INTERVIEW about addiction coaching : Life Recovery Coach Keith Bray

1. Addiction coaching basics

ADDICTION BLOG: What was the impetus to start addiction coaching ? What is your mission and what are your core beliefs?

KEITH BRAY: I attended rehab about 14 years ago. Like many others, after I left rehab, I wanted to work with others full time. One member of my professional support group said the feeling was common and to, “Just cool my jets”. For 14 years the feeling didn’t leave. I had the opportunity, and decided to go for it in 2008.  My mission is to coach others in recovery to success, one person at a time. My core beliefs are that most humans have talent that is underutilized, and those who want change can achieve it if listened to and coached.

2. Best practices in addiction coaching

ADDICTION BLOG: How is coaching performed? Any best practices in addiction coaching you’d like to share?

KEITH BRAY: There are 7 principles the coaching profession, that we as addiction coaches adhere to in one form or another:

1. Maintain a commitment to SUPPORT the client.
2. Build the coaching relationship on truth, openness and trust.
3. The client is responsible for the results they are generating.
4. The client is capable of much better results than they are currently getting.
5. Focus on what the client thinks and experiences.
6. Clients can generate their own perfect solutions.
7. The coaching conversations are based on equality.

Coaching sessions are through telephone, Skype or in some cases, face to face. With addicted people, we believe some personal contact, at least voice, is required. When coaching, an ideal session involves the client speaking about 80% of the time because it’s all about them. The coach inputs when the client gives permission, and the coach accepts the client for who they are and does not judge! One thing I ask clients to do is to look at what they spend on “stuff”. And I ask, “How much do you invest in finding a life you love?”

3. Who benefits from coaching for addiction?

ADDICTION BLOG: What demographic of people are your trying to reach today, and how might that change going forward?

KEITH BRAY: Today, I search for people who sincerely want change in their life. The fundamentals I coach are applicable for people who want to make major change and want a more joyous and abundant life, I do not restrict my practice just to the addicted. But addiction is my passion!!

ADDICTION BLOG: What new programs or features do you plan for the coming months/years that we should know about?

KEITH BRAY: Current recovery success is less than 5%, we hope to at least double that rate. We have created and tried a process called the “Co-Creative Process of Recovery” which is holistic, incorporates current addiction help (12 step, rehab) but takes recovery into a whole life process. In 2009 we want to coach other coaches on the method, and work with a coaching certification body to certify practitioners and have the process coached on a global basis.