To stop drinking is easy, but to remain stopped and build a sober life is more difficult.

At the beginning of sobriety, a person needs a reliable and stable support system—this is rarely achieved through the family because of the damage that the addiction and the addictive person has caused, often over many years of abuse.

The sober companion needs to have many years of experience helping addicts to reorient their lives and achieve eventual sobriety.

What a sober companion does:

The sober companion stays with the client on a 24 -7 basis, dealing with the early stages of sobriety and the cravings and addictive thinking that are a threat to staying sober.

The companion assists the client to keep ongoing commitments in place, including work, doctor’s appointments, and family commitments.

In a more subtle way, the companion assists the client to begin training his or her mind in the direction of sober ways for thinking about him or herself, other people, and the future.

The companion must be an example for the client of how to live a joyful sober life, showing the positive possibilities that sober living brings.

Having experienced the many ways that one can deceive or be deceived by the cravings of addiction, the sober companion is not fooled by promises or agreements that are made too soon or too easily without being backed up by actual sober life choices and actions.

Because the companion’s sober life is grounded in a deep commitment to his or her own program, with a strong belief in integrity and truthfulness, he or she is not willing to compromise on his duty towards the client. The only goal is to support the client’s sobriety through abstinence and healthy living.