Recovery Coach Course

Lesson 1 • Core Values and Guiding Principles

Introduces the values that drive effective coaching: hope, respect, autonomy, and non-judgment. Students apply these values to realistic coaching scenarios.

Lesson 2 • The Recovery Coach Role

Clarifies the scope, boundaries, and purpose of recovery coaching. Differentiates coaching from counseling, case management, and sponsorship.

Lesson 3 • History of the Recovery Movement

Traces the evolution of peer recovery support from mutual aid societies to modern credentialed coaching. Contextualizes current practice within a broader social movement.

Lesson 1 • Stigma and Its Impact on Recovery

Analyzes how stigma shapes client self-perception and access to support. Coaches develop language and advocacy skills to counter stigma in daily practice.

Lesson 2 • Stages of Change Model

Applies the transtheoretical model to recovery coaching practice. Coaches match their approach to each client's readiness stage.

Lesson 3 • Co-Occurring Mental Health Conditions

Introduces common mental health disorders that co-occur with substance use. Coaches learn to support integrated recovery without overstepping clinical boundaries.

Lesson 4 • Substance Categories and Effects

Surveys major substance classes, their effects, and associated risks. Equips coaches to recognize signs of use without performing clinical assessment.

Lesson 1 • Giving and Receiving Feedback

Equips coaches to deliver honest, constructive feedback while maintaining the coaching relationship. Coaches also practice receiving supervisory feedback professionally.

Lesson 2 • Active Listening Techniques

Trains coaches to listen beyond words to emotion, meaning, and unspoken needs. Active listening forms the foundation of every productive coaching session.

Lesson 3 • Motivational Interviewing Fundamentals

Introduces the spirit and core skills of motivational interviewing as applied to recovery coaching. Coaches practice OARS skills in simulated client conversations.

Lesson 4 • Powerful Questioning Skills

Teaches open-ended, evocative questioning that promotes client self-reflection. Coaches distinguish between questions that empower and those that interrogate.

Lesson 1 • Confidentiality and Informed Consent

Explains the coach's duty to protect client information and the limits of that duty. Coaches practice delivering informed consent in plain, accessible language.

Lesson 2 • Managing Difficult Coaching Moments

Prepares coaches for resistance, silence, anger, and disclosure of harm. Coaches practice de-escalation and referral skills within the coaching relationship.

Lesson 3 • Cultural Responsiveness in Coaching

Trains coaches to adapt communication and goal-setting to diverse cultural contexts. Culturally responsive practice reduces dropout and improves client outcomes.

Lesson 4 • Establishing Rapport and Trust

Covers first-contact strategies that build psychological safety and openness. Trust established early predicts long-term coaching engagement and outcomes.

Lesson 1 • Relapse as Part of Recovery Planning

Reframes relapse as a learning event rather than a failure within the recovery plan. Coaches build relapse response protocols into every client's plan proactively.

Lesson 2 • Collaborative Goal-Setting Techniques

Teaches coaches to co-create meaningful, achievable goals with clients. Goals are anchored in client values rather than coach or system expectations.

Lesson 3 • Tracking Progress and Accountability

Establishes methods for monitoring goal progress without creating shame or pressure. Coaches use check-ins and milestone recognition to sustain client motivation.

Lesson 4 • Building the Recovery Plan

Guides coaches through drafting a living recovery plan document with the client. Plans integrate goals, supports, barriers, and action steps in a single framework.

Lesson 1 • Safety Planning Techniques

Guides coaches through co-creating personalized safety plans with at-risk clients. Safety plans are living documents updated as client circumstances change.

Lesson 2 • Suicide Risk Assessment for Coaches

Introduces non-clinical suicide risk screening tools appropriate for coaches. Coaches learn to ask directly about suicidal ideation without increasing risk.

Lesson 3 • Recognizing Crisis Situations

Trains coaches to identify behavioral and verbal indicators of acute crisis. Early recognition enables timely intervention and prevents escalation.

Lesson 4 • Warm Handoffs and Crisis Referrals

Teaches coaches to facilitate seamless transitions to clinical or emergency services. Warm handoffs preserve trust and reduce the risk of clients disengaging from care.

Lesson 1 • System Navigation and Advocacy

Trains coaches to help clients navigate bureaucratic barriers in healthcare and social services. Advocacy skills empower clients to self-advocate over time.

Lesson 2 • Social Determinants and Recovery

Examines how housing, employment, food security, and transportation affect recovery outcomes. Coaches learn to address social needs as part of holistic recovery support.

Lesson 3 • Levels of Care in Treatment

Maps the continuum from detoxification through outpatient and residential treatment. Coaches use this knowledge to help clients understand and access appropriate care.

Lesson 4 • Peer Support and Mutual Aid Resources

Surveys 12-step, SMART Recovery, and other peer-led mutual aid options. Coaches match clients to peer support based on individual values and preferences.

Lesson 1 • Ethics and Ethical Decision-Making

Applies ethical frameworks to complex coaching dilemmas involving dual roles and confidentiality. Coaches practice a structured decision-making model on realistic case studies.

Lesson 2 • Vicarious Trauma and Self-Care

Identifies signs of vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue, and burnout in coaches. Students build a personalized self-care plan grounded in evidence-based strategies.

Lesson 3 • Credentialing and Continuing Education

Outlines peer recovery coach credentialing pathways and continuing education requirements. Coaches identify professional development goals aligned with their career trajectory.

Lesson 4 • Documentation and Record-Keeping

Establishes standards for accurate, timely, and confidential coaching records. Proper documentation protects clients, coaches, and employing organizations.