The Advantages of Having a Recovery Coach
Upon completion of treatment, I returned home newly sober and ready to begin my life outside of the safe confines of the Betty Ford Center. The enthusiasm I had getting off the plane quickly ran dry as I found myself in the same surroundings I left behind only 30 days earlier.
Despite the best efforts of my counselors to prepare me for re-entry into the real world I immediately found myself lost and alone. Three days quickly passed without me having contact with another recovering addict; in hindsight, I appreciate how dangerous a situation I was in. The chances of me finding a way back to a drink or a drug were rapidly rising with time.
An experienced person in recovery can easily troubleshoot the above scenario but for someone newly sober and recently out of treatment this could mean life or death if the individual picks-up a drink or a drug. Not to mention thousands of wasted dollars and additional pain and suffering for the affected family members. Engaging a sobriety coach along with a well-written sobriety contract will help the addicted individual through this precarious period.
Having these backstops in place can mean the difference between continued sobriety and immediate relapse. Here are some of the advantages of having a sobriety coach on your side:
- Assist in integrating the recovering individual into 12-step meetings;
- Guide family members in making challenging decisions;
- Support the recovering individuals return to work or school;
- Help support boundaries and accountability;
- Remove family members from having to be the “bad guys” and
- Provide peace-of-mind knowing there is a professional on-call in case of an emergency.
The purpose of having a sobriety coach is to provide interim support for the recovering individual and their family members but not a long term strategy for evading participation in Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous or Al-anon. It’s important for each person to have their own program of recovery; it’s an essential step in achieving long term success. The recovery coach can serve as a bridge or an accelerator to long-term sobriety. The additional investment of hiring a recovery (or sober) coach is well worth it considering what’s at stake. South Florida Intervention offers solutions for families struggling with the devastating effects of addiction.
Marc Kantor is a professional interventionist and the founder of South Florida Intervention, based in Boca Raton, FL. If someone you know is struggling with addiction, we can help. For additional information please e-mail us at marc@southfloridaintervention.com.