Here are some helpful distinctions about what recovery coaching is — and isn’t. This list comes from Jana Heckerman, in a recent article from Addiction Professional journal.
What recovery coaching is NOT
Let’s first address what coaching isn’t. It is not:

Therapy. Well-trained coaches are very aware of the line between therapy and coaching and are careful to [...]

I just got an email from someone thinking about working with me as a coach, wanting to know more about the differences between coaching and therapy. Whenever I’m asked about this, I try to keep my answer short and focused on recovery. Here’s what I say: “Therapy focuses on how past trauma impacts your present [...]

I love the role of recovery coach. Recovery coaching works over the phone, so it’s available for people literally all over the world. It works in conjunction with - not in competition with - therapy, recovery groups, workshops, and in-patient treatment. In fact, I beleive it should be required as part of the aftercare for [...]

Given the fact that much of the work I do with recovering addicts and leaders is done over the phone, I was encouraged by the results of a study reported in the Journal of Counseling Psychology. This study gave a favorable review to counseling done over the phone.
“The researchers … found that telephone counseling was [...]