What does a Recovery Coach do, what does the job entail? A recovery coach helps those who are battling addiction, substance abuse in particular and those who are grieving from loss of a loved one to death, divorce, theft, debt, income, suffering any trauma, gender-based violence and mental health issues. I offer support groups or one-on-one sessions with recoveree clients, where I create a safe non-judgemental environment. Each individual has the freedom to share their experience and find their own solutions to recovery, based on the clients own cultural background, beliefs, values and financial status.
Why and when did you decide to venture into this career? I saw first hand how addiction can harm relationships and people using and abusing substances. Family members who were selling substances being arrested, putting pressure on the rest of the family to find ways to cope financially and emotionally. Personally I had to deal with mental health issues after childhood rejection and abandonment, which led to mental health issues such as depression. This depression caused me to have suicidal tendencies. This got worse over the years when I had to further deal with grief after losing loved ones to death, either by natural causes or traumatic loss. I was affected by more rejection and abandonment after my first failed marriage due to gender-based violence. I found passion in helping other people going through tough times. In 2007, I assisted a young lady who had given birth to a baby girl and had no place to go. This started my journey to get to know the heart of the addict, other people that were broken-hearted, grieving, suffering from trauma and mental health issues. In 2013 I was part of an organisation in Johannesburg that was tasked with rolling out programmes in line with the Presidential Intervention in Eldorado Park. I did some courses of which Recovery Coaching was one of the best programmes that took me through my own healing process and qualified me to help other people to go through their own healing and recovery process.
What makes this career so exciting for you? It gives me a chance to not only help others, but also to fulfil my purpose. Recovery Coaching is a way of life and not a job. I meet people with problems, who feel hopeless and helpless. Just seeing a person change his own life, knowing that they have the choice and their own will to do so, is just so rewarding.
What challenges do you experience – what is the most difficult aspect of this career? When people feel judged and pushed away by the ones supposed to love and protect them, they find it hard to trust a stranger with their problems. This person takes longer to notice the stage where they are at and takes longer in their recovery process. The biggest challenge is affordability. Although I keep costs low, recovery coaching is highly specialised. People appreciate and value something more when they pay for it, and in this career, the challenge lies in that the clients seek help when they have little or no income, because of what they are going through. Some people need in-patient treatment and cannot afford the prices of good institutions. It is also very painful for me to see the youth and adults alike, go back to old habits because they don’t have consistent support.
What makes this career unique? You are the decision maker in your recovery. Everybody wants to be understood, respected, heard, loved, cared for and have a sense of belonging. Regardless of the choices made in life. Recovery Coaching methods helps the client to be in control of their own decisions, rather than telling the client what to do. The client finds their potential that works for them and I support them. Should a client need treatment, I will be that support before, during and after treatment.
What did you have to study to qualify as a recovery coach? The Recovery Coaching Model is trade marked by David Collins and facilitated by Ubuntu Academy for Coaches and Trainers. I did a recovery coaching course in 2015 and peer recovery specialist this year. The training varies from eight weeks online for the recovery coaching training and three to six weeks for the peer recovery coaching. These courses can be done online and in person, where the modules are discussed in an interactive learning environment. You have to complete assignments and tasks which includes coaching hours that you need to record and submit to the U-ACT and an open book exam is done. After that you do a live 15 minute assessment with assessors either online or in person. The costs vary and can be discussed with the facilitator.
How would someone know and identify that this is the career for them? If you have experienced addiction, trauma, mental illness and have passion, willingness and strong drive to be part of the change makers of the world, this career may be for you. You will know when you have supported someone and see the change not only in them but how supporting someone else changes and helps you too. It becomes more than just a career.
