Recovery indicates a dramatic, pivotal shift in an individual’s life. The intended result is to fully adapt to positive changes while following treatment without the need for substances to aid in one or more mental illnesses. Therefore, a sober companion can help you make the transition back into recovery with more confidence and accountability.
The Power of Friendship Following Treatment
Now, the question is: how powerful is having a sober companion following treatment? You have crossed the finish line of treatment, but you need some additional support transitioning back into the real world. This is where sober companions come in. Their objective is to encourage and guide you through recovery to prevent relapsing.
Sober companions can offer the following:
- Helping eliminate alcohol from the home
- Transporting you to and from rehab, medical appointments, and meetings
- Guidance and support through daily structure
- Practical and emotional support transitioning from addiction treatment to home life
- Medical support during long journeys
- Help dealing with difficult situations with work, family, or travel
- Attendance at social gatherings where a temptation to drink might occur
The services a sober companion provides are situational and strictly professional. Nearly all sober companions work with individuals in some form of treatment, such as a part of a 12-Step program. Some sober companions are even licensed mental health professionals, but the field itself is unregulated.
If you or a loved one wants to be a sober companion, here are the qualifications:
- At least 5 years of sobriety
- A CPR/first aid certification
- Liability insurance
- Basic medical information
Some of the training programs you must enroll in range from mental health to goal setting and coaching. Those who are sober companions have experience in working with individuals with addiction and co-occurring mental health issues. They know what it takes to be resilient, and they also know that having a supportive person in one’s corner is essential for a successful recovery.
What Is the Purpose of Sober Companionship?
Sober companions serve as addiction specialists to keep an eye out for those in early recovery. Having a sober companion, also called a recovery coach, can help someone in recovery retain abstinence. According to Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, “General helping behaviors increased from lower levels in the month prior to getting sober, to moderate levels at 1 year of sobriety, but did not continue to increase with additional years of sobriety.” Referring to the data, that would conclude that a month before sobriety, individuals would be portrayed as altruistic. Regardless, the levels modulate after a year of sobriety, and this indicates that the individual has been steady on their motivated assistance.
Having a sober companion will encourage you to hone in on all you have learned in treatment. They provide emotional support in social situations where the recovering person might be tempted to drink or use substances. Sober companions can also:
- Provide company during meetings and appointments
- Spend several hours a day with the client
- Live with the client briefly
Overall, a sober companion can have a drastic impact on an individual’s recovery to sobriety. They can take you by the hand to change your old lifestyles into healthier routines.
How to Keep a Friend Following Treatment
If an individual is in long-term recovery, it is very likely that a bond between them and their sober companion will form. Similar to making friends in everyday life, you share relevant details about yourself and make plans to hang out. However, sober companions are not friends. It is important you do not take them for granted. For example, they will not run errands or do your laundry.
Instead, sober companions should:
- Ensure that there is a safe environment to return to after graduation
- Keep an eye on behaviors, conservations, and people in the graduate’s life that can trigger old habits
- Assist in reconnection with family and referring a family therapist if needed
Although another person who has gone through what you have been assisting in your process can be a positive arrangement, it is important for you to build your own independence for the long journey ahead.
Where You Can Find Sober Companionship Programs.
With the help of Renaissance Ranch, our accommodating and friendly staff will adhere to your questions and concerns about sober companions. The dedicated treatment providers can direct you to a nearby sober companion through the service companies in your area. Some sober companions do not offer the same services, so it is important to know your pain points while in recovery.
Everyone has their own unique story and background. The risks for addiction and relapse vary by the person, and it can feel overwhelming within the first weeks of recovery. With intensive outpatient programs (IOP) and other cognitive behavioral forms of therapy, Renaissance Ranch will not leave you hanging. Most, if not all, of the provided sober companions have previously recovered from addiction.
Having a friend is wholesome, but having a friend who has gone through what you have makes the journey less lonely. Sober companionship can encourage individuals that they are not alone in their unique journey and struggles. Walking together in each other’s shoes can give you and your companion hope for a better, simpler tomorrow. Research has been performed to conclude that helping others benefit significantly for the helper. If people were a little bit kinder to one another on a daily basis, the load of animosity and worry would cease over time. Unity makes the evils of the world crumble. If you or a loved one is in need of sober companionship, please call (801) 308-8898 for further support.