Addiction recovery is a lifelong process. For many, the idea of staying sober in the midst of triggers, trauma, and the stresses of everyday life is much too overwhelming.
Sober coaches in Birmingham take the intimidating concept of lifelong recovery and bring it down to earth.
By offering short-term emotional and practical support to clients, often alongside other recovery services, they act as a stepping stone to the next era of recovery.
Sober coaching doesn’t have to remain a foreign concept to you. Get in touch with Rehab 4 Addiction on 0800 140 4690 (UK) or +44 345 222 3508 (international) to find the right coach for you.
What are sober coaches, and how do they benefit the city of Birmingham?
Imagine for a moment that you have just completed alcohol rehab in Solihull, and you’re now back home in Saltley.
You’ve got your aftercare plan tucked under your armpit (or on your phone screensaver), and you’re ready to tackle the ongoing therapy, self-help groups, and strategies you’ve been given by medical professionals and addiction experts.
But, there’s a problem…you do feel capable of putting one foot forward every day, but not when you’re juggling childcare, cooking, cleaning, medical appointments, and the fact that you don’t have a solid support system in Saltley, never mind people who would actually understand your addiction and recovery.
That’s where sober coaching comes in. Birmingham sober coaches will work with you to make your everyday life that bit easier, allowing you to put your full effort into staying sober.
Most coaches offer tailored support, meaning you can choose what type of assistance you’d like, how often you want it to be, and how long you would like the support for.
Generally, sober coaching is used as a short-term service, but people with particular challenges may choose to work with a coach on a long-term basis.
Every year, there are 210 substance abuse deaths in Birmingham (1).
The rate of addiction is concerningly high, with around 13,500 Birmingham residents dependent on alcohol, and 10,500 actively using opiates and/or crack cocaine (2).
On top of this, there will be many people suffering in silence, who do not make up part of this statistic.
The figures are scary, but not fixed. Sober coaches are working to reduce the rate of addiction in Birmingham and beyond, something that can give us all hope in the future of this brilliant city.
Sober coaches in Birmingham can be involved with both the emotional and practical elements of recovery, depending on what the client is looking for.
They might help with:
While sober champions can have a lot of involvement in your day-to-day life, boundaries are crucial. Trustworthy coaches will be trained in safeguarding, and they will apply this to their client relationship.
For example, while they may help clients to better manage childcare (such as planning a school pickup routine together), they will not take on the responsibility of caring for the child themselves.
Similarly, many coaches take part in meal planning and cooking with their clients, but simply cooking meals for the client on its own would not be considered appropriate.
Sober coaching is a common tool for many reasons. Clients report feeling:
The risk of relapse is at its highest in the year after rehab, so many people feel much more secure working with a sober coach during this period.
In terms of why sober coaching specifically benefits Birmingham, one reason is that multigenerational living is more prevalent in this area than most areas of the UK.
Whilst this can provide clients with extra support, it can also add stress and pressure to their lives.
Family members may not understand their addiction, they may encourage codependency, and the client may struggle to access the privacy and safe space they need to maintain sobriety.
Sober coaches counteract this by offering confidential conversations in private spaces, promoting independence alongside healthy family relationships, and sometimes even working with the family as a whole to improve their understanding of addiction and their approach to recovery.
Not all sober coaches are in recovery, but the majority are.
Coaches who are in recovery know what it feels like to navigate work, relationships and health whilst dependent on substances.
They can relate to their clients on a very high level, which helps them to avoid judgemental or dismissive approaches to coaching.
Battling addiction often gives people the drive and resilience to become a sober coach, though others feel a passion for coaching despite having never misused substances.
Given addiction can make you vulnerable, it’s important to ensure your sober coach has firm boundaries.
When coaches are not properly trained in addiction and mental health, there can be severe repercussions on both the coach and the client, risking the sobriety both have fought hard for.
Not all sober coaches are made equal. There are certain green flags to look for that demonstrate you’ll be in safe hands, as well as red flags you should stay away from.
With Rehab4Addiction, tailored support is right around the corner.
We introduce people in Birmingham to addiction recovery services that align with their needs. We have witnessed plenty of clients turn to sober coaching alongside rehab, home detoxing, or outpatient treatment, and we never tire of watching people take that crucial step.
Call us on 0800 140 4690 (UK) or +44 345 222 3508 (international) to be referred to a therapist-led sober coach with a wealth of experience in addiction.
If sober coaching isn’t your thing, get in touch anyway! We’ll find support that maximises your chances of recovering sustainably.
Sober coaches can be trained therapists, and in fact it’s recommended to find a coach who offers therapist-led sessions, as their training and experience equip them to guide you through the emotional rollercoaster of recovery.
That being said, a sober coach is not the same thing as a traditional therapist. While therapists tend to offer regular structured talking sessions, sober coaches are more involved in the client’s everyday life, and can get involved practically just as much as emotionally.
They are also not required to be trained in therapy, which can sometimes have negative repercussions due to issues with boundaries and safeguarding. Take care when finding a sober coach in Birmingham, and remember that credentials are key.
Yes, sober coaches can work with the families of those with addiction through methods such as educating them on substance issues, holding family therapy sessions, and encouraging healthy family dynamics.
However, the top priority should always be the paying client. If sober coaching begins to feel like your family are receiving more support than you, reassess your coaching plan, and consider finding another coach.
No, you do not need to wait until you have been to rehab to get a sober coach in Birmingham. At any time, you can find a coach to guide you through your current situation.
If your symptoms or mental state suggest you need to get help immediately, it’s worth delaying a sober coach until you’ve enrolled at a rehab facility in Birmingham. Working with a coach during and after rehab is extremely valuable, but doing so before you’ve got to rehab could put your physical and mental health at risk.
Yes, many sober coaches offer 24/7 services to people who feel they are at a high risk of relapse when left alone. This tends to be a short-term service reserved for key moments of vulnerability, such as arriving home after rehab, recovering from a recent relapse, or struggling to manage mental illness symptoms.
[1] https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/alcoholics-drug-users-birmingham-deaths-25589562
[2] ibid.
