Tag: Life Skills

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Life Skills Training in Rehab: Building Blocks for a Self-Sufficient Future

Life skills training in rehab is designed to equip you with the practical tools you need to thrive in life after treatment. While learning how to meal plan or set weekly goals may seem like simple skills, these fundamentals are key to forming a functional baseline for life. And they’re often the first to fall by the wayside during active addiction.

Rehab should prepare you for life in long-term recovery—and that includes building the skills that will help you work through any challenges to your sobriety. Practicing these skills empowers you to apply what you learned in treatment to your life in the real world. As you implement these changes, you’ll rebuild your confidence, make healthier choices, and become a more supportive member of your family and community. 

Many people who receive life skills training in rehab say these tools help them manage their addiction, maintain meaningful relationships, and live rewarding lives. Here’s what life skills training looks like in rehab, and how it can position you for success in recovery for years to come.

Core Components of Life Skills Training

Learning life skills helps you create a structure in a life that was previously unstructured. For many people, having structure helps them conceptualize what their life will look like day to day.

It helps them stay in a healthy routine, meet their basic needs, and make space to address problems when they need to. Ultimately, it forms the basis of their success in recovery. 

Structuring Your Life

Lori Stewart, a Drug and Alcohol Counselor who is living in recovery, says for her, structure is one of the main differences between life in addiction and life in recovery:1 

Structure is really important. When I was using, I had no structure. I did what I wanted, when I wanted, and other people didn’t matter to me. So when I got clean, I had to change that. And when I began my recovery, I learned how to live in structure: how to show up on time, how to be where I was supposed to be, and to have a plan.

Rehabs generally teach 8 types of life skills:2 

  1. Self-care
  2. Setting personal goals
  3. Managing your finances
  4. Planning and cooking meals
  5. Keeping your space clean
  6. Healthy relationships
  7. Time management
  8. Finding (and keeping) a job 

1. Self-Care

Even without substance use in the mix, we humans tend to neglect ourselves. But during addiction, substance use replaces the routines that keep us healthy. Being addicted makes it much harder to take care of ourselves.

Michael, a Recovery Coach at Cumberland County Human Services (CCHS), says learning not to let himself burn out is a skill that’s helped his recovery.3 “If you burn yourself out, your thinking is not as sharp as it is when you’re fresh,” he says. Now, instead of pushing himself past his limit, he opts to self-regulate. 

I pride myself in being very disciplined in my self-care, meaning I don’t exhaust myself. No matter what, I won’t allow somebody else to exhaust me, and I won’t exhaust myself, because I’m very mindful of self-care. And it’s very important to living a different lifestyle than you used to live.

2. Setting and Achieving Goals

Goal-setting is one of the most important life skills in recovery. Many people—especially during addiction—feel directionless without anything to work toward. Goals keep life moving forward.

In recovery, goal setting includes both large and small goals. Long-term goals keep you focused on your larger vision, and the small goals you complete each day are how you get there. This can look like planning out your week and following that plan each day, or planning out your day the night before. You may not feel like doing the items on your to-do list each day, but checking them off gives you a huge sense of accomplishment.

One woman in recovery, Ashley Bolen, describes how setting goals in recovery4 helps her feel like she’s moving in a positive direction: 

[Rehab] taught me how to do things like pay my bills again—I forgot how to do that kind of stuff. They helped me come up with goals, and as long as I keep working towards those goals I feel like I’m going somewhere in life, which is huge. Because when you’re on drugs or on the street, you don’t have any goals. You don’t feel like you’re going anywhere in your life. You feel like the walking dead.

Michael of CCHS says small goals5 are just as important as large ones: “It says a lot about your character when you set small goals and you achieve them.” Doing what you tell yourself you will—however small—goes a long way in building your self-trust. 

3. Managing Finances

If you’re coming out of years of addiction, you might be used to spending all your money on drugs and alcohol. In recovery, you’ll need to learn how to allocate money to your living expenses and savings. Rehabs teach this life skill through classes on financial planning, budgeting, saving, and more.   

For someone without a lot of experience managing their personal finances, these things can feel very intimidating. But getting your financial house in order and learning how to avoid financial pitfalls has a significant impact on your life. Knowing how much money is coming in and how much is going out each month ensures you’re saving for your needs and avoiding unnecessary debt.

