Sober Coach
Encyclopedia
A sober companion or sober coach provides one-on-one assistance to newly recovering drug addicts and alcoholics. The goal is to help the client maintain total abstinence from alcohol and drugs to establish healthy routines outside of a residential treatment facility. Controversy exists between sober companions, not only in their name (sober companion vs. sober coach), but over the use of any situation placing them in contact with other enablers, whereas some sober companions strongly disagree with 12 step programs, and many sober companions are anti-AA (dr.sober companion being amongst the anti-aa, anti 12 step) while maintaining promising results.
One key difference between a sober companion and a sober coach, is that a sober coach is a direct descendant of the Alcoholics Anonymous
"sponsor," a significant difference being that the sober coaching is done for payment while a sponsor works for free as the practice of the 12th step, carrying the message of recovery.
A sober companion chaperone
s or babysits a recovering addict to help ensure they do not relapse
. They may be hired to provide round the clock
care, be on-call, or to accompany the recovering addict during particular activities, however any moment away from a sober companion, would ultimately reduce the effectiveness to stay sober and in some cases stay alive. A companion acts as an advocate for the newly recovering person and provides new ways for the client to act in their own living environment. Companions use techniques such as chiropractic adjustments, acupuncture, meditation, distraction, massage, diet and proper nutrition, exercise and even prayer and affirmation of sober choices. A sober companion either completely removes the addict from his own environment of hidden stashes, or may search for hidden drugs in their own environment, in an effort to restrain a client to prevent them from relapsing.
Controversy between sober companions over the use of replacement therapy, or simply put "drugs to stop other drugs" is simply not acceptable by dr.sober companion, as well as other sober companions and sober coaches On the other hand, it is not only acceptable by sober coach doug caine, but a requirement. Sober Companions are sometimes used as a replacement for residential addiction treatment or other forms of drug rehabilitation
but Doug Caine (Sober Champions) and rehabilitation center staff such as Dr. Hunsicker recommend a combined approach, particularly for people at high risk of relapse. They suggest that companions can help a patient successfully transition from a heavily structured, secure environment into the world where he or she previously failed to stay sober. Despite this some experts like Dr. Jennifer Schneider are skeptical of the companion approach and its dependence on a single individual.
Controversy exists in how long a sober companion is needed. While allowing an addict to decide, will certainly shorten the time, and allow for a quicker relapse. Sober companion treatment done properly lasts for 30 days minimum. Others, editing this wiki page, would have you believe it lasts from one to four weeks, with ten to fourteen days being the norm. Ideally, a companion's presence in the patient's life will decrease as the patient proves his or her ability to confront family, work, and legal issues without relapse. Some providers stay with their client for many months, and some offer only transportation services (for instance, to and from treatment facilities or sober living homes). The sober companion's duties encompass a wide variety, from simply ensuring the client remains abstinent to serving as a resource broker in the client's home community.
Sober companions are sometimes used in cases where an actor or a musicians will not attend treatment, but must remain abstinent to complete a film or recording project.(Park, Robin, 1990, Navarro, 2007, Hollywood Rag, 2008 and Soden,Blair 2007). They are also depicted by some media outlets (Navarro, 2007) as "adult babysitters" for actors, musicians, and other celebrities.
In keeping with several other forms of drug rehabilitation, sober companions do not need to have any formal training or qualification. Most companions are recovering addicts (but not all) who, themselves, have been able to maintain multiple years of sobriety. While some companions will have some training in psychology, sociology, and/or medicine, in addition to a strong personal program of recovery, some may have taken the Recovery Coaching
certifications offered by Recovery Coaching International (RCI.org) or the very inexpensive (sometimes free) training offered by the Connecticut Center for Addiction Recovery (CCAR.org) training in a model for peer recovery support specialist roles and responsibilities. There are growing recovery associations (Sober.com, crossroadscoaching.com, RCI.org, ICF.org, OASAS.org) and boards established to set standards or monitor the state of the field recovery coaching, that overlaps some of the roles of a sober companion. There is no formal sober companion oversight and accountability as yet. Since early in 2011, Faces and Voices in Recovery (www.facesandvoicesofrecovery.org) has been working on developing standards, credentialing and more clearly defined roles of a recovery coach, peer support specialist
, and a sober companion. One can see why there is a concern according to the California Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors, as it is a process that is just underway.
