The Recovery Coach Exchange elevates the Recovery Coach profession by fostering collaboration, continuous learning, and meaningful connection through shared professional and personal experiences.
Facilitating monthly meetings by region, we will cover a combination of topics and discussion points. This gives participants the opportunity to work on the core competencies, to come together to support and learn from one another, and to share with other Recovery Coaches. Topics will include:
- 10 Guiding Principles of Recovery
- 8 Dimensions of Wellness
- 4 Dimensions of Recovery
- Core Competencies of Recovery Coaching
- Recovery Capital
Advancing Recovery Coaching in Massachusetts
The Massachusetts recovery movement began in the late 1990s and early 2000s, when individuals in recovery and advocacy organizations began emphasizing the value of peer support and lived experience in sustaining long-term recovery. Many people seeking help with substance use had experienced stigma, trauma, and isolation, and connecting with someone who had navigated similar challenges offered a sense of understanding, trust, and hope. As this work expanded, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS) supported the development of the recovery coach workforce by introducing training models such as the Recovery Coach Academy and encouraging the integration of recovery coaches into treatment programs, hospitals, and community recovery centers.
Today, recovery coaches are an important part of Massachusetts’ recovery-oriented system of care. Drawing on their lived experience, they provide peer support, help individuals and families navigate resources, and foster connections to communities that support long-term recovery.