Why Would You Choose a Sober Companion Over Alternatives?

Many people assume the solutions to addiction are limited to rehab, support groups, and therapy. In recent years, sober companions have emerged as a promising option for bridging gaps in recovery while helping more and more people find success after struggling with conventional rehab. Keep reading to gain a better understanding of why these services can be a key piece in a successful recovery plan.

What Is a Sober Companion?

A sober companion is a professional who provides around-the-lock support and guidance to people recovering from addiction. Unlike therapy or rehab, they do not provide medical or clinical treatment—rather, they serve as a mentor who can offer support through their own experience with addiction and recovery. Many of the most effective ones are former addicts themselves, allowing them to better understand the struggles of recovery and provide helpful insight into how to best navigate sobriety.

If you’re considering how a sober companion could help support your recovery goals, it’s helpful to understand when and where they can provide the most help.

Choosing a Sober Companion vs. Rehab

While the structure of a residential rehabilitation program can prove beneficial for some, it can come to serve as a detriment to others when they struggle to translate the skills they learn in a safe environment into success in the real-world. That’s why sober companions have become one of the best options for individuals who have tried and failed rehab multiple times, as well as for individuals who have completed a rehab program but struggle to stay sober as soon as it’s over.

What Are the Benefits of a Sober Companion?

In order to better understand how sober companions services can set someone on the path to recovery more effectively than with conventional rehab or other common alternatives, it helps to have a grasp of the full benefits a program can offer you or someone you care about. The key benefits include:

Human Connection

The journey of addiction recovery is not only long—it can also be incredibly lonely, and if there’s one thing we know, it’s that addiction most often thrives in isolation. Having a sober companion means individuals can connect with a one-on-one connection with someone they can trust to have their best interests at heart as they navigate recovery.

With firsthand knowledge of what it’s like to struggle with addiction and then transition into sobriety, a sober companion can offer personalized advice, guidance, and emotional support during those difficult times. In those moments when willpower alone isn’t enough to stay sober, a relationship can give you the push and motivation to get through the tough times and stay on track with recovery goals.

Less Wasted Time

Because sober companions provide support when and where it’s needed most at the time, individuals don’t have to spend as much time trying to find resources, commuting between programs, and trying to find a “one-size-fits-all” approach before realizing that isn’t always realistic with their lifestyle. This cuts through the back-and-forth and red tape that can slow down or limit the effectiveness of other recovery strategies.

More Focused Resources

Conventional treatment programs are designed to cater to the needs of dozens of individuals at a time. Sober companions, on the other hand, focus on helping one individual at a time. That means the support and resources they provide are dedicated to you and more focused than other treatment options.

Custom Recovery Timelines

When you enter a conventional rehab center, programs generally last 30, 60, or 90 days. If you don’t accomplish all of your goals in that time frame or feel like you need more time, you rarely have the option to extend your stay. With a sober companion, however, recovery can happen on your timeline because they provide support at your pace instead of trying to force you into a recovery schedule that isn’t realistic.

Aftercare Is Built In

One of the hardest things for individuals in recovery is navigating aftercare following the end of a treatment program. It’s almost impossible to bridge the gap between conventional inpatient treatment programs and real life without professional guidance. The best part of having a sober companion is that the skills, techniques, and tools you learn during therapy can be practiced that same day in a real-world setting with support and oversight.

Sober Training Wheels

Sober companions offer a more customizable approach than other treatment options, and that includes the level of support they provide as well as when they provide it. This allows for a sober coach to serve as your “training wheels,” helping you find your balance as you navigate sobriety, and then letting go as you gain confidence and learn to ride on your own, while remaining ready to jump in and help again as needed.

Real-Time Support + Clinical Oversight

One of the issues with conventional addiction treatment methods is that either someone doesn’t have access to clinical oversight when they need it and they relapse, or they simply need someone to connect with during difficult times..

The best part of a sober companion is that they’re able to provide real-time support that’s grounded in the clinical oversight of medical professionals. That way, they can be there to provide expert insight at critical times when therapists and clinicians cannot.

Unparalleled Confidentiality

When you participate in an inpatient treatment program, they promise privacy, but when you’re around other members of the public, it’s impossible to guarantee confidentiality, especially in the age of social media. Because a sober companion is a peer-to-peer, one-on-one treatment option, it’s much easier to ensure total confidentiality.

Finding the Right Sober Companion for You

Not all sober companion services are created equal, so it’s worth taking some time before choosing one for yourself or a family member. When searching for a companion service provider, make sure that you are selecting one that understands your specific needs and goals in the sobriety and recovery journey while taking into account any underlying mental health issues such as depression or anxiety that could pose an obstacle to recovery. Interviewing multiple providers should give you insight into which one may be the best fit for you.

Why Does ALYST Call Our Sober Companions Certified Recovery Agents?

At ALYST, we refer to our sober companions by a different name than everyone else in the industry because we hold them to a higher standard than anyone else in the industry. We call them Certified Recovery Agents (CRAs) because we require them to hold the qualifications, experience, rigorous training, and certifications needed to help others successfully navigate sobriety.

In other words, not just anyone can be a Certified Recovery Agent. With other sober companion services, you never quite know who you’re going to get. With ALYST, you’re guaranteed to work with someone who has demonstrated success not only navigating sobriety on their own but also has demonstrated experience empowering others to do the same. The best part? You can be part of the CRA selection process so you can feel confident that you’re partnering with someone you’re going to work well with.

When you’re ready to choose from the most qualified and experienced sober companions in the industry, call ALYST Health today for your confidential addiction consultation.