One practice that helps you stay within budget far more easily is cooking your own meals. 

4. Meal Planning and Cooking

There’s a reason why sober living homes require people in recovery to make meal plans, grocery shop, and cook with their housemates. These are crucial skills for life, especially for those in recovery. 

You may not have been much of a home cook before. Or if you were, it’s likely that you lost track of regular, healthy eating during your addiction. 

Cooking may seem like a soft skill, but it’s a big deal. In fact, food author Michael Pollan says cooking can change your life:6

What predicts a healthy diet more than anything else is the fact that it’s cooked by a human being. Corporations cook very differently than people do. They use vast amount of salt, fat, and sugar—much more than you would ever use in your own cooking. And the reason they do that is because those are incredibly attractive, and incredibly cheap, ingredients.

Your diet has a major impact on your recovery, because it affects your mood, your gut biome, and the extent to which you experience cravings. Given how important nutrition is to maintaining your sobriety, that means cooking at home is a large part of what will help you stay sober, happy, and healthy in your new life.

5. Keeping House

Living with clutter can add environmental stress that affects your mental health. One study even showed lower psychosocial functioning among children who grow up in cluttered households.7 Having a relatively tidy space, on the other hand, can also declutter your mind. And in recovery, having an environment that supports your life goals is everything. That’s why U.S. Navy Admiral William McRaven famously says that if you want to change the world, start off by making your bed:

If you make your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride. And it will encourage you to do another task, and another and another, and by the end of the day that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed.

Keeping a clean house isn’t just a good self-care practice, it’s also a way to respect the needs of those you live with. Making good housekeeping a habit can make relationships easier as you reenter home life after rehab. 

6. Having Healthy Relationships

Building and maintaining healthy relationships is one of the most important skills in life. When you return home after treatment, you’ll be adjusting to your new life in sobriety—and those around you will be adjusting, too. 

Life will undoubtedly present triggers, and some of those will stem from social situations. These triggers are an opportunity to practice the communication skills you learned in treatment, as well as work through whatever still needs healing.

This is also a good time to let others know how they can support you by respectfully communicating your needs and boundaries. These things may sound simple, but they can feel very difficult—especially if you’re used to a different way of dealing with things. Honing these skills takes time, and those who love you will stick with you as you continue learning and trying your best. 

7. Managing Your Time

As you work toward your goals, it’s also important to keep yourself in balance. Learning to schedule your time and energy realistically is another skill that gets better over time. As you plan out your days, weeks, and months, be sure to block out time on your calendar for yourself. Allowing yourself to recharge and fill your cup gives you more energy to be present for your recovery practice and all the other things you have going on in your life.  

8. Job Readiness

For many people, rebuilding their life after addiction means finding a new job. Some rehabs focus on job readiness as part of their skill-building programming. Your rehab might offer help with your resume, interview skills training, or other services to help you feel ready to reenter the workforce.

If you simply need a job to meet your immediate needs, that’s completely fine. Ultimately, you may feel compelled to look for work that’s meaningful to you. Many people find that the self-exploration they do in recovery allows them to connect with their true purpose, and may even change careers as a result. Recovery is a life-changing experience, after all.

How Life Skills Training Facilitates Recovery

Life skills training helps reduce relapse rates by developing your tools for managing triggers and getting through life’s inevitable challenges. When you have better communication skills, for example, you’re better able to express your needs and frustrations instead of turning to substances to cope.

This training also grows your confidence in your ability to handle tough situations. Learning to make healthy choices, set boundaries, and say “no” empowers you to make decisions that support your recovery. 

Life Skills Training Techniques and Approaches

Life skills training in rehab isn’t just a lecture series; it’s an engaging and interactive process.  Your rehab might hold workshops as part of their core program, and answer questions and concerns about life in recovery in group discussions. You might also practice these skills through experiential learning activities, such as:

  • Picking veggies from the garden, learning how to make salad dressing from scratch, and creating your own salad 
  • Planning your shopping list and trip to the grocery store to avoid pitfalls associated with disordered eating 
  • Doing a mock interview to build confidence for your real-world job search 

These techniques are often interwoven with evidence-based approaches like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and motivational interviewing. CBT helps patients identify negative thought patterns and develop healthier coping mechanisms. Motivational interviewing techniques can help you explore your motivations for change and long-term recovery. 

