Understanding the Role of Sober Coaches in Addiction Recovery 

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.

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