Twelve Differences between your Sponsor and your Coach:

As I chose coaching as my profession, and shared with others that I’d look at working with addicted people and those affected by addiction as a niche within my practise, some who have the honesty to be up front (not snipe behind you back) as me a question, and a good one at that.

I am a recovered addicted person, active in a 12 step program, and “sponsorship” has been an active form of service (freely given) for me. I was asked, “Don’t you see a conflict in roles?” My answer was, and is, the roles are very different.

This tongue in cheek piece articulates the difference nicely!

1. Your sponsor isn’t all that interested in the “reasons” you drank.

2. Your therapist thinks your root problem is your lack of self-esteem, negative self-image, and your poor self-concept. Your sponsor thinks your problem is a 3-letter word with no hyphens: YOU

3. Your therapist wants you to pamper your “inner child”. Your sponsor thinks it ought to be spanked.

4. Your sponsor thinks your inventory should be about you, not your parents.

5. Speaking of your parents, your sponsor tells you not to confront them, but to make amends to them.

6. The only time your sponsor uses the word “closure” is before the word “mouth “.

7. Your sponsor thinks “boundaries” are things you need to take down, not build up.

8. Your therapist wants you to love yourself first; your sponsor wants you to love others first.

9. Your therapist prescribes “caretaking? and “medication? Your sponsor prescribes “prayer-making ?and “meditation?

10. Your sponsor thinks “anger management skills” are numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12.

11. Now that you haven’t had a drink in 6 months, your therapist thinks you should make a list of your goals and objectives for the next 5 years, starting with finishing up that college degree.

Your sponsor thinks you should start today by cleaning the coffee pots, helping him carry a heavy box of literature to the jail, and making your bed.

12. Your sponsor won’t lose his license to practice if he talks about God.

I remain saddened by the rate of people who don’t make long term change in 12 Step programs. I am thrilled to see those that do.

Patrick Meninga and I have been putting together a theory and a process of recovery that will build on the 12 step program and hopefully see more people achieve success. Further, having been in the “fee for service coaching business’ a while, I am pleasantly surprised to see that people take a paid service more seriously than a similar product that is free. By paying, they see the value more clearly. I know that to be true, unfortunately, to some extent in my own life. Go figure!

If you’re interested in more information at no cost or obligation, take a look at http://www.creativeliferecovery.com. Some are finding, particularly in the current economy, the best investment they can make is in themselves and getting the life they have always wanted. 12 Step based coaching!

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