Navigating Early Recovery: The Role of Peer Recovery Coaches

The Role of Peer Recovery Coaches

Early recovery can be both an exciting and challenging time. An individual in early recovery has taken vital steps toward health and happiness, yet they are still experiencing substance cravings and conflicting desires.

The early phase of sobriety is often considered to be the most tumultuous time in recovery, when relapse risk is the highest (upwards of 70% of individuals return to using within their first year of sobriety). A strong support system can provide the resources needed to keep an individual on the right path and help to ensure that these times make them stronger and more committed than ever.

At Unity Recovery Services, our services provide a strong network of peer-based recovery programs and aim to connect people to local resources that assist in building a supportive recovery network.

What is a peer recovery coach?

A recovery coach serves as a personal guide and mentor to persons seeking or already active in recovery. By linking individuals in recovery to treatment and other services, and removing other barriers to recovery, recovery coaches serve as advocates and educate within the community on behalf of those they serve.

At Unity Recovery Services, our peer-based support pairs individuals having lived recovery experience with individuals who are seeking recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. These recovery coaches then walk with them on their recovery journey, and provide encouragement and perspective during difficult times.

In the early recovery phase, individuals will often have to face daily challenges such as; maintaining/securing housing, employment, and family relationships; and do so without the use drugs and/or alcohol. This can be very difficult. Recovery coaches provide a key role of positive reinforcement when individuals in recovery face difficult situations and choices, as they can provide helpful insight to outcomes of poor choices from their lived experiences.

How do recovery coaches help?

There are many ways in which peer recovery coaches can lend you a helping hand. A few roles of a peer recovery coach include:

• Serve as an example of what is possible in terms of sobriety and mental health recovery.
• Educate individuals in recovery about substance dependency as well as mental health concerns.
• Connect individuals in recovery to treatment and other services, while also working to remove barriers to recovery.
• Advocate and educate our communities on behalf of those in recovery and the services available to them.

Interested in becoming a recovery coach?

Unity Recovery Services hosts CCAR Certified Recovery Coach Trainings that are open to members of the community. Contact us to learn more today and to get involved.