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What is Recovery Coaching?

Written on August 11, 2023
What is Recovery Coaching?

At its core, recovery coaching is focused on helping a person maintain sobriety while finding personal fulfillment in every area of their life. In most cases, recovery coaching begins once a person has successfully completed a multistaged treatment program. However, at Flatirons Recovery, we pair each of our clients with a personal recovery coach before their treatment journey concludes. 

While recovery coaching is treatment, it serves as a fundamental component of the addiction treatment process. The International Association of Professional Recovery Coaches (IAPRC) defines recovery coaching as “a strengths-based process which helps individuals remove personal and environmental barriers to recovery and take action towards the realization of their visions, goals, and desires.” At Flatirons Recovery, we believe in providing our clients with as much support and guidance as possible.

To learn more about recovery coaching in the context of addiction treatment, contact us today. 

What is Recovery Coaching?

Recovery coaching is a service provided to individuals new to addiction recovery. A recovery coach works one-on-one with clients, helping them stay sober through adverse situations and providing consistent support. There are many different obstacles a recovery coach helps a person overcome, including:

  • Personal relapse triggers
  • Dysfunctional interpersonal relationships 
  • Job hunting and vocational skills 
  • Educational placement 
  • Financial insecurity and a lack of financial independence 
  • Finding purpose and fulfillment in life 
  • Significant life transitions and changes
  • Personal fears and fear-related roadblocks 
  • Unhealthy lifestyle choices and behavioral patterns 

There are also several things that a recovery coach is not qualified to do, including:

  • Help clients process trauma 
  • Diagnose or treat any underlying mental health concern
  • Treat addiction in any way 
  • Take a client through the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous 

A recovery coach is not a sponsor or addiction counselor. The client-coach relationship is different in that it is a partnership. The client and their recovery coach work collaboratively to overcome challenges and maintain sobriety and fulfillment. 

Addiction Recovery Coaching 

Addiction recovery coaching is similar to life coaching; the two just have a slightly different focus. While a life coach helps a person work through a range of personal obstacles in their daily lives, recovery coaches focus predominantly on helping their clients stay sober, avoid relapse, and thrive in addiction recovery. 

What kind of things can an addiction recovery coach help with? For many, the period of time immediately following treatment is challenging. Not only is the person new to sobriety, but they are learning to work through emotions and tackle situations they might have successfully avoided or ignored for years. An addiction recovery coach will help guide their clients through the early recovery process. They offer support and encouragement, help them stay connected to a community of like-minded people, and offer personal insight. 

What to Look for in a Recovery Coach 

Recovery coaches are motivators, allies, truth-tellers, role models, problem solvers, resource brokers, advocates, and more. Recovery coaches believe that:

  • People are internally motivated and self-directed. 
  • People bring their own life experiences and knowledge to each situation.
  • A person is in recovery when they say they are. 
  • There are many pathways to recovery. 
  • The focus is on recovery potential, not pathology.
  • The person is the expert on themselves. 

At their core, recovery coaches are non-confrontational, non-adversarial advocates for people in recovery. They can help people remove barriers, add support and tools, and support the person on their recovery journey. 

Levels of Care We Provide

Recovery coaching services are available during each level of clinical care we provide. 

  • The Recovery Ranch Program — Our inpatient rehab in Boulder, Colorado, provides clients with 24/7 care in a comfortable, supportive environment. Clients participate in several hours of intensive therapeutic and holistic programming, followed by various recovery-friendly activities. 
  • Partial Hospitalization — Partial hospitalization, or PHP, often serves as a step-down level of care for those who have completed medical detoxification and inpatient treatment. While clients move through our PHP program, they typically live at home or in a sober living environment. 
  • Intensive Outpatient Treatment — We offer daytime and nighttime Intensive Outpatient treatment (IOP). Our IOP program includes individual and group therapy, relapse prevention training, vocational training, and other pertinent services. 
  • Sober LivingSober living facilities can be an excellent accompaniment to holistic rehab during and after treatment. Our Boulder, Colorado, sober living home is comfortable and structured, providing residents with the accountability they need to thrive in their newfound lives of recovery. 

Find a Recovery Coach in Colorado 

Flatirons Recovery offers group and individual recovery coaching as part of our provided treatment services. Coaching, therapy, and other holistic treatment are integral to early recovery.  If you or someone you know is considering hiring a recovery coach, call Flatirons Recovery today to talk to a professional for a free consultation.  

Finding effective addiction treatment in Colorado might feel overwhelming, especially if you aren’t sure what step to take first. At Flatirons Recovery, we take the guesswork out of receiving quality clinical care. Our dedicated team of licensed addiction specialists is standing by to help guide you or your loved one toward addiction treatment and a life of gratitude and fulfillment. All you need to do is make initial contact.

We look forward to speaking with you soon and helping you begin your journey of healing as quickly as possible.