What A Sober Coach Is Not

A Sober Coach is not a representative of any 12-step program. Neither a sober coach nor a sober companion acts as an advocate for any particular 12-step program - we are advocates for our clients, and that is all. Neither Sober Champion nor any of our Coaches promote any particular pathway to recovery - except whatever works for our client.

Coaches do not get paid to take clients through the 12 Steps. We do not tell our clients how to work their 12-Step programs to stay sober, abstinent, or serene.

As is the case with many of the best addiction treatment professionals, every one of our Sober Coaches is a member of a 12-Step program, but that is due to each Coach's choice. At Sober Champion, we simply do not believe that a person who is not in recovery can effectively coach a person who is new or new-ish. To quote a phrase from the Basic Text of Narcotics Anonymous: "...the therapeutic value of one addict helping another is without parallel."

If a Sober Coach from Sober Champion is active in a 12-Step fellowship, whatever service he/she provides in that context is volunteer work that he/she does on their own time. Some coaches specialize in helping clients find alternatives to 12-step recovery.

A Sober Coach challenges and supports his client to make lifestyle changes and experience a better quality of life. We have a robust set elements to help you avoid the frustration that leads to drinking or using again. We want our clients to avoid relapse and end the cycle of multiple trips to treatment. We help our clients be more effective, stay serene, and get "back to center". Sober Coaches know it is normal for someone in early or even long term recovery to have a really tough time occasionally. This doesn't mean the person needs therapy - but they do need more than having someone say "Get over it," or just "Keep coming back."

A Sober Coach differs from some counselors and therapists because we believe it is as at least as important to have successfully recovered as it is to have gotten a degree without having gone through the pain and misery brought by alcoholism and addiction.

Coaching ethics and guidelines require that if a client is primarily seeking relief from emotional or psychological pain they must to be referred to another mental health professional (such as a therapist or psychiatrist). Sober Coaching is not, therefore, a catchall for patients that other professionals don't want. A Sober Coach or Sober Companion focuses on the present and future, while therapy focuses on the past.

In many therapeutic modalities, the concern is how unresolved issues are impacting the present. A coach will challenge you to drop the story about how messed up you are and to focus on what you can do today to move forward. Sober Coaching focuses on establishing goals and developing a strong community support system while enjoying quality of life, balance and wellness-even after rehab!

Click here to meet a Sober Coach or Sober Companion in New York.

Click here to meet a Sober Coach or Sober Companion in London.

Please contact us for more information about our services & rates.