What Is a Sobriety Coach?

Recovery touches all aspects of a person’s life and must address all four significant areas: mental, emotional, spiritual and physical. Recovery requires much more than abstinence from the downward spiral of addiction. The statistics prove that there are few who are able to achieve a change sufficient enough to create real freedom from chemical dependency and ultimately live a flourishing and satisfying life. Many who value their lives have reaped the benefits of working with a professional sobriety coach.
 

A sobriety or recovery coach assists those who are stuck in unhealthy behavior patterns to break free so they can regain their power of choice which equips them to lead fulfilling lives.  The end-goal is to experience the joy of living not simply to live without substances.

 

How does a sobriety coach work?

For most people giving up their primary coping mechanism [alcohol and/or drugs], can bring up deep fear and anxiety.  A sobriety coach provides strong support for each client to take progressive, realistic steps to dissolve fears and to build a powerful tool kit to deal with life’s challenges.  With effective professional support, each client learns to utilize a new set of coping strategies which enable them to lead a healthier, happier life. 

 

Why would I choose professional sobriety coaching over a sponsor in self-help?

Coaching can be an essential adjunct and complement to self-help groups and sponsorship.  Each coach is a Certified Substance Use Disorder Counselor with work experience in rehab treatment facilities.  Each coach uses evidence-based methods and practices that research has proven are effective for drug and alcohol recovery and which yield successful outcomes over time. 

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A sobriety coach helps the client set weekly target goals which are tailored to the client’s individual strengths and specific life challenges.  This person-centered approach, builds self-esteem and self-confidence in an atmosphere of unconditional positive respect.

 

What stage of sobriety does sobriety coaching address?

A sobriety coach works with individuals from all stages: recent relapse, initial abstinence, established sobriety as well as long-term recovery.  Abstinence is the initial period of stopping alcohol and/or drug use.  Sobriety is living comfortably without psychoactive substances.  Recovery is embracing the ‘joy of living’…to experience a value-based life of freedom and fulfillment, fully connected to self, community and higher self/higher power. 

 

What a sobriety coach is NOT:

A sobriety coach is not a life coach, therapist, sponsor, sober companion, or treatment program.

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A sobriety coach is an experienced, qualified professional trained to assist a client in utilizing recovery skills and relapse prevention techniques to keep them focused, and free of harmful, destructive behaviors. Contact me in Sonoma County, CA to get started.