How to Become a Recovery Coach [2024 Edition]

Do you want to become a recovery coach?

That's wonderful!

Recovery coaching is one of the most booming coaching niches.

Recovery coaches assist in recovering from addiction. This is a challenging yet fulfilling job.

Addictions of alcohol, drugs, etc. can ruin one's life. People need support to overcome such addictions.

That's where the significance of a recovery coach lies.

Recovery coaches help clients to stop addiction. They guide people to reduce harm.

As a recovery coach, you can lead a happy and satisfying life.

Watching someone recover to their original life feels amazing!

If you have the essential coaching skills and habits, why to delay?

This blog will help you to become an AWESOME recovery coach.

I am sure that by the end of this blog you will get all your answers.

So let's get started!

What is recovery coaching- Every recovery coach must know

Before we move to the HOW part, let's understand the WHAT.

Recovery coaching provides support for people with addictions.

It involves guiding the client on how to make the most of one's life.

Recovery coaching uses different ways for recovery. This involves treatment, family support, education, etc.

Does that mean it involves diagnosis and treatment?

No!

Recovery coaching does not include healing trauma. It does not address the past.

A recovery coach is not a counselor. He/she doesn't heal mental issues.

Like life coaching, recovery coaching involves a partnership model.

A recovery coach prepares an action plan for recovery. He/she does that depending on his/her own personal experience.

Coaching focuses on achieving clients' ultimate goals. This also includes recovery goals.

It includes decisions based on principles.

Recovery coaching is action-oriented. It focuses on improving the present life. The aim is reaching future goals.

Who is a recovery coach?

I am sure the idea of recovery coaching is clearer.

Great.

One who takes part in it is a recovery coach!

As a recovery coach your ultimate goal would be :

Reduce harm with addictive behaviors.

Recovery coaches support positive change.

Recovery coaches are master in applying the resources.

They provide support to overcome compulsive behavior.

Many people spend too much money on treatment centers. Even after that people find it difficult to get rid of their addictions.

Recovery coaches can be a good alternative.

Recovery coaches are helpful during the recovery time as well.

The first 90 days after leaving the treatment are difficult. Familiar sights and reality of lives are overwhelming.

This is where a recovery coach can be most helpful.

A recovery coach helps people to make smart and healthy choices.

The number one priority is:

Minimizing addiction.

A recovery coach stands on the tripod of:

Encouragement, Guidance, and Support.

Recovery coaches boost habits that lead to a healthy lifestyle.

They find resources to protect clients' sobriety. These may include:

• Therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, and other medical support staff
• Outpatient programs that ensure clients get an appropriate level of support
• A gym, yoga studio, or athletic activity groups, like running or cycling club
• A sponsor to take them through their recovery program

Hiring a recovery coach is like buying an insurance policy against relapse!

What does a recovery coach do and doesn't do?

You may come across several similar roles.

Two such terms associated with a recovery coach are:

• Therapist
• AA sponsor

People may compare you with a therapist or an AA sponsor. So, how are you different?

You should know!

Let's check.

What does a therapist do?

Therapists work with clients who are in psychological pain or trauma. They hold education and license. Some therapists provide other behavioral health services.

Therapists focus on the past of the clients. The idea is to analyze past patterns. Then they decide how to change habits for a better future.

Some charge a fee. Many work with insurance companies.

What does an AA sponsor do?

AA sponsor provides a non-therapeutic approach to recovery. They 'work' for free. There is a Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous and the 12 Steps and 12 Traditions. Most 12 step sponsors follow the steps in this book.

Sponsors do not invest much in education or training. They share their experience, strength and hope with others.

What does a recovery coach do?

Like therapists, a recovery coach invests in education and training. Unlike them, they do not deal with traumas and diagnosis.

The biggest difference is that:

Recovery coaching is future-focused.

A recovery coach helps people to create plans. These focus to achieve future goals. They remove the barriers in the path of recovery of the clients.

Unlike sponsors, recovery coaches charge a fee.

So, if someone asks you:

Why are you charging money? Aren't you a glorified AA sponsor? You can answer:

"No, I am a recovery coach who is doing his/her job!"