That summer, while touring for the new album, co-manager, David Krebs, hired a psychiatrist to tour with the band. After a month, the doctor claimed the band was "unfixable". Krebs left the band. Aerosmith denied drugs were dragging down the tour and the album sales. (Aerosmith and Davis, 1997). The band pointed their fingers outward, blaming everyone else for their problems. The band changed record labels from CBS Records to Arista Records, and hired Tim Collins to manage the band (Aerosmith & Davis 1997).
Tim Collins, told the group that in order to survive they had to get sober, claiming that if they stopped using alcohol and drugs, he could take them “platinum” again (George –Warren & Romanowski , 2001).
Band members Joey Kramer and Tom Hamilton both became sober and by the fall of 1986. Steven Tyler went to an in-treatment drug rehabilitation center, followed by Joe Perry. By the end of 1986, the final band member Brad Whitford had accepted sobriety. Even so, Aerosmith’s sobriety commitment to Tim Collins was only partially completed. Collins still had to get these heavy metal rockers on the road, with roadies, groupies, opening acts and exposure to more drugs and alcohol, in order to promote their newest album, Permanent Vacation. Tim was able to help the group, maintain sobriety throughout the tour by contracting a recovery coach, Bob Timmons (1946- 2008) to stay with the band through the tour.
A new era of recovery support had begun. Sober Companions became an important form of support especially to persons in high risk situations or those under contract to perform.
One key difference between a sober companion and a sober coach, is that a sober coach is a direct descendant of the Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous is an international mutual aid movement which says its "primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics achieve sobriety." Now claiming more than 2 million members, AA was founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith in Akron, Ohio...
"sponsor," a significant difference being that the sober coaching is done for payment while a sponsor works for free as the practice of the 12th step, carrying the message of recovery.
A sober companion chaperone
Chaperone (clinical)
In clinical medicine, a chaperone is a person who serves as a witness for both a patient and a medical practitioner as a safeguard for both parties during a medical examination or procedure. The exact responsibilities vary according to the clinical situation....
s or babysits a recovering addict to help ensure they do not relapse
Relapse
Relapse, in relation to drug misuse, is resuming the use of a drug or a dependent substance after one or more periods of abstinence. The term is a landmark feature of both substance dependence and substance abuse, which are learned behaviors, and is maintained by neuronal adaptations that mediate...
. They may be hired to provide round the clock
24/7
24/7 is an abbreviation which stands for "24 hours a day, 7 days a week", usually referring to a business or service available at all times without interruption...
care, be on-call, or to accompany the recovering addict during particular activities, however any moment away from a sober companion, would ultimately reduce the effectiveness to stay sober and in some cases stay alive. A companion acts as an advocate for the newly recovering person and provides new ways for the client to act in their own living environment. Companions use techniques such as chiropractic adjustments, acupuncture, meditation, distraction, massage, diet and proper nutrition, exercise and even prayer and affirmation of sober choices. A sober companion either completely removes the addict from his own environment of hidden stashes, or may search for hidden drugs in their own environment, in an effort to restrain a client to prevent them from relapsing.
Controversy between sober companions over the use of replacement therapy, or simply put "drugs to stop other drugs" is simply not acceptable by dr.sober companion, as well as other sober companions and sober coaches On the other hand, it is not only acceptable by sober coach doug caine, but a requirement. Sober Companions are sometimes used as a replacement for residential addiction treatment or other forms of drug rehabilitation
Drug rehabilitation
Drug rehabilitation is a term for the processes of medical or psychotherapeutic treatment, for dependency on psychoactive substances such as alcohol, prescription drugs, and so-called street drugs such as cocaine, heroin or amphetamines...
but Doug Caine (Sober Champions) and rehabilitation center staff such as Dr. Hunsicker recommend a combined approach, particularly for people at high risk of relapse. They suggest that companions can help a patient successfully transition from a heavily structured, secure environment into the world where he or she previously failed to stay sober. Despite this some experts like Dr. Jennifer Schneider are skeptical of the companion approach and its dependence on a single individual.