Challenges and Solutions in Life Skills Training

Applying new life skills takes time and practice. During treatment, a lot of people grapple with emotional upheaval or residual addiction symptoms, which might distract from their ability to fully engage with their rehabilitation program. And after rehab, reintegrating into daily life presents a whole new set of challenges.

That’s why most rehabs offer recovery support like relapse prevention planning, aftercare, and alumni networks that help you stay connected to sober community. Continuing individual therapy after rehab is also a great idea, as your therapist can help you work through challenges as they arise and continue to apply what you learned during treatment. And if you don’t already have a strong support network to lean on, your rehab can help you have one in place before you leave their care. 

Success Story: “Every day I get to achieve my goals.”

Lori Stewart describes how structuring her life through the life skills training she received in rehab helps her stay on track:

That kind of structure is important to keep me feeling sane. When I wake up in the morning, I know what I’m doing. I know what I’m doing every day and that helps me in recovery, it brings me stability, and I have a plan. I have goals for my life. Every day I get to achieve my goals and work towards achieving my bigger goals. And through that, I’ve been able to be successful in my life. I’ve been able to gain years in recovery, buy houses, and raise successful children. I’ve been married to the same man for years, and I have a happy marriage because I’ve been able to follow my goals and have structure in my life.

She adds that she also stays connected to her sober community by talking to her sponsor regularly and working the 12 Steps with women she sponsors. “I stay really connected to my friends that are in recovery,” says Stewart. “If I lose that connection, I could possibly end up where I was before I got clean.” 

Learn the Skills That Support Your New Life

Life skills training isn’t just an add-on; it’s a cornerstone of successful addiction recovery. It provides you with the tools to start building the life you want. Countless others have rebuilt their lives after addiction, and you can too. 

Search for addiction treatment centers that offer life skills training, and reach out to them directly today. 

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How to Help Someone with Schizophrenia: Strategies for Care

Schizophrenia is almost always a severe and disabling mental health disorder. Managing this condition is usually a lifelong process; however, with the right care and professional treatment, it is possible to live a healthy and fulfilling life with this disorder. 

If you know someone navigating this condition, you can offer support during this crucial time by helping them find professional treatment for schizophrenia.

Understanding Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a psychiatric condition that is characterized by a disruption in thought patterns, sensory perception, reactions to emotions, and connections with others.  Symptoms of this disorder usually appear during late adolescence or early adulthood, with the most common symptoms being hallucinations, delusions, and disordered thinking. These symptoms can have a major influence on every area of a person’s life.

Schizophrenia’s long-term effects can vary depending on factors such as your loved one’s treatment plan, medication management, when they started treatment, and overall health. Some common long-term effects of schizophrenia include: 

  • Reduced emotional expression
  • Less motivation to accomplish goals
  • Difficulty with social relationships
  • Motor and cognitive impairment

Myths about Schizophrenia

While this disorder can be complicated, there are a few things that schizophrenia is not. 

Myth #1: People with schizophrenia are violent and dangerous. Inherently, people with schizophrenia are not violent. They are actually 14 times more likely to be victimized compared to being the perpetrator.

Myth #2: Schizophrenia is directly caused by a bad childhood or a traumatic event. Schizophrenia is believed to be caused by a combination of genetic, environmental, and neurological factors. It’s a complex interplay of various factors. Parenting style or a single traumatic event does not cause schizophrenia. 

Myth #3: Schizophrenia is untreatable. While there is no cure for schizophrenia, it is a treatable condition. Antipsychotic medications, therapy, and psychosocial interventions can help manage this condition.

Myth #4: People with schizophrenia can’t work or lead meaningful lives. With proper treatment, support, and management, many people with schizophrenia can have fulfilling lives, maintain jobs, and have meaningful relationships. 

Educating Yourself

Schizophrenia is a very complex condition. The more you know about the disorder, and what your loved one is going through, the better equipped you both are to navigate it.

