Going through rehabilitation on your own can be a challenging and frightening experience. Leaving a residential addiction treatment program and returning to the world on your own is often more difficult, simply because many people return to the same scenario where they were addicted or using in the past after leaving a safe and well-supported environment. Many people employ sober companions or recovery coaches to help with the transition between commencing recovery and reintegrating back into society.

While sober partners are not for everyone, they can be immensely beneficial in the recovery process. Understanding what a sober companion is, what they do, and how they can assist you will help you make an informed decision about your own recovery.

What Is the Role of a Sober Companion?

A sober companion is someone who comes home with you to help you adjust to life again, strives to keep you sober, and gives emotional and psychological support to help you stay clean and sober during this difficult time. Because a substantial majority of recovering addicts leave treatment and promptly relapse, this is crucial for many.

While early relapse is generally followed by recovery, by offering support and accountability, a sober companion can help you remain on track and avoid relapse altogether.

Companionship

Sober buddies strive to provide fundamental company during a trying time in your life. This is perfect for people who live alone, are estranged from friends or family, or would otherwise be without important emotional support as they leave rehab. Your sober companion will converse with you, assist you in overcoming cravings, and generally offer company and companionship.

This includes mental support while you're dealing with triggers, referrals to a counselor or group therapy, and advice when you're in need.

Relapse Prevention

Sober companions are usually proactive in their efforts to keep you from relapsing. This may entail screening your home for drugs and alcohol, accompanying you out to prevent you from purchasing drugs or alcohol, and actively assisting you in saying no when relapse possibilities arise.

A sober companion will, in most situations, just stay with you, help you avoid relapsing by taking you to meetings, and act as a friend and companion.

Different Types of Sober Companions

In the majority of circumstances, you have three options for sober companionship. Sober companions are typically live-in, on-call, or escort-based, however availability varies by rehab institution and location.

Live-In

As you exit inpatient care or begin outpatient care, live-in sober companions move into your home or into a sober or halfway house with you. If you have drugs or alcohol, your sober mate will actively search your home for them and throw them out.

Depending on the sober companion, they might provide additional services like cooking and cleaning, as well as work with you to develop good eating and exercise routines. A sober coach, for example, may construct a daily program for you that includes exercise, diet, meditation, and self-care, which they will help you learn and practice.

On-Call

On-call sober companions are an alternative if you want a sober companion to support you during your recovery but don't have the time or resources to have a live-in companion. Your sober buddy is available on demand here, and you can phone them (usually at any time) to request that they speak with you or come to see you.

This option is perfect if you only require assistance with cravings or triggers and do not require someone to share your living environment.

Escort-Based

Sober companions who act as escorts are largely responsible for preventing you from purchasing substances while traveling to and from work, social gatherings, recovery or group meetings, or your therapist. If you don't trust yourself not to relapse if you're left alone, but don't require emotional support beyond your counselor, friends, and family, this form of support is ideal.

Benefits of Hiring a Sober Companion

Sober companies can provide a variety of benefits and can aid in your recovery by reducing relapse. Your sober companion's services, as well as their training and qualifications for the role, will vary greatly depending on the individual.

You can typically rely on a sober companion for:

Emotional Support

Feeling valued, motivated, and willing to push through problems like cravings and triggers requires emotional support. Simply having someone to talk to, who can listen to you without passing judgment, can substantially enhance your outlook and ability to persevere when things get tough.

Sober companions are excellent in this capacity, and many will have basic counseling or psychological support skills.

Social Accountability

A sober companion holds you accountable for maintaining your sobriety. They will often become your friend and stay with you for up to 30 days, if not longer. This will make relapse more difficult since you will have someone to keep you clean and sober for, and you will feel accountable and likely guilty if you relapse, giving you more reason to stay clean and sober.

Preventing Drug Use

While your sober companion will provide emotional and psychological support to help you avoid using drugs and alcohol, they will also provide physical support. This might include everything from removing drugs and alcohol from your possessions to checking your home and providing an escort when you depart. This makes it much more difficult to relapse, which is why sober partners are frequently used when recovering patients lack drive to do so on their own.

Your sober partner may offer extra services such as support, nutrition advice, and exercise instruction in some circumstances, but this can vary greatly.

Conclusion

A sober friend can be extremely beneficial during the transition from initially becoming sober to returning to your normal life, as well as in preventing relapse during outpatient addiction treatment. Sober companions are not a substitute for treatment or behavioral therapy. Elysian Sober Services can provide emotional support and help you stay clean or sober while you adjust, re-learn to live with normal life, and continue your recovery journey.