Controversy exists in how long a sober companion is needed. While allowing an addict to decide, will certainly shorten the time, and allow for a quicker relapse. Sober companion treatment done properly lasts for 30 days minimum. Others, editing this wiki page, would have you believe it lasts from one to four weeks, with ten to fourteen days being the norm. Ideally, a companion's presence in the patient's life will decrease as the patient proves his or her ability to confront family, work, and legal issues without relapse. Some providers stay with their client for many months, and some offer only transportation services (for instance, to and from treatment facilities or sober living homes). The sober companion's duties encompass a wide variety, from simply ensuring the client remains abstinent to serving as a resource broker in the client's home community.
Sober companions are sometimes used in cases where an actor or a musicians will not attend treatment, but must remain abstinent to complete a film or recording project.(Park, Robin, 1990, Navarro, 2007, Hollywood Rag, 2008 and Soden,Blair 2007). They are also depicted by some media outlets (Navarro, 2007) as "adult babysitters" for actors, musicians, and other celebrities.
In keeping with several other forms of drug rehabilitation, sober companions do not need to have any formal training or qualification. Most companions are recovering addicts (but not all) who, themselves, have been able to maintain multiple years of sobriety. While some companions will have some training in psychology, sociology, and/or medicine, in addition to a strong personal program of recovery, some may have taken the Recovery Coaching
Recovery Coaching
Recovery Coaching is a form of strengths-based support for persons with addictions or in recovery from alcohol, other drugs, codependency, or other addictive behaviors. Recovery Coaches work with persons with active addictions as well as persons already in recovery...
certifications offered by Recovery Coaching International (RCI.org) or the very inexpensive (sometimes free) training offered by the Connecticut Center for Addiction Recovery (CCAR.org) training in a model for peer recovery support specialist roles and responsibilities. There are growing recovery associations (Sober.com, crossroadscoaching.com, RCI.org, ICF.org, OASAS.org) and boards established to set standards or monitor the state of the field recovery coaching, that overlaps some of the roles of a sober companion. There is no formal sober companion oversight and accountability as yet. Since early in 2011, Faces and Voices in Recovery (www.facesandvoicesofrecovery.org) has been working on developing standards, credentialing and more clearly defined roles of a recovery coach, peer support specialist
Peer support specialist
-Peer Recovery Support Specialist:A Peer Recovery Support Specialist is an occupational title for a person who has progressed in their own recovery from alcohol or other drug abuse or mental disorder and is willing to self-identify as a peer and work to assist other individuals with chemical...
, and a sober companion. One can see why there is a concern according to the California Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors, as it is a process that is just underway.
Brief History of Sober Companions
In 1984, the rock group Aerosmith was attempting a comeback; but it was not working, just as their newest album Back in the Saddle was not climbing the charts. There were a lot of things that were not working for Aerosmith, Joe Perry and Steven Tyler, front men for the group, are referred to as the “Toxic Twins” for their heroin habits and other behaviors on and off the stage. (George-Warren & Romanowski, 2001). In fact, the entire band was heavily drinking or taking drugs.That summer, while touring for the new album, co-manager, David Krebs, hired a psychiatrist to tour with the band. After a month, the doctor claimed the band was "unfixable". Krebs left the band. Aerosmith denied drugs were dragging down the tour and the album sales. (Aerosmith and Davis, 1997). The band pointed their fingers outward, blaming everyone else for their problems. The band changed record labels from CBS Records to Arista Records, and hired Tim Collins to manage the band (Aerosmith & Davis 1997).
Tim Collins, told the group that in order to survive they had to get sober, claiming that if they stopped using alcohol and drugs, he could take them “platinum” again (George –Warren & Romanowski , 2001).
Band members Joey Kramer and Tom Hamilton both became sober and by the fall of 1986. Steven Tyler went to an in-treatment drug rehabilitation center, followed by Joe Perry. By the end of 1986, the final band member Brad Whitford had accepted sobriety. Even so, Aerosmith’s sobriety commitment to Tim Collins was only partially completed. Collins still had to get these heavy metal rockers on the road, with roadies, groupies, opening acts and exposure to more drugs and alcohol, in order to promote their newest album, Permanent Vacation. Tim was able to help the group, maintain sobriety throughout the tour by contracting a recovery coach, Bob Timmons (1946- 2008) to stay with the band through the tour.
A new era of recovery support had begun. Sober Companions became an important form of support especially to persons in high risk situations or those under contract to perform.