Doing your own research and talking to a medical professional who’s knowledgeable about schizophrenia ensures that you have a well-rounded understanding of the disorder. Reading up on the condition can provide you with a basic understanding of the symptoms, treatments, and potential risks associated with the illness. And speaking with a doctor can provide you with personalized insights and information. Doing both of these can ensure that you are as informed as possible.

Professional Help for Schizophrenia

In all cases, people with schizophrenia need professional help. And the earlier they get treatment, the better chance they have to live a fulfilling life. You can help them find appropriate resources, make appointments, or go with them to appointments if they are okay with that. 

Contact a mental health professional, like a psychiatrist, psychologist, or therapist, to develop a treatment plan. If you are having trouble finding an available professional, go to your primary care physician first. They will be able to refer you to the appropriate person. 

From here, incorporating therapy into their routine will be key. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), family therapy, and social and life skills training can help your loved one learn coping strategies, manage symptoms, and improve social skills. They’ll learn new ways of thinking about and managing their hallucinations and delusions.

Medication Management

Medication management is a cornerstone to treating schizophrenia. Your loved one will be prescribed antipsychotic medication. There are 2 groups of antipsychotics—first-generation, or “typical,” and second-generation, or “atypical.” These both affect the dopamine receptors in the brain, and second-generation also affect the serotonin receptors. Talk to your doctor to see which medication is right for their needs. They may also need prescriptions to manage co-occurring disorders, like substance use or depression. 

Combining medication with therapeutic interventions can be very effective in keeping symptoms under control and providing a more fulfilling life. Your doctor should regularly check in to ensure that the medication is working properly and monitor for any potential side effects. If you notice the medications have adverse side effects, or making schizophrenia symptoms worse, seek help from a medical professional right away. 

Navigating Crisis Situations

When someone with schizophrenia is in crisis, it’s crucial to recognize the warning signs to ensure their safety and well-being. Schizophrenia is a severe mental illness that could result in the person harming themselves or someone else. Seek professional help promptly if you see your loved one experiencing these signs:

  • Symptoms suddenly get worse
  • Social withdrawal
  • Intense paranoia
  • Resistance to treatment or medications
  • Decline in personal hygiene

If you believe the person is in immediate danger, do not leave them alone. Try to keep them in a safe, controlled environment. With a professional, develop a crisis management plan that outlines steps they can take when they experience elevated hallucinations or delusions. Include emergency contacts, coping strategies, and resources they can turn to for support.

Your Role in Their Recovery

Supporting someone with schizophrenia requires patience, understanding, and a compassionate approach. Your loved one will likely need some guidance, at least in the beginning of their recovery journey. But with your help, they can live a full, rewarding life.

Supporting Daily Living

A key element of your loved one’s treatment plan will be creating a structured routine. Help them build a daily schedule that includes regular meal times, medication management, and designated relaxation or leisure activities. Encourage healthy habits, such as proper nutrition and exercise. Offer to join them in this healthy lifestyle to keep them motivated. 

You can also help them maintain connections with friends, family, and support groups. Social activities can keep them from isolating and the negative effects that has on their mood.

Run through their crisis management plan regularly. Be sure that they have all the tools and skills to successfully navigate difficult symptoms, especially if you’re not there to support them in the moment.

Managing Symptoms and Challenges

Outside of therapy and medication, your loved one will also learn and practice coping skills for their symptoms. They should primarily be aware of the places, people, and things that trigger their hallucinations or delusions. They can, at first, avoid these stimuli and later work through their triggering effects. If symptoms do arise, they can manage them in a few ways:

  • Reality Testing: They can remind themselves that the hallucination is not real. Challenge the experience by asking, “Is there any evidence that supports this?”
  • Distraction: Reading, drawing, or doing puzzles, helps shift focus away from hallucinations.
  • Grounding Techniques: Your loved one can describe what they see, touch, hear, smell, and taste to help ground themselves in reality.
  • Positive Self-Talk: They can repeat affirmations or calming statements to counteract hallucinations’ negative or distressing messages.

While you can be an anchor during hard moments, make sure your loved one has consistent help and direct contact with a professional.

