Coaching Disclosure Statement

Recovery Coaching Core Competencies

This Coaching Disclosure Statement is a commitment to follow the professional standards or core competencies expected of a recovery coach. These core competencies of recovery coaching are stated below:

Core competencies are the capacity to easily perform a role or function. They are often described as clusters of the knowledge, skills, and attitudes a person needs to have to successfully perform a role or job. These Recovery Coaching Core Competencies have been drawn from a SAMHSA (Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration, a division of Health & Human Services, a branch of the federal government) document called Core Competencies for Peer Workers in Behavioral Health Services (PDF | 251 KB).¹

This document represents the final product of a research process, which incorporated input from hundreds of people around the United States about peer workers and recovery coaches.

What recovery coaching core competencies are:

Recovery Coaching and Peer Recovery Support are personalized to align with the specific hopes, goals, and preferences of the people served and to respond to specific needs of these clients.
Recovery Coaches are partners or consultants to those they serve. They do not dictate the types of services provided or the elements of recovery plans that will guide their work with their clients. The client sets the parameters of the coaching guidelines.
Coaching empowers individuals to lead their own recovery, develop wellness and recovery plans, as well as navigate business or family systems independently.
A Recovery Coach does not act as a therapist, counselor, or mental health professional.
Recovery Coaches do not diagnose mental health disorders.
Recovery Coaches cannot prescribe medication.
Coaching focuses on strengths, goals, accountability, and providing support.
The relationship between the Recovery Coach and the client is respectful, trusting, empathetic, collaborative, and mutual.
Recovery Coaches are trauma-informed. Recovery Coaches’ support utilizes the Recovery Management Model that emphasizes physical, psychological, and emotional safety and creates opportunities for clients to rebuild a sense of safety, control, and empowerment.
Clients are encouraged to maintain relationships with healthcare providers and treatment professionals.
Emergency Notice– MK Recovery Coaching does not provide emergency or crisis intervention services. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, psychiatric crisis, or thoughts of self-harm, call 911, go to the nearest emergency room, or contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline immediately.

The core competencies of recovery coaching are more than professional standards—they are the foundation of how I serve others. I am dedicated to practicing with integrity, empathy, and respect while supporting each person’s unique pathway to recovery. Through ethical coaching, authentic connection, and unwavering belief in the possibility of change, I am committed to helping individuals and families achieve sustainable recovery and improved quality of life.

If you want to know more about how a recovery coach can help you, schedule a complimentary one-hour discussion with Melissa.

Email her at: KilleenMelissa@Gmail.com

If you are interested in purchasing my new book, click below.

Recovery Coaching
A Guide to Coaching People in Recovery from Addictions
(Third Edition)

[1] Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2015). Core competencies for peer workers in behavioral health services. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/programs_campaigns/brss_tacs/core-competencies_508_12_13_18.pdf