Effectiveness of Online Addiction Treatment and Recovery Coaching – Does it Work?

The pandemic forced us all to shift gears in many ways – and fast. One of the biggest ways was how we communicated and connected with other people to keep our lives moving forward. [Updated March 2023]

With entire countries under stay-at-home orders, how were we going to be able to work, meet with our doctors, and continue to educate our children?

While some businesses were using online platforms like Zoom before the pandemic, myself included, all of a sudden everything went virtual because it was the obvious, and only, solution.

All of a sudden with one click you could attend yoga classes, church services, therapy sessions, and board meetings. Healthcare was provided almost completely via telehealth and online addiction treatment quickly followed suit.

People needing to get sober started accessing recovery services through support groups, intensive outpatient programs, and online coaching with platforms like zoom.

Virtual access to services became a valuable resource for those needing to make meaningful changes in their lives, and for many, it worked beautifully.

The Pandemic Caused Panic For People Getting Sober or Trying to Stay Sober

Initially, the lockdowns created a lot of panic for those in recovery. Many who were sober and others just getting sober were afraid that they’d lose the connections they depended on to maintain a life without drugs or alcohol.

Intensive outpatient programs, online therapy, and support groups such as SMART Recovery, LifeRing, Dharma Recovery, Women for Sobriety and 12-step are critical components of recovery for many people. Spending time with sober friends and meeting with recovery coaches are key for others.

Isolation is known to be both a cause and effect of substance misuse.

As a matter of fact, there’s an entire shift in perspective regarding the cause of addiction. Globally, the popular belief has been that addiction is caused by the chemical hooks in addictive substances overpowering an individuals' ability to abstain from use.

It has resulted in a best case scenario of viewing addiction as a disease that is outside the control of someone with substance use disorder, and worst case scenario as a moral failing that warrants punishment.

Experts like Dr. Gabor Maté and Bruce Alexander have begun to turn that perspective on it’s head. They believe that addiction isn’t the result of chemical dependency but rather a lack of connection. It is a new (significantly more humane) way of viewing addiction and highlights how dangerous it is for people struggling with substance use to be isolated from social support.

And there we were in March of 2020 with no choice but to stay in our homes alone.

With the sudden halt in access to substance use treatment services including treatment facilities and harm reduction services, Canada saw a significant drop in admissions in the early months of the pandemic. In Ontario the decrease was as high as 70% between March and April of 2020 as compared to the same time frame in 2019.

Care providers across the country worked quickly to offer virtual care to overcome the barrier to face-to-face service provision. While some programs and facilities struggled with the transition, others made rapid progress.

The Centre on Substance Use and Addiction in Ontario for instance, managed an impressive 750% increase in virtual visits within a month after the lockdowns began.

Online Addiction Treatment Kicks Into High Gear

The landscape of addiction treatment changed with the pandemic as it did in every other industry. Companies started investing more into online platforms and virtual support.

Everything from Intensive Outpatient Programs to brick-and-mortar treatment centres moved online to provide care. People that needed services but couldn’t participate in person were now receiving care via online addiction treatment.

New and innovative recovery models have started becoming available online as all industries, including addiction treatment have been disrupted. Professionals in the field are now looking at the way things have always been done through a new lens, with the needs of the clients in mind.

For instance, people who need intensive support to get sober might consider going to a 30-day inpatient treatment centre. But leaving their homes, careers, and families for a month could be unfeasible.

In response to barriers like these impeding people from getting the support they need to quit drinking, new solutions are being developed.

Myself and a group of other addiction specialists have launched one such solution, called Home Based Recovery in Victoria British Columbia. 

Home Based Recovery is an approach to help people break free of substance use disorders. Without having to leave their families, clients can participate in daily activities including one-on-one and group coaching with certified specialists, in a way that works with their schedule.

Does Online Coaching Work for Supporting Your Recovery?

Although we are through the worst of the pandemic, it seems that this virtual option for connecting with support networks and getting sober with recovery-oriented resources is here to stay.

A recent review of 22 articles evaluating the use of telehealth to provide recovery support across Australia, the U.S. and the European Union found that virtual care reduced alcohol use among individuals who accessed services.

