What’s going to be different this time?
Geoff George
CPRS
Sober Coach, Transporter, & Companion
Geoff George is a compassionate and dedicated sober coach, transporter, and companion who supports individuals in the Twin Cities. Drawing from his own challenging journey to sobriety and his training, Geoff offers empathic guidance to those struggling with addiction.
Having experienced the hardships of addiction himself, Geoff understands the deep-seated struggles and is committed to providing a safe space for individuals in early recovery.
I struggled for many years to get sober. Fifteen treatments, detoxes, trips to the psych wards, arrests, and years of sober house stays. My failures created a lack of trust in myself, combined with self-pity and resentment. Both myself and others feared the worst for me.
The question, "What's going to be different this time?" often brought a pit to my stomach. It usually prompted me to respond with recovery lip service, which I was so adept at. The truth was, I had known what to do for years but was yet unwilling to do it thoroughly and consistently for a sufficient amount of time.
-Geoff George, CPRS
Services
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Sober Coaching
Geoff provides personalized support and guidance to individuals in recovery from substance abuse, helping them develop and maintain a sober lifestyle. It involves listening, practical assistance, emotional encouragement, and accountability to navigate the challenges of sobriety.
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Sober Companion
Geoff offers continuous, one-on-one support to individuals in recovery, often staying with them for extended periods to ensure they remain sober. This role includes accompanying clients to events, helping them manage triggers, and providing emotional and practical support to maintain their sobriety.
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Transport
Geoff provides safe, reliable transportation for individuals in recovery, ensuring they get to and from treatment centers, home visits, therapy sessions, or other necessary appointments without the temptation or risk of relapse.
Frequently Asked Questions
With the help of a sober coach or companion, the journey to long-term recovery becomes more manageable and structured, significantly reducing the risk of relapse.
Here are some common questions from clients and their families:
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Also known as a recovery coach, this is someone who has achieved long-term recovery and now supports those who are newly sober. During the early stages of recovery, the risk of relapse is heightened. A sober coach provides an extra layer of guidance, support, and protection to help prevent relapse.
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A Sober coach offers more support than a sponsor. A sober coach is a paid professional who plays a crucial role in a client's daily recovery journey. They are available 24/7 for support and usually spend a set number of hours with the individual each week.
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A sober companion lives with the client as a roommate for a specified period, ideal for someone at high risk of relapse who cannot be left alone. In contrast, a sober coach follows a weekly schedule, assisting in various ways while still allowing the individual some space and privacy.
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A sober coach becomes an advocate for their client as they navigate the uncertainties of early recovery. The primary goal is to help the individual implement an action plan for creating a new sober lifestyle. The coach helps integrate the recovery skills learned in treatment into daily life.
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A Certified Recovery Peer Specialist (CRPS) is a professional who uses their personal experience with mental health or substance use recovery to support others in their recovery journeys. The CRPS certification requires a certain number of hours of training, and an exam, and acknowledges the specialist's expertise in providing peer support, mentoring, and advocacy.
Together, Geoff and his clients arrange a schedule, which may range from a few hours a day to a 40-hour week, for the following services:
Establishing new routines: After completing treatment, it takes time to start life anew. A sober coach can encourage a healthy diet, a regular sleep schedule, and other positive habits.
Improving family dynamics: Family members may not be aware of dysfunctional tendencies, such as codependency. The sober coach assists the family in creating a healthier dynamic.
Providing transportation to outpatient therapy and other recovery services: Following treatment, it's crucial to attend various continuing care services. The sober coach ensures transportation to these appointments.
Co-attending 12-step meetings or similar as requested: Some clients may want their sober coach to accompany them to recovery meetings for added support.
Offering 24/7 on-call relapse support: Since the risk of relapse is high during the early months following treatment, having a sober coach available around the clock can be crucial.
Providing an additional source of accountability: The individual must take ownership of their own recovery. Having a sober coach provides someone to be accountable to.
