John is a successful chief operating officer of an agricultural company. But the pressure that came with success fueled his addiction.
The San Francisco-based executive – who will only be named by his first name for privacy reasons – used alcohol and drugs to escape the high-pressure realities of his job for a decade – until he had an “awakening moment.”
He said his maladaptive coping mechanisms “began to affect my work performance and personal relationships.” wealth. He thought, “I need to do something different or I’m going to lose everything I’ve worked for — my personal career, my relationships with my family and my friends.”
He spent nearly five months in a substance abuse treatment center with a so-called sober companion by his side. John has been working with his sober companion for a year and a half, and he credits having a companion with helping him get structure in his life and teaching him to enjoy life without stuff.
“When you’re addicted, simple steps seem complicated,” he said. A sober companion “can really help ease your recovery process.”
How Sober Companion Works
about one tenth american workers had battled a substance use disorder last year. Long working hours, coupled with the high stress levels of executive life, put senior executives and other company leaders at increased risk for alcohol and drug abuse.
While some executives suffer in silence for fear of losing their position of power and damaging their reputations, others seek help from traditional sources, such as recovery and support groups. However, a growing number of high-level corporate professionals are hiring sober companions to provide discreet and sometimes round-the-clock support in their recovery journeys.
A sober companion’s primary job is to be with clients during their weakest moments, help them adjust to life after a treatment program, guide them through the recovery process, and prevent relapse. They can also assist in finding a doctor or therapist for the client.
The extent to which they are there for their clients depends on the severity of their addiction. Some sober companions may live with the client and their family 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, while others may provide support when the client travels or attends events abroad.
Las Vegas resident Rick Barnes has been sober for 32 years and has been a sober companion for 22 years. Barnes has extensive experience serving as an alcoholic companion for executives.
His first order of business with clients: setting goals, which could be “basic personal hygiene, proper diet, and daily exercise,” as well as other “daily practices that enhance abstinence or recovery.”
“We identify triggers and develop plans to reduce their impact,” said Barnes. “As we progress, we work to establish boundaries with family, friends, and colleagues. As clients become more committed to recovery, we begin to focus on career skills, the necessary humility, and the perseverance to thrive.”
Barnes believes it’s crucial for seniors with substance abuse disorders to have a sober partner because they are often reluctant to disclose their recovery.
PhD.David FearingThe director of addiction medicine at Yale School of Medicine shares the same mentality.
“There’s a lot of stigma around substance use disorders,” he told us wealth. He encourages his patients to work closely with addiction specialists, including sober peers.
“If you can surround yourself with abstinent and sober people who are in similar situations, it helps create a social network that’s not centered around drinking or drinking,” he said.
That’s what Sober Companion is for. They can help build psychological safety for people who may not want to disclose that they are in recovery, and provide confidential support and vital connections.
A sober personal companion doesn’t come cheap. Their services range from $900 to $4,000 per day. They are not regulated by any organization and do not require certification, which makes finding a qualified organization challenging. Due to the lack of certification, most people find one through the recommendation of a friend, although it can also be found online.
The sober companion industry has “exploded over the past two decades,” said Barnes. “What started as a solution to keep actors in movies or musicians on the road has evolved into a practice that can and does benefit everyone.”
As for John, he wants executives who are suffering in silence to know that there is hope for a future free of stuff.
“There is a better way to live – and that is freedom,” he said. “There is a way to maintain your current lifestyle while enjoying the process.”
But he warns that there’s work involved: “You have to rethink your life and restructure it.”
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