Why I hired a recovery coach

In March 2017 I saw someone post online about sobriety in a shared group. A business group, not something recovery related. Immediately I was shocked and so impressed that she was bravely talking about alcohol and sobriety “in front of people”. The group was one of those huge ones where there might be a hundred posts in a day so it was pure chance that I saw this one. Not a coincidence, she’d say. 

I was a few months sober then — not really solid yet, but motivated. I knew this time was different — this was quitting for real, for good, not “trying to quit” for the millionth time. I was making it my full time job to stay quit.

I had only a vague idea of what a coach might be. I remember opening her post in its own window and staring at it for a while before I had the courage to reply. I made public reply, saying I was interested in help! That felt really bold and the boldness of it encouraged me. I met with her online and felt a connection with her. I could tell she had empathy for me and a bit of a challenge as well. 

The payment for her program was significant but not huge. It was easy to see as a smart investment in myself, making my sobriety even more solid and expanding my personal development. I’d already computed how much I was saving by not drinking, and had treated myself to a new camera, a personal development course, and a dance training. 

My sobriety in the beginning had been all about avoidance strategies: lots of napping and baths and going for long walks without my purse. I reorganised my apartment at least seven times. This evolved to more active strategies including dancing, meetings, journaling. I’d immersed myself in podcasts, books, and groups about recovery, and I had given up the idea of doing it all myself. I was seeking help anywhere I could find it. I was ready to take a leap, and seeing that post in an unexpected place gave me a jolt. I realised there are other sober people out there everywhere, and some of them are helping others in the process. 

Working with her was so rich I continued for quite a while. She helped me get the insights into my own patterns that enabled me to change for good. She saw me become a new person, or become the person I had been before drinking suppressed myself down to nothing. Three years later I’m still grateful for those lessons, support, accountability, and mentorship, and the experience was positive it inspired me to become a qualified Recovery Coach too so I could provide the same support for other newly sober women.

What would a quantum leap do for your recovery? Let’s connect and have an open discussion about the next steps in your journey. Click here to get started.