Image via korneevamaha
When we start something new, like a new workout routine, way of eating, or even when we choose to get into a new hobby like writing, we sometimes bring in someone to guide us along our journey.
Likewise, when we’re feeling stuck—maybe in our career path or with feelings of apathy about the direction our lives are heading—we might enlist the help of a career coach, take some new classes to bolster our experience level, or sign up with a therapist for some insight.
At various points in our lives, we’ve all benefited from someone helping, guiding, and listening to us along the way.
If you’re thinking about quitting alcohol or have recently quit drinking, you might find that having someone guide you along the way is helpful. If you’ve been sober for a while but are feeling stuck or like your recovery could use a little jumpstart, Accountability Coaching can help with that, too.
With the help of three Tempest Recovery Coaches, we’ll break down what Accountability Coaching is, how it works, and who it’s for in this comprehensive guide to one of Tempest’s most personal services.
Ready to sign up for some support on your journey?
Not just a newsletter. Join a community of 100,000+ building a life without alcohol. Plus, get a special discount towards membership.What is Accountability Coaching?
When you think of 1:1 coaching, you might think of someone spatting commands on the sideline or giving out specific instructions on how to do something, and in many cases, this is accurate. But Accountability Coaching at Tempest isn’t like this at all. Instead, the purpose of this kind of resource is to help you figure out what works best for you when it comes to living without alcohol.
“We are not here to impose our ways of doing things, but instead, to offer suggestions, encourage, and ultimately to encourage and empower you toward your personal goals,” says Tempest Recovery Coach Christina Hanks.
The goal of Accountability Coaching, she continues, is to empower someone to see that they are in the driver’s seat of their lives and that their recovery is their own.
Regular 1:1 coaching is also a great way to dig into what a life without alcohol might look like and how to make that happen.
“Our members are setting the goals and taking actionable steps toward change and transformation,” says Tempest Recovery Coach Anne Marie Cribbin. “The coach offers wisdom, tools, and perspective from our lived experiences and the resources and content offered at Tempest.”
Essentially, Accountability Coaching is the opportunity to work one-on-one with someone as you navigate what a life without alcohol might look like or as you build a life without alcohol.
What can a person expect from 1:1 coaching?
Let’s say you’ve decided that this kind of support would be helpful, and you sign up to work with a coach. Now what?
Now, you sign up for online sessions with your coach!
“Sessions last about 30 minutes, and in the beginning, we encourage people to sign up for weekly Accountability Coaching,” says Tempest Recovery Coach Conor Alexander. Weekly sessions help you establish a rhythm. They also give you the opportunity to get to know your coach to feel comfortable in the relationship. “After a while, folks may want to stay engaged with their coach on a bi-weekly basis,” Alexander continues.
What happens during coaching sessions will largely depend on where you are in your alcohol-free journey. If you’re still on the fence and thinking through quitting drinking, a Recovery Coach can help you sort through your hesitations and questions so that you can make a decision you’re both comfortable with and confident in.
For those who have decided to stop drinking alcohol, a Recovery Coach can be an excellent resource for figuring out what that looks like.
“For people who have made the decision to quit, it is incredibly useful to get support and strategize the first few weeks and months as different situations arise,” Alexander says.
Life continues to happen, even when you stop drinking, and having someone in your corner helping you figure out what tools to use and how to develop new and healthier coping mechanisms is an invaluable level of support.
Even for those who have been sober for a while, doing 1:1 coaching could reignite the spark for someone whose recovery feels a little stale.
“For me,” says Hanks, “this journey has become about so much more than not drinking. It has become about a life-long journey of self-love, compassion, joy, and ultimately, coming home to myself. The human connection is incredibly powerful, and any time we have someone who is able to cheer for us, motivate us, and help us, why not take it? We are worthy of all the love and support.”
Every Tempest Recovery Coach is different, and every person who signs up has a unique set of needs when it comes to living without alcohol. In that light, know that Tempest Recovery Coaches come to the table ready to tailor their approach to your specific needs and goals.
