The Difference Between a Recovery Associate and an Addiction Counselor
Many support services are available to help you through treatment and continuing care, including sober companions and addiction counselors. Every service focuses on providing a different type of support. For example, sober companions can guide you through recovery and encourage you to maintain positive life changes. On the other hand, addiction counselors offer a more targeted form of support by helping you address mental health issues related to substance use disorder (SUD) and recovery. The dedicated team at Next Level Recovery Associates matches clients with sober companions, also called recovery associates, capable of meeting their unique needs.
The Importance of Recovery Associates
Recovery associates are not addiction counselors. However, they can enhance the effectiveness of counseling and other treatments by providing practical and emotional support during all stages of recovery.
You will gain confidence and self-esteem by working alongside a recovery associate to establish and achieve your recovery goals. A recovery associate can help you navigate the recovery process with respect and discretion. You and your family do not have to struggle alone or rely solely on counseling and other treatments.
What Are Recovery Associates?
At Next Level Recovery Associates, we refer to our professional sober companions as recovery associates because they do much more than provide compassionate companionship. We offer a full complement of recovery support services.
Our recovery associates are highly trained individuals with experience providing concierge coaching and case management. You can benefit from having a recovery associate at your side who can connect you with local treatment services and help you make progress during and after treatment.
A recovery associate prioritizes helping clients get to the "next level" of their healing journey by recognizing each family's unique circumstances and collaborating with them to create a strategy that directly addresses issues related to their recovery. Your health and safety are our top priorities.
We talk with families and dig deep to find the goals and motivations that will contribute to lasting change. We individualize every aspect of care to ensure you have the support you need to heal. Recovery is a lifestyle, and a recovery associate can help guide you and your family through the necessary steps to achieve long-term sobriety.
Recovery Associates Can Complement Addiction Counseling
Addiction counseling is a valuable tool for achieving and maintaining emotional stability during rehabilitation. According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), a certified addiction peer recovery counselor is a specialist in the field of SUD recovery and peer support who can provide the following to clients in recovery:
Therapeutic support
An objective perspective
Accountability and encouragement
A judgment-free space for self-expression
Assistance processing thoughts and emotions
The training that addiction counselors undergo allows them to offer therapeutic services for individuals and families recovering from SUD. However, the scope of their treatment is limited, and they cannot provide the same extensive level of general support offered by recovery associates. At Next Level Recovery Associates, we can help you find highly trained, certified addiction counselors with expertise relevant to your lived experience.
Recovery Associates Provide Personalized Services
Our companions can be at your side until you feel confident with your ability to maintain independent sobriety. We can provide additional practical support and emotional encouragement for months or years. The concierge coaching and case management we offer at Next Level Recovery Associates can complement the therapeutic support provided by addiction counselors.
A recovery associate can help ease the transition between levels of care and reduce the risk of relapse. A dedicated companion does the following during continuing care:
Ensures you follow through with your aftercare plan
Provides non-judgmental moral support
Encourages self-accountability and self-growth
Provides transportation as necessary
Accompanies anyone who must travel during aftercare
Decreases daily stressors by anticipating them and providing solutions
Ensures you develop and practice essential life skills
Connects you with local therapy, medical, and support services
Provides suggestions for ways to enhance the effectiveness of treatment
Ensures a safe and secure home environment
Holds you accountable for your sobriety and mental health
Provides companionship and a healthy social relationship
Provides transportation when necessary
Finding the Right Therapy for You
In addition to providing a range of support services, recovery associates also ensure you have access to the best therapist, counselor, psychiatrist, or other mental health professionals. According to the National Institute on Mental Health (NIMH), "different types of psychotherapies and interventions have been shown to be effective for specific disorders." A recovery associate can help you identify which form of therapy is suitable for you. The only way to make progress is by connecting with professionals who can treat your condition in a way that resonates with you. Every case is unique, and we ensure that our clients receive high-quality treatment directly related to their individual needs.
Recovery associates are more than sober companions; they walk beside you through the recovery process, providing practical and emotional support to you and your family. A recovery associate is not the same as a licensed addiction counselor. Recovery companions have fewer limitations than addiction counselors and can support many different aspects of your recovery. At Next Level Recovery Associates, we can connect you with counselors or other mental health professionals in your area. Our dedicated team of professionals will use every tool at our disposal to provide you with superior services and high-quality treatment options. We understand that everyone has unique needs and our companions provide concierge coaching and tailored case management to help families through treatment and continuing care. We can help you achieve and maintain long-term sobriety. To learn more about Next Level Recovery Associates and the services that we offer, contact us today at consult@nextlevelra.com.