Transparency, Trust, and Tailored Recovery: Why I Left the Rehab Model and What I’m Offering Now

Entering the field of recovery coaching wasn’t a calculated business move — it was a heart-driven decision, born from my personal journey through addiction, academic study, and several years working within a clinical rehab setting. I didn’t leave treatment work because it was ineffective — in fact, I’ve seen firsthand how structured programs can and do change lives. I left because I saw a gap that needed to be filled.

Why I Stepped Away from Clinical Rehab

Working in a licensed treatment center gave me invaluable experience. I led group therapy sessions, offered one-on-one counselling, facilitated family support, mindfulness practices, intakes, and research-based interventions. I’m grateful for what I learned in that space — but I also learned that the care often stops when the program ends for the client.

The system simply doesn’t have the flexibility to support people after discharge in a deep, continuous, real-world way. Follow-up care is limited. Building long-term rapport with clients — or as I prefer to say, people — is restricted by institutional boundaries. Yet the truth is, the real work of recovery begins after rehab. That’s where I wanted to stay involved — and it’s what ultimately led me to become a Sober Coach.

Recovery Coaching: Not for Everyone — But Deeply Transformational for Some

Let me be completely upfront: this type of coaching is not for everyone. If you are not fully committed to a change of life, this is not for you.  Coaching is intensive, time-consuming, and highly personal, and for that reason, it comes at a cost. As an independent, self-employed practitioner, I commit a significant portion of my time and emotional energy to each individual I serve.

That said, if coaching isn’t financially feasible for you, I wholeheartedly recommend the following effective and free programs that can change your life:

• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)

• Narcotics Anonymous (NA)

• Cocaine Anonymous (CA)

• SMART Recovery

• Refuge Recovery (Buddhist-inspired)

• Dharma Recovery

• Online education (YouTube, podcasts, free workshops — many excellent ones exist)

For long term recovery to be maintained and sustained you need commitment, courage, connection and collaboration. And if you dedicate yourself — these programs can work. I strongly advocate for the 12-step model. In fact, I attended meetings myself. I still use many of the tools and principles in my daily life. “It works if you work it” isn’t just a slogan — it’s a profound truth.

This Work Must Be Tailor-Made Because You Are Unique.

Recovery is not one-size-fits-all. You are not a statistic or a diagnosis — you’re a human being with unique challenges, goals, and rhythms. My role as a coach is to work with you, not on you. Together, we’ll co-create a recovery process that is aligned with your life, your responsibilities, and your values.

This is not a replacement for therapy. It’s not a bootcamp or a miracle cure. It’s a reciprocal partnership built on honesty, compassion, education, and shared responsibility. This is why it doesn’t always fit in a clinical model — it’s too personal, too flexible, and too unconventional. But for the right person, in the right place, it can be transformational.

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