So where does online recovery coaching fit in this picture?

Well before the pandemic began I was working with clients virtually. My clients live in various parts of Canada, the U.S. and other countries abroad. Virtual coaching was a given and has always been an effective way for me to support my clients in changing their relationship with drugs and alcohol.

The busy professionals that I often work with have many obligations and commitments that take up a lot of their time. Online coaching fits seamlessly into their busy schedules and helps weave recovery support into their day-to-day lives.

I believe the efficacy of online recovery coaching is more about the qualifications of the coach than the virtual nature of the work.

I always emphasize the importance of vetting a coach before you start working with them. Here are the things I suggest you look for before you engage a recovery coach for their services.

I strongly believe that effective recovery coaching requires the following:

• Education
• Training
• Experience
• Supervision
• Certification

Positive outcomes are achieved by providing individualized recovery plans based on your specific needs. Education, training, and experience under the supervision of trained addiction professionals are critical.

Learning, and using, evidence-based practices and techniques are how an effective recovery coach becomes a powerful resource in helping you achieve your goals. Check out this incredible Academic Paper called Architects of Recovery from Alcohol Misuse: Narrative Exploration of Coaching Employed Professionals to learn a bit more about how my approach to Recovery Coaching aligns very much with the Academic Paper.

After completing my education and training I obtained my certification through the Canadian Addiction Counsellors Certification Federation. This strong foundation along with thousands of hours (initially supervised) of time spent working one-on-one with clients is why I’m able to support you in achieving incredible transformation. And a large percentage of those thousands of hours, as well as the positive outcomes that have resulted from them, have been done online.

Can You Connect With Someone Online Like You Can In-Person?

There are benefits to online coaching versus in-person, such as convenience and accessibility. With online recovery coaching, you can get support from a qualified professional regardless of their geographical location, on a schedule that works best for you.

So what are the downsides of online versus in-person coaching? The primary concern I hear people mention when having this conversation is, “can you really connect with someone virtually the same way you do when you’re face to face?

I think some of this depends on your personal preferences and your willingness to give it a try and see how it feels for you. Personally, I’ve found that the connection between coach and client is just as powerful virtually as it is in person.

Sometimes it’s actually easier for clients to settle into our work together this way. They can participate in online coaching sessions from their own homes or offices which is often very comfortable for people.

While some of my clients don’t struggle with social anxiety and are very much at ease building new relationships with whomever they encounter, others struggle with it quite a bit.

Drinking and using to medicate feelings of social anxiety is a common thing I see clients deal with. For folks that do feel uneasy or anxious about interacting with new people, I’ve found that meeting virtually offers an easier entry into the work.

Whether you’re needing help getting sober through online addiction treatment or prefer online recovery coaching, you have options.

Sometimes stepping outside of your comfort zone and trying a new way of doing things is the first step toward a better life.

Get Help Creating Your Personal Roadmap

It can be really scary to arrive at the realization that you have a drinking problem, no matter how big or small.

But it’s a lot less scary when you have an experienced guide to help you sort things out.

I’m an accredited Addiction Recovery Coach offering worldwide virtual support, and in-person support across Canada. If you’re interested in exploring 1:1 recovery coaching to help you cut back your drinking or stop drinking entirely, I’m happy to answer your questions.

I offer a no-charge consult call to anyone who has questions about their own substance use, or the substance use of a family member. These calls are completely confidential with no pressure to make a decision before you feel entirely ready.

If you’re ready to explore the potential of working together, I’d love to chat. Michael is based in Victoria British Columbia Canada. The other Recovery Coaches on the team are based in Nanaimo, Vancouver British Columbia Calgary, Edmonton Alberta, Toronto Ontario, Montreal Quebec, and Halifax, Nova Scotia. Because we all work virtually — we can work with anyone no matter what city, province or country around the world. We have clients all across Canada and the USA, Seattle, Los Angeles, Dallas, Miami, New York City, Denver, Nashville, Berlin, Tel Aviv, London, Singapore and Australia.

I’d also like to invite you to read more about my personal story here.

Michael Walsh
Phone or Text: 250.896.8494
Email: Coach@MichaelWalsh.com
Chat: Start a WhatsApp chat

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