Sober Life Coaching and sober companionship
what is a sober companion?
David Huffner
As a sober life coach and companion, I provide private and personal services to clients who are trying to get or stay sober.
Sober companions—also called sober life coaches—are becoming more commonplace in the recovery community today. I know from my own lived experience that adjusting to a new life— building new and supportive friendships with other sober people, repairing damaged relationships, breaking bad habits and forming new ones, and learning how to live my life as a contented, responsible and sober man— comes with stresses that can pose a significant challenge to long-lasting recovery. It can’t be done in isolation. And for certain parts of the journey, having someone physically alongside of you who’s been there and who understands and supports you can make all the difference.
beginnings and turning points
In my professional life, I’ve spent over 30 years working with groups of leaders or one-on-one with executives, to help them achieve their business and personal goals. One of the many lessons I’ve learned from my work is that—before you can lead anyone else effectively—you have to be able to lead yourself. You have to figure out who you really are, what you really think, how you really feel, what you value, what drives you and what you really want. All of that work is ahead of you. Right now, though, you just need to keep things calmed down and manageable. You need to gain some traction. And with that, you’ll have the energy and clarity of thinking you’ll need to begin working on the important stuff.
But beginnings are often the hardest part. Lots of things can throw you off course. And you probably know what those things are! The services I offer are intended to ensure that you have the good beginning you need. Very simply, the idea is to make sure that the most vexing early-recovery obstacles and situations you face are managed successfully, so you can continue on your recovery journey.
I can be with you in the moments and places that pose the greatest threat. These are the moments you will look back on some day and recognize as turning points in your recovery.
typical engagements
The most common ways clients in recovery use my services are:
Transportation—Getting There and Back
I will accompany you door-to-door, to or from your treatment center (or wherever it is you need to get to). We’ll drive or fly together, and arrive safely at your destination.
Post-Treatment Transition
I can stay with you once you’ve completed a residential treatment program, to help with the transition. This might involve being in your home and/or doing errands with you for a good part of the day. We might begin with a full sweep of your living and work space, to remove any drugs, alcohol or other items that threaten your sobriety. We will focus on living a sober life in your world—whatever that looks like for you.
On the days we’re together, I’ll help you identify and accomplish the many activities that need to be completed—from grocery shopping and exercise to work, and sober support that might include showing up for your therapist appointment, going to outpatient programming, or attending a 12-step meeting.
Challenging Situations
I help my clients successfully navigate through the kinds of situations that used to baffle, paralyze or trigger them. I can travel with you to a particular event, such as a court hearing, family reunion, funeral or business meeting. These kinds of stressful events can cause relapse for those new to recovery. I’ll help you get and stay grounded and sobriety-focused during the event, and provide emotional support and encouragement in any high-stress situation.
Telephone Support
At times when I am not physically with my clients, I am available during agreed-upon hours via cell phone and text messaging.
what we’ll do
I’m not a paid friend, sponsor, or personal assistant. I am not a therapist. I don’t offer treatment of any kind. I’m perhaps most like a personal trainer—I can’t lift the weights for you. But I’ll go with you to the gym. We’ll talk about what your goals are—what’s realistic—and I’ll help you craft a plan to achieve them. I’ll ask you a lot of questions. In getting to know you, I’ll work to understand what your strengths and values are, what motivates you and what your limiting beliefs are. I’ll listen to you, and share my own non-judgmental insights with you. I’ll be candid, but compassionate and gentle, because I have a very deep respect for what you are trying to do. If I notice something that could threaten your sobriety, I’ll point it out and we’ll address it. I can help you find resources to accelerate your progress in recovery. I’ll offer a range of ideas and we’ll discuss healthier alternatives, and you’ll decide what works best for you. We’ll experiment and we’ll make adjustments.
next steps
Whether you’re beginning again, or new to recovery—if you’re facing circumstances that you know might put your recovery in peril—contact us to arrange a phone conversation. Your discretion is assured.
Service agreements, rates and terms are negotiated on a case-by-case basis. A typical day of service is $3,000—it could be more (if travel, nights or weekends are involved), and could be much less, depending on your requirements. Reasonable travel, accommodation and meal expenses are additional.