Patience and Empathy

Talking to someone with schizophrenia allows you to show empathy, patience, and understanding. Ask them how they feel or what they’re experiencing to show that you genuinely care and want to listen. Ensure they know you’re there for them and that they don’t have to go through this alone. And celebrate small achievements along the way because recovery is more fun when you give yourself credit for all the work you’re putting in. 

Their progress might be gradual, so show your loved one, and yourself, compassion. Be sure to prioritize your own well-being. While this process can be rewarding, taking time for yourself is important. Lean on friends and family for support.
There is hope for the person in your life who has schizophrenia. With a little guidance, and professional schizophrenia treatment, they can unlock the door to a fulfilling life.

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Understanding the Role of Sober Coaches in Addiction Recovery 

The transition from an addiction treatment program to daily life is a fundamental step in the recovery journey. Many people can feel overwhelmed and isolated during this time. These feelings are normal—you’re navigating new territory and adjusting to a new lifestyle.

To make the adjustment period more manageable, some luxury treatment centers will set you up with a support system as part of their continuing care program. Another way to bolster your support network is with a sober coach, also known as a recovery coach. Many sober coaches are affiliated with rehab centers or hospitals. However, some work with free-standing organizations, or as private practitioners. 

Sober coaches can help you feel less isolated, hold you accountable and offer advice and guidance to ensure sustainable recovery as you return to life outside treatment. 

A sober coach may be a good option if you want a more hands-on relationship with a non-clinical professional who can guide you through this particularly sensitive stage. Keep in mind that a sober coach is not a replacement for other parts of your continuing care program. Rather, they supplement aspects of continuing care and offer support that some people may need for long-term recovery. 

Since sober coaching is a relatively new position in addiction treatment, we explore how their role is defined and ways in which they can support your recovery. 

What Is a Sober Coach?

The recovery journey doesn’t stop when a rehab program ends. In more recent years, we’ve seen a rise in new peer-based recovery support services1 that has stemmed from the need to provide people with extra support as they transition from a formal treatment program into their natural environment. A growing number of peer-based recovery support services and new roles have been designed to assist people during that transition period and help them maintain long-term sobriety. One of those roles is a sober coach.

Sober coaches can have many different titles, including recovery coach, recovery manager, recovery mentor, recovery guide and more. Their role remains the same: to provide someone with “non-clinical assistance to support long-term recovery from substance use disorders.”2

Unlike clinical professionals, sober coaches don’t need to have formally acquired credentials. Instead, sober coaches draw on experiential knowledge and expertise3 to help clients achieve and maintain lasting sobriety. Their knowledge generally comes from their own addiction recovery experiences or from helping others recover. 

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a sober coach offers supportive assistance, rather than directives.4 They can help with a number of recovery-related issues: 

  • Setting recovery goals
  • Developing recovery action plans 
  • Finding new peers
  • Improving job skills
  • Exploring new hobbies and things to do in your spare time 
  • Finding sober housing 
villa paradiso sober coaching
Villa Paradiso Rehab in Marbella, Spain offers aftercare recovery coaching.

Generally, a sober or recovery coach offers the four following types of support: 

Emotional Support

Emotional support includes anything that addresses your emotional concerns. This could range from inspirational coaching to empathetic listening and encouragement. 

Informational Support

Sober coaches can connect you with resources and information that benefit your recovery, like learning a new life skill or developing new coping strategies for dealing with challenges. 

Instrumental Support

This includes assistance with concrete, practical tasks like finding housing and employment.

Affiliational Support

A sober coach can help you connect with  others who can bolster your recovery journey. This might take place through events,activities, or online or in-person communities. 

The Difference Between Sober Coaches and Sober Companions

There are several roles that involve helping people maintain long-term recovery beyond inpatient rehab. It’s important to clarify the distinction between them, to ensure you look for the right type of guidance. 

A common misunderstanding is that sober coaches are like sober companions. However, their roles are markedly distinct. 

Sober Coaches (or Recovery Coaches)

A sober coach is a hired, non-clinical professional who supports your long-term recovery from substance use disorders. Most have been through recovery themselves and are trained on how to help others through the journey. Sessions with your recovery coach occur on a regular basis and are held via phone, online or even onsite at your treatment center. 