Going through rehabilitation on your own can be a challenging and frightening experience. Leaving a residential addiction treatment program and returning to the world on your own is often more difficult, simply because many people return to the same scenario where they were addicted or using in the past after leaving a safe and well-supported environment. Many people employ sober companions or recovery coaches to help with the transition between commencing recovery and reintegrating back into society.

While sober partners are not for everyone, they can be immensely beneficial in the recovery process. Understanding what a sober companion is, what they do, and how they can assist you will help you make an informed decision about your own recovery.

What Is the Role of a Sober Companion?

A sober companion is someone who comes home with you to help you adjust to life again, strives to keep you sober, and gives emotional and psychological support to help you stay clean and sober during this difficult time. Because a substantial majority of recovering addicts leave treatment and promptly relapse, this is crucial for many.

While early relapse is generally followed by recovery, by offering support and accountability, a sober companion can help you remain on track and avoid relapse altogether.

Companionship

Sober buddies strive to provide fundamental company during a trying time in your life. This is perfect for people who live alone, are estranged from friends or family, or would otherwise be without important emotional support as they leave rehab. Your sober companion will converse with you, assist you in overcoming cravings, and generally offer company and companionship.

This includes mental support while you're dealing with triggers, referrals to a counselor or group therapy, and advice when you're in need.

Relapse Prevention

Sober companions are usually proactive in their efforts to keep you from relapsing. This may entail screening your home for drugs and alcohol, accompanying you out to prevent you from purchasing drugs or alcohol, and actively assisting you in saying no when relapse possibilities arise.

A sober companion will, in most situations, just stay with you, help you avoid relapsing by taking you to meetings, and act as a friend and companion.

Different Types of Sober Companions

In the majority of circumstances, you have three options for sober companionship. Sober companions are typically live-in, on-call, or escort-based, however availability varies by rehab institution and location.

Live-In

As you exit inpatient care or begin outpatient care, live-in sober companions move into your home or into a sober or halfway house with you. If you have drugs or alcohol, your sober mate will actively search your home for them and throw them out.

Depending on the sober companion, they might provide additional services like cooking and cleaning, as well as work with you to develop good eating and exercise routines. A sober coach, for example, may construct a daily program for you that includes exercise, diet, meditation, and self-care, which they will help you learn and practice.

On-Call

On-call sober companions are an alternative if you want a sober companion to support you during your recovery but don't have the time or resources to have a live-in companion. Your sober buddy is available on demand here, and you can phone them (usually at any time) to request that they speak with you or come to see you.

This option is perfect if you only require assistance with cravings or triggers and do not require someone to share your living environment.

Escort-Based

Sober companions who act as escorts are largely responsible for preventing you from purchasing substances while traveling to and from work, social gatherings, recovery or group meetings, or your therapist. If you don't trust yourself not to relapse if you're left alone, but don't require emotional support beyond your counselor, friends, and family, this form of support is ideal.

Benefits of Hiring a Sober Companion

Sober companies can provide a variety of benefits and can aid in your recovery by reducing relapse. Your sober companion's services, as well as their training and qualifications for the role, will vary greatly depending on the individual.

You can typically rely on a sober companion for:

Emotional Support

Feeling valued, motivated, and willing to push through problems like cravings and triggers requires emotional support. Simply having someone to talk to, who can listen to you without passing judgment, can substantially enhance your outlook and ability to persevere when things get tough.

Sober companions are excellent in this capacity, and many will have basic counseling or psychological support skills.

Social Accountability

A sober companion holds you accountable for maintaining your sobriety. They will often become your friend and stay with you for up to 30 days, if not longer. This will make relapse more difficult since you will have someone to keep you clean and sober for, and you will feel accountable and likely guilty if you relapse, giving you more reason to stay clean and sober.

Preventing Drug Use

While your sober companion will provide emotional and psychological support to help you avoid using drugs and alcohol, they will also provide physical support. This might include everything from removing drugs and alcohol from your possessions to checking your home and providing an escort when you depart. This makes it much more difficult to relapse, which is why sober partners are frequently used when recovering patients lack drive to do so on their own.

Your sober partner may offer extra services such as support, nutrition advice, and exercise instruction in some circumstances, but this can vary greatly.

Conclusion

A sober friend can be extremely beneficial during the transition from initially becoming sober to returning to your normal life, as well as in preventing relapse during outpatient addiction treatment. Sober companions are not a substitute for treatment or behavioral therapy. Elysian Sober Services can provide emotional support and help you stay clean or sober while you adjust, re-learn to live with normal life, and continue your recovery journey.