Coaching? Love it or hate it?

Northstar Guides offers a full range of services that are focused on helping our clients maintain long-term sobriety.

Our team has frequent, spirited, discussions about the vocabulary we use to describe the art and science of helping people to achieve their potential for successful recovery from substance abuse. The recovery profession is full of job titles that are out-dated, ineffective, cutesy, or just plain vague. So we talk about labels, how they work, and what they mean.

Nicole loves the term “coach.” And, for Nicole a true-born coach if ever there was one, recovery coach is a great fit. Nicole’s client’s experience her case management and recovery support style as that of a really great coach. She’s there, pacing the sidelines, cheering on her team, pulling them into the bench for a word of advice. Helping each client see their own potential and suggesting what kinds of workouts they’ll need to practice to make it to the winners circle. Nicole isn’t all nice and “good job” with her team members. She is perfectly comfortable sitting them down for a game or two when they break team rules. She tells it like it is when someone falls short of their own standards for accountability and performance. Coaching is dynamic and effective in the hands of a gifted practitioner. (We are currently looking for two or three great coaches like Nicole, to add to our team. Email if it’s you!)

 

We have therapists on our team because the research says that therapy works

Therapists are a big part of the Northstar Guides team approach to recovery management and success.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the giant winner in double-blind research tests of methods that work to help people achieve actual, durable recovery. So we generally think it’s a good idea.

If we need to help clients find an appropriate therapist, we do. If the fit needs adjustment to reflect past negative experiences, or the special requirements that many of our clients have for reporting to professional boards, accountability contract circles, etc. we turn to our network of experienced, top-flight therapists.

We can even develop a referral if the therapist needs to accommodate FAA night shift hours and be a convenient 4am commute from Fargo.