A Recovery Coach is anyone trained in promoting recovery by removing barriers to recovery and by serving as a personal guide and mentor for people seeking recovery.
According to CCAR, the recognized leader in Recovery Coach development and training, a Recovery Coach has roles and responsibilities to be: a motivator and cheerleader, an ally and confidant, a truth-teller, a role model and mentor, a
problem solver, a resource broker, an advocate, a
community organizer, a lifestyle consultant and a friendly companion.
They are not a sponsor, a counselor or therapist, a medical professional, a lawyer of clergy. They can have any of these professional titles and still be a Recovery Coach yet they are to stay in their lane and meet clients where they are at as a Recovery Coach.
Their four goals are to: promote recovery, remove barriers, connect their clients with support and encouragement.
Recovery Coaches support both chemical
issues like alcohol and other drugs yet also support process issues like gambling and sex. Each coach has their own experience and tends to stick to what they do best--sharing what they've learned with others--essentially
the School of Hard Knocks. Most Recovery Coaches do what they can to facilitate a recovery team for each individual based on their specific needs. It's been noted that people recover in groups and relapse alone. Hence recovery team building it critical to continuity of care and long-term success.
