How to Find a Great Sober Coach in Austin

One of the critical elements of recovering from substance abuse is having an excellent support network. Many options exist here, such as friends, family members, support groups, Alcoholics Anonymous sponsors, and more. Some people, however, may benefit from having someone dedicated to their process, and that’s when sober coaches come in.

Sometimes, a sober coach overcomes their substance use disorders and achieves a healthy and long-term recovery. These people encourage those in early recovery to keep fighting and working toward a sober life.

However, this isn’t always the case. Not all sober coaches have gone through a substance abuse recovery process.

People in their early stages of recovery are more likely to relapse, especially if they don’t have the proper support. Sober coaching services can provide the guidance and protection needed to avoid relapsing.

Read more about recovery coaching and how it helps people achieve a sober lifestyle.

How Does Sober Coaching Help in Addiction Treatment?

Unlike other professionals like sponsors, a sober coach has a more “active” role in a person’s recovery journey. The sober coach is usually available 24/7 for support and is hired to stay with their client for some hours each week.

It’s important to note that a sober coach isn’t the same as a sober companion. Companions often live with their clients as a roommate. These are better suited for people with a high risk of relapsing.

On the other hand, Sober coaches have a weekly schedule to assist and support their clients while giving them the privacy they may want. These trained professionals are meant to enforce healthy habits and prevent people from making any poor decisions.

Coaches do a great job of helping people adapt to a new home environment, which individuals with a drug addiction often struggle with.

A sober coach is often compared to a life coach because their work is to motivate people to stay healthy during their early recovery. It’s important to note that sober coaches usually don’t provide any formal treatment.

How Can You Find the Right Sober Coach?

Plenty of sober coaching programs are out there, so it may be hard to tell which is better for a patient. Remember that there’s no “ultimate formula” to find the right professional since not all will connect with the client even if they have the proper accreditation.

However, a few signs could tell you if a particular sober coach is worth your time and money. Some of the tips you can follow include:

• Find someone with formal training as a counselor or therapist. You can also look for people with a life or sober coaches certification. Working with someone without training or certification may lead to poor results.
• Consider coaches who have a formalized recovery plan. Most of the time, offering support without a goal or structure in mind isn’t convenient. Some professionals create plans to follow and make things easier for everyone. The coach can adapt the plan to fit the client’s needs if needed.
• Look for a coach that offers free consultations or trials. Usually, a sober coach will hand over a contract for the client to sign immediately. Unfortunately, it’s hard to know if someone is compatible with their coach without talking to them for a bit. A free trial could tell the person if the professional is worth their time.
• A coach should encourage their client to stay positive and work through their struggles, not make them feel bad about their situation. Stay away from “coaches” who shed a negative light on a person’s process.

How to Know if Someone Needs the Support of a Sober Coach

Not everyone needs a sober coach. Hiring these professionals often comes with a hefty investment, so it’s best to evaluate if it’s even worth it before doing it.

However, the decision should always be personal. If the person feels they could benefit from sober coaching, they should get it.

First, it’s essential to understand that sober coaches aren’t always:

• Therapists
• Physicians
• Counselors

Only those with a graduate degree and state licensure could be considered to fill those roles.

There are a few questions the person can ask themself to see if they may benefit from hiring a sober coach. Those include:

• Do I have friends or family members that can support me during the recovery?
• Will getting sober coaching hurt me financially?
• Do my support groups offer the assistance and protection I need?
• Do I have a sponsor in my peer support group?
• Is my home free of substances of abuse?
• Do I know people outside my peer support groups that I can count on outside my treatment program?

Evaluate how many questions you answered “yes” to. This could tell you whether it’s convenient to get a sober coach or not. Remember that sober coaching isn’t meant to replace a solid recovery program.

What Makes a Recovery Coach Different from Other Professionals?

A recovery journey tends to be unpredictable, and sober coaches help their clients navigate it. Some of the things that sober coaches do include:

• Helping to establish healthier routines and habits
• Working to improve the client’s family dynamics
• Co-attending 12-step meetings or any other support groups
• Being an extra source of accountability
• Offering 24/7 relapse support via phone
• Providing transportation to outpatient programs and recovery services

Bottom Line – Find the Right Recovery Coaches for Your Journey

A sober coach can be the perfect addition to a person’s recovery if they feel they’re not getting the support they need. By finding the right professional, recovering addicts ensure they’re developing healthier habits while lowering the risk of relapsing.