Addiction Recovery Guidance

• Sharing Lived Experience: I share my personal story of addiction and recovery to build trust and rapport, showing genuine empathy that only someone with shared experience can offer. The timing and content of my sharing are carefully considered to benefit the other person, not to relive trauma.
• Providing Non-Clinical Support: I walk "side-by-side" with individuals, offering emotional support, practical advice, and a non-judgmental listening ear. I do not act as a therapist or a doctor, but as a knowledgeable guide who has navigated similar challenges.
• Developing Recovery Plans: I collaborate with individuals to help them identify their own unique goals for recovery and general wellness (e.g., housing, employment, education). We create a personalized, action-oriented plan, focusing on present improvements and future aspirations rather than past traumas.
• Building Life Skills: A major part of the work involves practical life skills coaching. This might include assisting with daily self-care routines, budgeting, problem-solving techniques, and developing effective communication skills that were often lost during active addiction.
• Connecting to Resources: I act as a liaison to a wide range of community resources, including housing assistance, job placement services, healthcare providers, and various support groups (like AA, SMART Recovery, etc.). I often help clients navigate these complex systems and may even accompany them to appointments if requested.
• Offering Coping Strategies and Relapse Prevention: Based on my own experience and training, I discuss effective coping mechanisms for managing triggers, cravings, and difficult emotions. I help individuals develop strategies to avoid high-risk situations and manage potential setbacks, emphasizing that recovery often involves challenges.
• Serving as a Role Model: By demonstrating a healthy, substance-free lifestyle, I model positive behaviors and show that a life of meaning and purpose in recovery is attainable.
• Advocating: I help individuals advocate for themselves within various systems (legal, healthcare, social services) and, when appropriate, advocate on their behalf to ensure their needs and rights are respected.
• Ensuring Accountability: I hold individuals accountable for the goals they set for themselves, helping them stay on course by providing consistent check-ins and support. This supportive accountability reinforces positive choices and progress.