Recovery Coaching
Recovery Coaching is a peer-based service provided to those who are seeking to attain recovery from alcohol and substance abuse.
“Peer-based” means that the person seeking help with a substance abuse issue is matched with a person in recovery. The Recovery Coach will typically have personal experience with addiction and years in recovery. These attributes allow the coach to guide and help the person in need by providing compassion, empathy and personal experience. This form of relationship can be very beneficial for a person seeking recovery. Being guided by a person that is not only trained in addiction but has personal experience with it, allows people to relate and be more open to suggestion.
Recovery Coaches are usually trained and educated in addiction topics and should be accredited by a state or national board. A common credential held by Recovery Coaches is a CRS, which stands for Certified Recovery Specialist. Although a Recovery Coach is trained and educated in addiction, the relationship that is formed with the client is not clinical. It is a type of partnership between a non-clinical person and the person seeking recovery.
A Recovery Coach provides expertise in supporting successful change & focuses on achieving any goals important to the individual by addressing his/her recovery needs. It is used as a guide to honoring values and making principle-based decisions, creating a clear plan of action, and using current strengths to reach future goals.
The Recovery Coach serves as an accountability partner to help the person sustain his/her recovery. Recovery coaches function as a guide to helping an individual make positive decisions and changes in their life. Their support is provided by recognizing that there are many pathways to recovery.
- Help to initiate and sustain an individual/family in their recovery from substance use or addiction.
- Promote recovery by removing barriers and obstacles to recovery.
- Serve as a personal guide and mentor for people seeking, or already in recovery.
- Help an individual find resources for harm reduction, detox, treatment, family support and education, local or online support groups; or help an individual create a plan based on their comfortable pathway to recovery.
