Addiction Counselor and Family Therapist
Colleen
Colleen is the founder of Recovery Online and Alpha Treatment & Support. Colleen is in addiction recovery herself (in remission from Substance Use Disorder – the correct term used in the DSM5) and has been clean and sober since 4/20/2011.
In that time, she has dedicated her life to helping countless alcoholics, addicts, and family and friends affected by the scourge of addiction.
Colleen is a registered and qualified Level 3 Addiction Counselor and therapist, with over 12000 hours of counseling experience in drug rehabs, drug, and alcohol treatment centers, and Halfway Houses (for People in early sobriety). She has vast working experience internationally, including in the United States of America, Los Angeles, Malibu, Chang Mai, Thailand, Singapore, and Lusaka, Zambia in Africa.
So, what is a sober coach?
Sober coaches, also called recovery coaches or companions, offer experienced support particularly in the early stages of recovery.
I work one-on-one with clients, giving an individualised and collaborative recovery in a number of ways.
Companionship:
As a sober coach and companion, I am in recovery myself, since April 20th, 2011 and I provide support, identification and motivation for the alcoholic or addict. For many individuals, active addiction has stolen their friendships and families. As your sober companion, i can offer friendship in this time, which can be invaluable. I’ll talk to you, help you with cravings and be a friend. After treatment, you may wish to bring me, as your sober companion, to social events where you fear relapse or accompany you to 12 step meetings for the first few times, until you find meetings that “fit” you, and that you enjoy going to.
Goal setting:
As a sober coach, I’m trained to help collaborate with the client to create an individualised plan for their recovery, with short- and long-term achievable goals. This is a useful link between therapy, helping individuals change and identify behaviours which no longer serve them.
Sober Travel:
I travel to where the client is, accompanying them safely to a treatment centre. I can also accompany you home, removing some of the fear that comes with leaving rehab and returning to life. Once home, I ensure that your home is ‘dry’ – removing alcohol, drugs etc that may have been left there.
The addiction field is relatively new, and many people use the umbrella term ‘sober coach’ or ‘companion’. However, there are specialists trained for this work, and to ensure yours or your loved one’s safety, I am a registered, qualified level three Addictions specialist and counselor, with excellent references from accompanying recent clients who are enjoying their sobriety still, to this day!
How May I Help You?
If you or someone you love is in trouble with alcohol abuse or drug abuse (even prescribed medicine such as sleeping medication, anti-anxiety medication, or diet pills), please reach out to me. I can help you and point you in the right direction. There is always hope. Don’t despair.
Let’s get started. We can chat about the best way forward for you. I will keep you on track with encouraging check-ins on your phone between our face-to-face sessions. This way you will have access to mindful approaches with your everyday progress.
Together we can get so much more done!
