I recently had the opportunity to interview the wonderful Katie Lang, founder of SoberLove. Today I spoke to Katie again about her new project SoberLove Coaching, a service which aims to help anyone looking to quit alcohol on the path to sobriety.
You can read the full interview below:
Simon – Hi Katie, great to speak again. You told me about your own journey to sobriety when we last spoke. I am excited to find out what inspired you to create SoberLove Coaching.
Katie – Hi Simon! Over the years, I’ve had so many people reach out to me behind the scenes. These people know they really need help with their drinking, but they get stuck on where to go for help and who to reach out to, because, quite frankly, they’re terrified! I remember having tremendous fear around reaching out for help, and it held me back for way too long! I wanted to have something concrete that I myself could offer people when they come to me in this way.
Recovery Coaching is so wonderful because I can work with clients one-on-one. I know that for a lot of people, this is going to be a lot less overwhelming than going to a support group or putting all your issues out into the world right off the bat. Not everyone feels comfortable doing that, and that’s okay because now you have the option to hire a coach! It’s just not as threatening and an awesome starting point because you will get personalised support and attention from me. I’m not going to force you to instantly overcome all your fears just to get some help. I can help you work through your fears, take the steps you need to take towards recovery, and so much more!
With technology being what it is today, Coaching is a wonderful option for those in recovery. It can be done over Skype (or even over the phone) in the comfort and privacy of your own home, and yet we can still accomplish SO much!
Simon – Tell me all about the service you offer, who do you aim to help and how? It looks very interesting and exciting.
Katie – You know what, Simon, it IS interesting and exciting! What we do is: hour long one-on-one coaching sessions once a week, personalised to you and your needs. If you are a woman who needs help and guidance with getting sober, then I can help you through this process. Let’s say that right now you know drinking is interfering with your life, and you need help just even accepting the idea of quitting alcohol. I can help you with that too! Basically, I can meet you wherever you’re at and we can take it from there. You may have already gotten sober but still need some guidance and direction – I can help you with this too. So much stuff comes up in recovery! With 19 years of sobriety under my belt I have been through a lot sober, and I know it is not always easy. Sometimes you really need someone who’s on your side to help you face and get through life’s challenges.
(I’d like to add that I am open to coaching men as well, however, I must know beforehand that he is sincere in needing help, as it is my intention that no lines are crossed regarding male/female interactions.)
I truly believe that there are many paths to recovery and it is so important that we find the path that is going to work best for us. This is my goal, to help you find your perfect path. We will begin by doing some interesting and engaging assessments to help me get a feel for your personality, who you are, and want you really want out of life. Then we work on creating some exciting, intriguing, and achievable goals for your future. Once we have clarified what your dreams and goals for your future are, I will write up a really cool and powerful vision statement just for you, based on what you really desire your life in recovery to look and feel like! All along the way I will encourage and empower you to take the practical steps you need to take, that are going to get you closer to realising your goals and vision of your beautiful new beginning in recovery. We can work together for however long you choose, I have packages for one month or two months, or you can purchase individual sessions as needed. I feel that coaching works best if we work together every week for several months, because then we can really get some great momentum going towards your goals, changing your mindset and your life for the better!
Simon – What methods do use to help your clients?
Katie – I start my clients off with setting goals and creating a vision statement, because this is precisely what served as the catalyst in helping me not only get sober, but permanently change my life for the better! Way back in 1998, I set a goal to completely quit all drugs, alcohol and smoking in a year’s time. I achieved this goal in about 13 months and have been totally clean, sober, and smoke free ever since! Written goals and a written vision statement are very POWERFUL tools, I cannot stress this enough.
From this starting point, we can work on everything else that comes with getting sober and improving your life all around. I can also help to guide you in your decision to take part in any outside support groups, based on what we think is going to be the best fit for you. Fortunately, there are so many options, and yet, nothing is entirely mandatory in getting sober. It’s all up to you and I am here to help you discover what will work best for you! I will help you work through whatever comes ups as you embark on this journey, because, let’s face it, stuff is going to come up! It can be scary! However, I will be your support as you are made strong through all of this.
I take a very positive, encouraging, strengths-based approach with my clients, which simply means that I focus on bringing out the best in you so that it’s YOU who is taking control back in your life and getting yourself on your highest and best path. It’s all about you! I was shown a tremendous amount of love in my recovery and it is always my heart to give that love back (hence the name, Soberlove). I know that so many of us who have issues with alcohol are really broken inside, ashamed, sad, and incredibly depressed. Love is such a powerfully healing force and my coaching is born from the love I was so freely given.
Simon – I saw that you give a free initial consultation, tell me more? Also, how can Be Sober members access this?
Katie -Yes! Your first 30-minute call is free, this is so we can chat, and I can get a feel for what’s currently happening in your life and what your needs are. This is great also to see if we would be a good fit for each other. It’s important that you feel comfortable with me if you are going to trust me to take you on this journey of self-discovery! Scheduling a free call is rather simple, this link will take you to my schedule where you can schedule a call, and leave your information, and I will call you (or skype) at the time you choose! You can schedule a time here: https://soberlovecoachingsessions.as.me/?appointmentType=8288218
Simon – What advice would you give to Be Sober members who are new to sobriety and starting out on their own journey?
Katie – The beginning is rough and oh so challenging, but there is so much support out there for you that getting through the rough parts is 100% possible and 100% do-able! Do everything you can to see the big picture! A year from now, two years from now, ten years from now, you are going to be THANKING yourself, perhaps with tears in your eyes, for never giving up! With every year of sobriety, I am even MORE thankful than I was the year before to be sober and truly alive. Words can’t even describe how good this feels. It’s a beautiful life, not a boring one! There are huge rewards in sobriety. I have never seen a person get sober and NOT look way more attractive, healthier and full of life! Surround yourself with as many positive sober people as you can! It makes a huge difference.
Simon – What other tips do you have for Be Sober members who are on the path to sobriety to help them stick with it?
Katie – The best tip I can give is “put yourself out there” … meaning that, once you get sober, there is a whole beautiful world of new people, fun, and activities that do not revolve around alcohol. You mission now, should you choose to accept it, is to go out there and discover this new world! It can be kind of scary but putting yourself out there is really the only way to do it. Meet new people, learn new things, take classes! Check out new places, talk to people you wouldn’t normally talk to. Take people up on their invitations, go to new parties, introduce yourself, put yourself out there! I’ve had so many doors open for me and met so many amazing friends simply by putting myself out there over and over again. The world can be a very friendly place ready to embrace you for who you really are at your core, all you have to do is just put yourself out there. This quote by Socrates really sums up what getting sober is all about: “The Secret to Change is focusing all your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” Focus on building the new, and you’ll be GOLDEN!
Simon – Thanks Katie, some amazing words of encouragement and I wish you great success with SoberLove Coaching, you can visit the website here.
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