FAQs

 What I do/Who I am:

• Support self-efficacy
• Emotional support resource
• Healthy lifestyle partner
• Goal-setting, accountability, & education
• Referrals for additional wellness services, medical professionals, & community support
• Provide a safe space for conversation
• Compassionate, empathetic listener committed to assisting you with uncovering the source of your stress, anxiety, or mental blockages that have prevented you from reaching your goals

What I don't do:

• Medical detox from alcohol (Click Here for additional information)
• Offer treatment advice for medical conditions
• Diagnose, treat, or give advice regarding medical nutritional needs
• Offer treatment advice for any mental health conditions or eating disorders
• Prescribe diets, meal plans, or fitness program
• Psychiatric care, diagnosis, or any type of therapy
• Recommend supplements or brands
• Require you to self-identify as an alcoholic
• Insist on 100% abstinence from any & all substances

How does this work?

Contact me to schedule your free Opener call. We'll get to know each other a bit & schedule your weekly soundchecks. These check-ins will be via Zoom. We'll review your goals, set new ones for the upcoming week, discuss how the week went, how you're feeling, any stumbling blocks, upcoming events to plan for, & any other needs you might have. If you're local to the Staunton, VA area, these check-ins can be in-person. 

Is it worth the money?

Only you can answer what your health & well-being is worth to you. But I put on my nerd-hat & crunched some numbers.
This monthly investment in yourself is equivalent to:

• 2-3 Bottles of Wine or Liquor per Week
• 4-5 Six-Packs per Week
• 2-3 Cases of Beer per Week
• a Couple Nights Outs per Week
• Just one night out depending on the bar/venue/restaurant/event

If you're prone to some extra spending while imbibing, like online shopping & ordering late night grub hub - the financials shift very quickly. Same goes if your nights out include Uber rides or buying rounds & shots for others. There are 'accessory fees' involved with drinking such as gas for extra trips to the store & buying takeout for lunch the next day because you didn't get up early enough to pack something. And this doesn't scratch the surface on the extra coffee, ibuprofen, Tums, & other crutches for getting through the days. Oh, and let's not forget the vacation days burned for non-vacations on the couch. 

Do I have to completely give up drinking forever?

Only if that's your goal. My role is to support you on your journey towards whatever relationship with alcohol you're seeking. That can be moderation or reduction; that can be only partaking on special occasions; that can be never drinking again; and that desired relationship can change as time goes on. There are no strict rules. We'll work together to find what relationship with alcohol serves you the best. 

How is a Sober Coach different from a Sponsor?

• Sponsors are volunteers with lived addiction recovery experience who assist others within a 12-Step recovery program.
• Sober Coaches are well-trained professionals who specialize in helping you improve your relationship with alcohol, no matter which program or pathway of recovery you choose to explore. We most often also have lived addiction recovery experience. 
• Sponsors use prescribed 12-Step philosophy & traditions, and tell the sponsee what to do in order to stay sober.
• Sober Coaches are experts in many pathways of recovery, & help you navigate which pathways and support systems will work best for you.
• Sponsors adhere to an abstinence only philosophy, & use labels such as 'alcoholic' & 'recovering alcoholic.'
• Sober Coaches meet you where you're at & encourage a recovery process that will evolve & grow with you, without fixed labels or rules to follow.

How is a Sober Coach different from a Therapist?

• Therapists work with you on your past, and how it is affecting your present & future.
• Sober Coaches focus on your strengths & what can support your recovery today, & into the future.
• Therapists help with deeper dives into underlying mental health concerns.
• Sober Coaches help you evaluate & address challenges in all areas of your life including mental & physical health, work, relationships, finances, hobbies, & activities.
• Sober Coaches ask leading questions to help you connect the dots and create goals and plans to produce the results you want to see.

A Sober Coach is not a replacement for a therapist; both are valuable members of your recovery team. Sober Coaches are willing and able to engage openly with therapists and other mental & physical health professionals as-needed for a holistic approach to recovery.

Additional questions? Contact me here or via Laurie@LifeOffTheRocks.com.