Start Training to Be a Recovery Coach
What Do Recovery Coaches Do?
- Assist people who are in recovery using a practical, strengths-based approach.
- Help to initiate and sustain an individual/family in their recovery from substance use or addiction.
- Promote recovery by assisting the person in removing barriers and obstacles to recovery.
- Serve as a personal guide and mentor for people seeking, or already in recovery.
- Help people find resources for harm reduction, detox, treatment, family support and education
- Help create a change plan to assist people in achieving their recovery goals
- Help individuals find ways to stop using (abstinence), or reduce harm associated with addictive behaviors
How Much Do Recovery Coaches Make?
- Working independently, Recovery Coaches can expect to make $35/hour or more depending on their level of experience and the going rate in their locale.
- Recovery coaches who work at facilities often make about $30k/year
Where Do Recovery Coaches Work?
- Recovery coaches can work remotely with anyone in the world using chat, video conferencing and email.
- Many substance abuse treatment facilities, especially intensive outpatient programs, also employ recovery coaches.
How Long Does it Take to Become a Recovery Coach?
- The training takes approximately 175 hours. Courses are online and can be taken 24-hours a day. The exit exam requires completion of a written and oral exam. The oral component can be completed via Skype or another video conferencing platform. Additionally you must complete a 60 contact-hour internship consisting of 6 clients for 10 weeks each . Group supervision is held each week until you get your required number of contact hours, is included in the cost of the certification and is completed via video conferencing. Certification cost: $199 for a limited time.
Recovery Coaching is a type of partnership where the person in or seeking recovery from mental health or addiction issues self directs his/her recovery while the coach provides expertise in supporting successful change. Recovery Coaching focuses on achieving any goals important to the individual. The coach asks questions and offers suggestions to help the “recoveree” begin to take the lead in addressing his/her recovery needs. Recovery Coaching focuses on honoring values and making principle-based decisions, creating a clear plan of action, and using current strengths to reach future goals. The coach serves as an accountability partner to help the person sustain his/her recovery. The Recovery Coach helps the person access recovery, as well as access systems needed to support recovery such as benefits, health care, etc.
Recovery Coaches work with individuals/recoverees beyond recovery initiation through stabilization and into recovery maintenance. They function as a guide to help with decision making and support steps toward recovery. Recovery Coaches do not provide clinical services — (primary treatment for addiction, diagnosis) and recognize that there are many pathways to recovery.
Recovery Coaches support positive change by helping anyone including persons coming home from treatment or the criminal justice system to avoid relapse, build community support for recovery, or work on life goals such as relationships, work, education etc. Recovery Coaching is not therapy. Coaches do not diagnose or treat addiction or any mental health issues. Coaches may assist the individual to access clinical services.