Sober Companions

A sober companion is generally more involved in your daily life than a sober coach. They will accompany you throughout your day as necessary, to ensure you have the support and accountability you may need to prevent a relapse.

noosa confidential sober coaching
Noosa Confidential in Queensland, Australia offers sober coaching as part of the aftercare portion of their programming.

Who Are Sober Coaches a Good Fit For? 

Sober coaches offer support through various stages of the recovery journey.5 

A sober coach could be a good fit for you if you don’t have a strong support network, live in an environment with many triggers, or need additional help with daily life. Some people can benefit from having a sober coach in more than one stage of their recovery journey. 

The Pre-Decision Stage

Before you make a decision to enter residential treatment, a sober coach can help you take this big step. They can ensure you feel less isolated through the process and assist with finding a rehab that suits your needs. Once you’ve found a program, they can guide you through the entry process. 

During Treatment

A sober coach who supports you during a rehab program takes on a slightly different role. They are an advocate and will help you foster life skills for lasting sobriety. For example, Hope Rehab Center in Thailand has a treatment model that includes exposure therapy, wherein clients are taken on excursions to experience the outside world. Their on-site sober coach supports you during these encounters to help you handle real emotions that may come up during life after rehab. 

Aftercare

A number of luxury addiction treatment centers across the globe offer sober coaching as part of their aftercare program. Oftentimes, sober coaches that work with rehab centers reflect the same level of care, support and privacy your addiction treatment program offers. 

In Europe, both Villa Paradiso Rehab in Marbella, Spain and Tabula Rasa Retreat in Portugal have aftercare recovery coaches. 

Australia has a number of treatment programs with sober coaches as part of their aftercare, including Noosa Confidential in Sunshine Coast and The Banyans in Brisbane. 

The United States has plenty of options across the country. For example, Oceanside Malibu in California, JourneyPure in Tennessee, Blue Ridge Mountain in Georgia and The Sanctuary at Sedona in Arizona all offer recovery coaching as part of their aftercare programs. 

It’s important to keep in mind that while sober coaches offer valuable support and life skills for sobriety, they should not replace the care you’ll receive from healthcare professionals and therapists during primary treatment and aftercare. 

The Difference Between Sober Coaches and Other Addiction Treatment Professionals

Sober coaches are relatively new in addiction treatment and can perform many different roles in someone’s recovery,6 which sometimes leads to role ambiguity. 

The public still holds some confusion about the responsibilities of sober coaches compared to other addiction treatment professionals. However, there are established differences as outlined in the Great Lakes Addiction Technology Transfer Center’s guidelines for ethical peer-based recovery support.7 It’s important to understand these distinctions to make sure you’re looking for the right professional for your needs. 

Sober coaches are not healthcare professionals. 

Unlike doctors, nurses, or psychiatrists, most recovery coaches don’t have medical degrees. Their role is never to diagnose you or provide you with medical advice or care. 

Instead, a sober coach helps you remove potential roadblocks that might prevent you from seeing a medical professional. For example, they can help you find the right medical professional, or drive you to your appointment. 

Sober coaches are not social workers or addiction counselors. 

Unlike social workers and addiction counselors, sober coaches take on a more informal role and aren’t required to have a degree in social work or formal credentials in counseling. 

Whereas addiction counselors are discouraged from self-disclosure, or using their personal experience to connect with clients, sober coaches are encouraged to share their personal experiences with you. They act as your confidant. 

If you need professional help from a social worker or an addictions counselor, your sober coach will help you get in touch with them.

Sober coaches are not sponsors. 

Unlike with sponsors, you and your sober coach don’t uphold each other’s sobriety.  Some sober coaches haven’t struggled with addiction before, but are there to support you, especially during sensitive transition periods. 

A relationship with a sober coach is more like that of a mentor and a mentee, or a personal trainer with their client.

oceanside malibu sober coaching
Oceanside Malibu in Malibu, California offers recovery coaching as part of their aftercare program.

How to Find the Right Sober Coach for You

Most sober coaches work in affiliation with recovery centers and hospitals. However, some work with free-standing organizations or as private practitioners.  

Since sober coaches don’t need to have formally acquired credentials, it’s important to take extra precautions when searching for one, especially if you plan to look outside of your rehab program. 

