Los Angeles Sober Coach: 4 Key Questions You Must Ask before hiring one
4 Key Questions to ask when seeking a drug and alcohol sober coach, addiction therapist or drug and alcohol treatment center.
At The Addictions Coach, we receive calls all the time for clients in need. We refer out to local therapists and treatment centers for clients that are not a good fit with our services. When you are seeking quality care for your loved one, here are the 4 key questions you MUST ask.
1. Credentials. Is the sober coach NATIONALLY certified? There are tons of Recovery Coach certifications out there, but is the person certified? Do they have a degree or additional schooling in addiction studies? They should. Call and verify the educational body they studied under. Is the therapist schooled in addictions? Some states do not require a license and some require a certification. Call your state board association (in Florida we use the Florida Certification Board) and make sure that their state ID number is current and valid. Make sure no complaints have been filed against them.
2. Personal Issues. Is the sober coach or addictions therapist in Recovery and if so how much clean time do they have? The last thing you want is someone who has 3 months sober working with your loved when they might not be strong enough to handle their own demons. You want someone who has been in the industry for a minimum of 2 years, so clean time should be an additional 2 years on top of that.
3. Brokers. If you call a 1.800 number make sure that the number goes to a real treatment center, not a broker. There are brokers that set up 1.800 numbers and you call and they farm you out to a rehab that pays them a monthly fee for leads. This is not in the best interest of your loved one. Make sure you research the number and do not get referred around for their profit. These places skirt the law by offering ‘marketing services’ to rehabs in exchange for leads they retain via billboard, tv, radio or pay-per-click on the internet. Remember they do not have your best interest at heart and strive to merely line their pockets.
4. Services. When you call the sober coach, recovery coach, addictions therapist or drug and alcohol treatment center, ask what style or modality of treatment services they offer. You might need specialty services like chronic pain issues, PTSD, food addictions or eating disorders, cutting, mental health issues, etc. You want to make sure your loved one has the best care possible.
If we can be of assistance call us. We are independent and available for consult. www.TheAddictionsCoach.com 1.800.706.0318