“People who sign up for Accountability Coaching can expect a safe space to explore their relationship with alcohol with a Recovery Coach who is committed to their own recovery and healthy boundaries,” says Cribbin. “They can expect a Recovery Coach who will be fully present to them and their unique recovery path.”
Recovery Coaches are also equipped with specific ways to help you reach your personal goals, Cribbin explains.
“Folks can expect accountability regarding goals week over week, and also space for conversations to tweak or make adjustments towards progression. And they can expect recommendations for resources and specific tools to support their goals.”
What are the benefits of working with a Recovery Coach?
While benefits vary based on your goals when you sign up, there are some common threads that Tempest Recovery Coaches have found throughout their tenure.
Reduced drinking
“People who show up to their accountability sessions reduce their drinking,” says Alexander. “It’s in the numbers. Time and again, members have said to me, ‘I was going to drink, and then I remembered that I would have to tell you about it,’ and that is enough to keep them from drinking. It isn’t anything I did, it’s the fact that they’ve been showing up to our conversations.”
Letting go of shame
“I do not take for granted that many of the folks I coach are taking something wound up with shame and bringing it to the light in sharing it outwardly with me,” says Hanks. “When someone is able to speak their story in a safe and shame-free space, it allows them to soften toward themselves and dispel a shit ton of shame. Shame makes us feel other than, and so when that shame dissipates then they can actually begin to see they are not only seen and heard but also belong.”
Reaching goals unrelated to drinking
“In my experience with 1:1 coaching at Tempest, I have seen folks set and move towards goals like making their bed daily, making a sober toolkit with items to help in times of craving, cut back on alcohol consumption, putting consecutive sober days together, and establishing morning and evening rituals that nurture and nourish them,” says Cribbin.
Boosting confidence and joy
A life without alcohol is about living fully and finding joy, but sometimes it can be challenging to figure out what that looks like on your own. Our Recovery Coaches have found that 1:1 coaching helps establish confidence and joy in a life free from alcohol.
“One of the benefits of coaching is getting to clearly decide what is important and creating a life that is inhabited fully and joyfully,” says Alexander.
How to get the most from your Accountability Coaching
If you’ve decided to sign up for 1:1 coaching, you might be wondering if there’s any way to prepare so that you can get the most out of your experience. While there’s no initial preparation, our Recovery Coaches do have some guiding principles to help out.
“Give yourself permission to try something new,” Hanks says. “Obviously what you have been doing has not been working, or you would not be here. Would you be willing to try and new and softer way?”
For Cribbin, authenticity is the key to gaining the most insight from your 1:1 coaching experience.
“I think the best advice I can offer to folks is to come as you are. Know that it’s ok to show up nervous, excited, hopeful, or scared. Or all of those at the same time. Know that it’s ok to not know where to start. Know that you are so worthy of care. Coaching is a big deal! It’s a beautiful and courageous act of self-care and self-compassion.”
And for Alexander, some tangible tweaks with a dose of grace might make all the difference:
“Give twice as much attention to the opportunities as you do to the obstacles. Focus on foundational things like establishing rest and hydration, and then fill your well with things you enjoy. Working on being ‘better’ or ‘healthier’ or more ‘productive’ can come later and will take on more nuance if you lay the groundwork first. Lastly, spend some time on your own before your session considering how your week went and how you want to spend your coaching session.”
* * *
At its core, Accountability Coaching is all about helping you meet your goals, living a life you’re excited about, and working to redefine your relationship with alcohol. As Hanks says, there’s nothing about you that’s broken and needs to be fixed—everyone can benefit from a trusted source to help guide the way from time to time.
“Coaching is not about helping broken people fix themselves. To me, it is about holding up a mirror to people and reminding them of how much they have gotten right. My favorite thing I ever get to hear a person say is ‘I am proud of myself’.” Ready to sign up? Learn more about Accountability Coaching today!