If you’re unsure where to start, you could ask recovery centers during an initial phone call if they have any referrals for reputable sober coaches. If you’re already seeing a therapist, you could ask if they have  any recommendations for you.  

How to Search for Rehab Center-Affiliated Sober Coaches

1. Check the addiction treatment center’s reputation and credibility.
Doing this as the first step gives you a good idea of the level of expertise a rehab center would expect from its employees and affiliates.

Reputation Check

Read through the rehab center’s online review. You can also ask around to see if they’re in good standing with other healthcare providers or treatment facilities.

Accreditation Check

In the U.S., there are two national organizations that accredit treatment providers. These include the Joint Commission and Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). While rehabs might showcase accreditation logos on their website, you should check directly with the accrediting body.

2. Ask the addiction treatment center for sober coach options.
After you’ve found a reputable rehab center you trust, ask them for referrals of sober coaches. Usually, you would have gone through an initial phone call with an admissions specialist first. They’ll ask general background questions, including questions about your medical history, substance use history and family history. 

Once they have a better understanding of your situation, they will give recommendations for different sober coaches. You can compare their backgrounds and even go through an initial phone call with them to find a sober coach that best matches your needs. 

How to Search for a Private Sober Coach

If your addiction treatment program doesn’t offer sober coaching, you can hire a private sober coach to help you at any point in your recovery journey. Much like rehab centers, there are certain markers you should look out for to ensure you hire a credible, reputable sober coach who matches your needs. 

1. Ask people you trust.

You can start your search by asking people you trust if they have any recommendations for sober coaches. This could be your therapist, psychiatrist or even your doctor. 

2. Check the sober coach’s reputation, accreditations and affiliations.

Important to note: there’s no professional, independent governing body that offers accreditations to sober coaches.

Many private sober coaches have a website. It’s recommended to look through them and use these indicators to check whether the sober coach is reputable and has the level of expertise you’re looking for:

  • Online reviews—These give you a general idea of a private sober coach’s reputation.
  • Feedback—Reach out to people who have used that sober coach’s service and ask for their feedback. 
  • Relevant qualifications—Some credentials to look out for include psychiatric, medical, or social work accreditations or degrees. Keep in mind that if a sober coach doesn’t have the degrees listed above, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re not qualified.
  • Work experience—Check a sober coach’s work background to see how many years they’ve been a practicing coach and if they have experience with others in similar situations as yours. 
  • Affiliation with treatment centers or hospitals—Check the qualifications of the centers they’ve partnered with to give yourself an idea of their credibility and professionalism.   

Sober Coaches Offer the Extra Support Many People Need for Long-Term Recovery

Adjusting to life after rehab can feel like a difficult prospect. As you journey to create a healthy, substance-free lifestyle, there are resources and tools you can turn to that help make the adjustment easier. 

For many people, sober coaches are a pillar to lean on and offer invaluable support they need for long-term recovery. The relationship is often grounded in trust, health and wellness, which is why finding the right person is so important. 

Many established rehabs either have referrals for sober coaches or have sober coaching as part of their program. To get your search started, browse our collection of rehabs that offer sober coaching.

Frequently Asked Questions About Sober Coaches

What is a sober coach?

A sober coach, also known as a recovery coach, provides supportive assistance to people in long-term recovery. They supplement other aspects of continuing care and can help with setting recovery goals, developing action plans, finding new peers, improving job skills, exploring new hobbies, and finding sober housing.

What’s the difference between sober coaches and sober companions?

A sober coach is a non-clinical professional who supports long-term addiction recovery. They provide regular assistance through phone, online, or in-person sessions. A sober companion, on the other hand, is more involved in a client’s daily life, providing support and accountability to prevent relapse and accompanying them throughout the day as needed.

How can I find a sober coach?

To find a sober coach, follow these steps: 1. Check the reputation and credibility of the addiction treatment center you are associated with. 2. Ask the treatment center for referrals of sober coaches. Compare their backgrounds and have an initial phone call with them to find a match. 3. If your treatment program doesn’t offer sober coaching, you can hire a private sober coach. Ask trusted professionals like therapists or doctors for recommendations and check their reputation, qualifications, work experience, and affiliations with treatment centers or hospitals.