RealYou Revolution was invited onto the Wicked Sober Voices of Hope Radio show the other night to explain more about Recovery Coaching and how we got started!   Attorney General candidate Warren Tolman also called in with an explanation of the work he plans to do in the world of substance abuse, treatment, and recovery.  Want to learn more about the world of addiction and recovery and how we can help you? Then listen to this broadcast from August, 13th!

I frequently hear, "Why do people need a recovery coach, and why isn't their AA sponsor enough?" Addiction treatment can be extremely overwhelming to someone who wants to get clean, but being released from treatment is far more overwhelming. Leaving detox or treatment with the support of a professional who is is properly trained in guiding someone through the different stages of sobriety can make a remarkable difference. I believe every single person should have a therapist and a recovery coach: a therapist to work on issues from your past, and a coach who has been where you have been, and who can help bring you to a new level in the present and future. The article below not only talks about how recovery coaching can maximize your investments in treatment, but also about how it is now a critical tool in the recovery arsenal. 

Recovery Coach Helps An Addict Resist Heroin's Lure

Despite the fact that many consider it harsh, I frequently identify myself as an addict. I am an addict because I want more and more of anything and everything that makes me feel good or takes me out of myself. For many of us, the notion of looking inward is absolutely terrifying. What will I see? What pain will I have to feel? What if I don't like what I see? Will I have to change things that are comfortable in order to grow? This is not just terrifying to people who have been battling an unhealthy dependency to alcohol or drugs. It is a basic human fear. In the beautiful video clip below, actress and model Amber Valletta comes out for the first time as an alcoholic and addict. While the entire video is heartfelt and enlightening, it's what she says in the last few minutes that remind me why recovery is so vital to our spirit; recovery from the basic struggle of being human and having past fears and painful memories. "Diving into dark places in myself that scare me or I feel ugly about is where the real growth comes from, from pausing, from being able to look within." This is a daily challenge, it has not become easy simply because I've started to do it. But it is where my real growth comes from – and I want to keep growing...

I wanted to share this very basic (but very awesome!) article on understanding addiction and how it creeps up on so many unsuspecting people. No one wants to admit they are a drug addict or an alcoholic. I realized a long time ago that these labels, and the confusion about what they meant to me, were preventing me from being brutally honest with myself and getting the help I needed. There are so many types of addiction that this article could be talking about. If you or someone you know is exhibiting signs of alcoholism or is dealing with drug abuse or other addictive behaviors, call us today at 774-329-4393.

Understanding How Drug Addicts Think: The Progression of Addiction

My personal belief is that there is not one specific way to overcome addiction. What worked for me was surrounding myself with a lot of intelligent and positive people who were recovering from their own addictions. The more people in my life who had what I wanted, the more excited I was about the future possibilities and the more attainable long-term sobriety seemed. The mainstream is catching on to this, and people are starting to understand the critical advantages of working with a well-qualified recovery coach or sobriety coach. I thought this New York Times article offered an excellent perspective on the benefits of recovery coaching services for mothers.

Mothers Find a Helping Hand in Sobriety Coaches

This warning about the Recovery Coaching industry is not far from the truth. Sadly, unqualified people are capitalizing on addiction every day. When hiring a Recovery Coach it is absolutely critical to ensure that he or she is fully certified through the National Association for Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC). Anyone can call themselves a "Life Coach" or a "Recovery Coach." Actually being one is a different story. What you need is to understand their credentials and experiences. Does the coach you are considering have the type of life that they are proclaiming they can help you to achieve? Do they truly understand different types of addiction, how to overcome addiction, and how to live an amazing life while recovering from addiction? 

What do Recovery Coaches and Sober Companions Do? (And Why Should You be Wary of Them)