Different types of Recovery Support Roles

There are various types of recovery support roles.

Let's have a look at them for a better understanding.

Sober Escort

It can be difficult for the client to reach from point A to B.

Sober or travel escort accompanies the client to events. He/She ensures that the client maintains sobriety.

Recovery Support Specialist/Peer Recovery Support Specialist

The specialists go off-site to meet the clients. They do this on a voluntary basis. Recovery organizations may hire them.

RSSs maintain a contract for engagement known as- Personal Recovery Plan. They are known as "Peer Mentors".

Family Recovery Coach

Family Recovery Coaches create a calm family environment of the addict.

Mental obsession grips many families. Love may drive members to neglect the seriousness of the situation. A non-judgmental environment of the family must for a recovering addict.

A family recovery coach uses different models to achieve the right balance. He/She increases the family's energy to help the addict.

Phone or virtual recovery coach

These link with the client's through phone or on a virtual basis. This can work as aftercare support as the client leaves the treatment center.

This adds to the results of face-to-face meetings. It helps the clients to avoid the feeling of loneliness. It keeps the recovery process on track.

Legal Support Specialists

This version of a recovery coach is the most challenging. Their need is when a court requires a client to stay sober as per the law's mandate.

Specialists perform assessments. They work with the client on a daily basis. Then they re-assess clients after a period of time.

The coach suggests court appropriate alcohol/drug treatment center.

The below people perform these tasks:

• Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialists
• Licensed clinical social workers
• Certified Alcohol and drug counselors

What kind of certification do I need?

Well, certifications aren't a must. But yeah, they add to your credibility.

Of course, there are other ways to prove your competency.

The best one is your USP and business model. Your goals should be making your clients happy by working on their pain points. You will get clients through a solid referral system.

Still, if you wish to go for certifications that's not at all a bad choice.

You can either go for certified training programs. You can also apply for state board certification.

To run your own coaching business, training certification would be enough.

One requires state board certifications for working in the following:

1. Treatment centers

2. Recovery community organizations

3. Hospitals

Follow this for a list of recovery coaching training organization. Verify once that you hold the required qualifications.

You can get basic coaching training from any of the ICF schools. These are listed on the ICF Website.

Are you a chemical dependency professional?

OR

Are you a psychotherapist specializing in addiction recovery?

Yes?

You can consider training from any ICF-approved school.

Certifications will give you the confidence to exhibit your skills.

Still, remember that at the end of the day it's about your process.

What are the responsibilities of a recovery coach?

Curious to know what are the daily responsibilities of a recovery coach?

Duties of a recovery coach will include but are not limited to:

• One on one coaching and support to clients
• Participation in staff and community meetings
• Data collection and timely reporting
• Create client-oriented plans for recovery
• Monitoring the performance of the client
• Re-assessment to check the progress
• Identifying the barriers to recovery. Overcoming the same.
• Critical analysis of the behavioral patterns of clients
• Identifying the need for change in personal or family's ecosystem. Building the process to bring it.
• Constant support to the client via phone calls, follow-ups, and other resources
• Maintaining client confidentiality. Compliance with HIPAA rules.

What skills you must have to become a recovery coach?

You must have the below skills to become a recovery coach:

• Sense of empathy
• Shrewd listening, questioning and analyzing skills
• Patience and tolerance power
• Computer skills like Word, Excel, outlook

Above are some of the common skills. Depending on your niche you may have to develop special skills.

For instance, if you are a legal recovery coach you must be aware of the legal laws.

Additionally, you should be aware of the recent coaching trends.

Do you know there are skills and habits that successful coaches follow?

No?

Then why not learn and start implementing them from today?

Clinical foundations of an RC

Certain models that create the foundation for a Recovery Coach.

You can consider them as the primary strategies.

These will help you to understand the role of a Recovery Coach.

Let's consider 3 such clinical foundations.

Strenth-Based Care

This model focuses on how an individual can use his/her strengths for the recovery.

Model: The RC and client both complement each other. They draw upon