrange transport for them to these appointments.
Can Attend 12-Step Meetings As Requested
In some situations, patients might need extra support during recovery meetings. Sober coaches can attend meetings with them and help them through the process.
Provide 24/7 Relapse Support On-Call
Relapse is a distinct possibility in the first few months after treatment. Sober coaches are responsible for giving their clients round-the-clock availability to help prevent any chance of this.
Additional Source of Accountability
Ultimately, it’s up to the patient to take ownership of their recovery. However, sober coaches are great partners that can help keep them accountable throughout the process.
The Difference Between Sober Coaches and Sober Companions
As mentioned earlier, there are several different types of roles that have been made recently that can help people maintain their recovery long after rehab. It’s important to be able to distinguish between similar roles to make sure that patients are receiving all the help they need.
For example, sober coaches are often mistaken for sober companions, but their roles are very different.
On one hand, a sober coach is a hired professional that helps aid long-term recovery for their clients. Oftentimes they have gone through the recovery process themselves, so they have experience helping patients through their recovery process. They are also professionally trained on the subject.
A sober companion, on the other hand, is more involved in a person’s daily life than a sober coach. They generally accompany the person throughout their day to help them through the recovery process while preventing relapse.
Who Might Benefit From Sober Coaching?
Sober coaches aren’t just for people who finish rehab. They are great for those that are going through various stages of the recovery journey.
They are great for people who:
- Don’t have a strong support network
- Live in a dangerous environment with many triggers
- Need more help in their daily lives
Let’s look at how they can help people in different stages of the recovery journey.
Pre-Decision Stage
Deciding to join residential treatment is a huge choice that people have to make. A sober coach can help walk a person through this big step by making them feel less isolated. They can walk the person through what might happen and alleviate any worries they have.
They should also be able to find a rehab center that fits their unique needs. Once they decide to take the big step, they can help walk them through the entry process.
During Treatment
During treatment, a sober coach might take on slightly different roles. They will always be there to advocate for you and help you build skills and habits that will help you maintain sobriety.
They can help patients manage any strong emotions that might come up during rehab and help them manage them properly.
After Treatment
Many luxury addiction recovery programs offer sober coaching for their aftercare programs. They work together with the rehab center to provide support, care, and privacy when the individual returns to their normal life.
They help them build life skills, strategies, and support to make sure that their recovery process continues smoothly.
Other Important Notes About Sober Coaches
Although sober coaches can be invaluable to the recovery process, the position is relatively new when it comes to addiction treatment. With that said, certain factors might be ambiguous about them.
First off, it’s important to note that sober coaches are not healthcare professionals. They do not hold medical degrees and cannot diagnose you or provide medical care.
Also, they are not addiction counselors or social workers. This role is much more informal and doesn’t require a degree in social work or counseling. One big difference is that addiction counselors often do not share much about themselves with their clients, but sober coaches are often encouraged to share their experiences to help you.
Lastly, sober coaches are not sponsors. They are not meant to uphold your sobriety. However, they will be there to help support you through rough transition stages.
Find the Help You Need Today
That’s everything you need to know about sober coaching. Although it is relatively new to the addiction treatment process, it can be an invaluable guide on your journey to sobriety.
If you’re looking for a supportive and effective sober community in Southern California, look no further than The Little Beach House. We provide a clean and sober living for those looking to transition back into the real world.
Reach out to us today for more information!
