Before you apply

Has Your Loved One Watched Any of My Videos?

Before we dive into coaching, it’s important that your loved one gets a feel for my coaching style and approach. This step can make a big difference in building trust and setting the tone for their recovery journey.

• If your loved one has already seen some of my videos and you’ve discussed starting coaching, you’re all set. You can move on to the next section.

• If your loved one hasn’t seen any of my videos yet, I strongly recommend asking them to check out a couple before moving forward. Even if they’ve already agreed to coaching, this step is important. It will help them feel more comfortable and engaged, which can expedite the trust-building process and overall recovery progress. Plus, their willingness to watch a couple of videos is a good indicator that they’ll engage in the program.

How to Approach the Topic:

1. Select a couple of videos: Choose ones you think they’ll relate to. If you’re not sure, here are a few suggestions:

   • From Addiction to Abundance
   • Defeat Addiction with These Powerful Habits
   • Get Sober Without Going to 12-Step Meetings
   • If You’re Struggling to Stay Sober—This May Be the Reason

2. Get their agreement: Say something like, “Hey, remember that recovery coach lady we were talking about? I thought you might like to watch a couple of her videos before we set up any appointments, so you can decide if she’s a good fit for you. Is it okay if I send you the links?”

3. Send them the links: Don’t make them search for the videos—make it as easy as possible.

4. Finish the application process: If they’re open to recovery coaching after watching a few videos, come back here and complete the application.

⭐ Taking this small step can make a big difference in setting the tone for their recovery journey and ensuring they feel confident and ready to dive into coaching. It really does speed up the process!

Program Options and Extensions

When a family member fills out the application, it’s often a sign that their loved one is in an earlier stage of change. This means your loved one may still be actively using or drinking, and they’re likely not yet ready to fully embrace sobriety. That’s okay—it’s a normal part of the process. But it’s important to understand that starting at this earlier stage means we’ll need more time to build trust and help them move toward even considering sobriety.

For example, in the first 4 weeks, much of the work may be focused on simply getting them to a place where they’re open to change. Once they reach that active stage of change, we can start working on building a solid recovery plan and maintaining sobriety. This is why longer programs—like the 8- or 12-week options—are often more effective. They give us the time needed to meet your loved one where they are and guide them through the entire process, step by step.

Extending their program:

If your loved one starts with the 4-week program and decides to extend, we can usually accommodate upgrades as long as we have at least 2 weeks’ notice. However, upgrading later will cost more than committing to the longer program upfront. This is because the higher-tier programs include additional resources and benefits that are designed to support long-term success.

For example:

• 4 weeks: $2,997
• 8 weeks: $4,497 (a savings of $1,497 compared to upgrading later)
• 12 weeks: $6,997 (a savings of $2,997 compared to upgrading later)

We encourage you to consider these factors carefully to make the best financial decision for your family.

How to Decide Between 4 Weeks and a Longer Program:

• If you’re confident your loved one will engage in the process (attend appointments, participate in sessions, and follow through), I encourage you to opt for one of the longer programs. Not only does this save money upfront compared to upgrading later, but it also allows us to dive deeper into the work without interruptions.
• If you’re unsure whether your loved one will participate—or if they have a history of skipping appointments or dropping out after a week or two—it may be wiser to start with the 4-week program. This way, you can see how they engage before committing to a longer program. If they’re showing up and making progress, you can always extend the program later.

The Secret to Staying Involved Without Damaging Trust

First, let me say how much I appreciate the trust you’re placing in me to help your loved one. It’s clear how much you care, and I want you to know that your involvement is a key part of the process. That said, I also know that when things are going smoothly at home, families are usually content to let me do my work. But when challenges arise—like if your loved one continues using, lies, manipulates, or behaves insensitively—that’s when families often feel the need to step in. This is when I start getting emails, or requests to join sessions, and while I completely understand the instinct, these approaches can actually create more challenges than solutions.

Here’s why: If I’m receiving updates from you that your loved one doesn’t know about, it can feel to them like you’re “sneaking” me information or trying to get them in trouble. This can damage the trust I’m working to build with them and make them less honest in sessions. On the other hand, if you join a session to address concerns, it can feel like a “principal’s office” scenario, which puts your loved one on the defensive and makes it harder for us to make progress.

Over the years, we've learned that you'll get the best results if you participate in family coaching with one of our family recovery specialists while your loved one is in Recovery Coaching.

3 Reasons You'll Get Better Results If You Particpate In Family Coaching:

1. Your Loved One Will Be More Honest In Their Sessions.

With family coaching, your loved one knows upfront that you’re involved in the process. They’ll expect that you’re communicating with the family coach and that we’re working together as a treatment team. This transparency makes it much easier for me to bring up things happening at home without damaging the trust I’ve built with your loved one. It also keeps them more honest in sessions because they’ll know you’re sharing updates with the family coach, so they’re less likely to leave things out.

2. You Can Help Speed Up The Recovery Process.

Family coaching also allows us to coordinate behind the scenes. For example, if I notice in sessions that your loved one would benefit from you setting stronger boundaries or offering more positive reinforcement, I can communicate that to the family coach. The family coach can then guide you in these areas without revealing exactly what your loved one has said in session. This keeps everyone on the same page while maintaining confidentiality and trust.

3. You'll Have Someone To Look Out For Your Needs Too!

Finally, the family coach is there to look out for your needs. While my primary focus is on your loved one’s recovery, the family coach is focused on helping you navigate this process, set boundaries, and take care of yourself. It’s a team approach that ensures everyone gets the support they need.