Recovery coaches: Who needs them?
Thinking about quitting
Slowly waking on the kitchen floor, the gravity of last night’s drinking binge is just beginning to come to light. The drumbeat of her aching head is drowning out the sound of her daughter’s voice.
“Mommy, are you okay?” she finally hears.
What happened last night? she wondered. And how much did her daughter see?
Abby (not her real name) was in a blackout the night before and has no idea how much her daughter saw.
Rocked by the thought.
“I’ve really got to get my life together,” she thought. “But how to even start?”
Trying to stay quit
Two days after leaving detox. Tom is at war with his thoughts. How does he keep from addiction’s grasp?
He’s got a host of the wrong type of friends and risky places for relapse.
And perhaps his worst enemy is his own thinking that tells him drugs are the easiest way forward.
Getting on with life
Andrew has just left a 30-day treatment centre, and feels like he has a new lease on life.
It occurs to him as he drives away what a mess he’s left with his life from his heroin use. How to begin dealing with the damage he’s caused.
The recovery coach
A recovery coach, sometimes called a sober coach, helps people in recovery navigate the often tricky landscape in breaking free from addictions.
That landscape can be internal or external.
Internal challenges are often rocky emotional experiences, self-limiting talk, or self-imposed barriers to meeting desired goals. External challenges include access to necessary services, like detox, treatment, or whatever might be required.
Recovery coaches meet those in need where they are, and help them craft a plan of action for their own life. They help people find the right resources and navigate the medical system.
They provide accountability and support, while offering guidance in developing new behaviour patterns.
Like any good soccer coach, a recovery coach is a cheerleader and a truth-teller.
An effective coach will ask the hard questions, and have those in recovery find their own answers, providing a safe and empowering way to rebuild their lives.
The role of a recovery coach will be largely dependent on the needs of the person who needs them.
Sometimes they act as sober companions, helping people avoid relapse, or they might help someone consider the possibility of recovery.
Each stage of recovery presents different challenges, and they are far better navigated with the help of someone who can shine a light on some of the pitfalls.