Addiction and Recovery Coaching and Counselling

Addiction is a growing issue that affects people from all walks of life. Some start with casual use of drugs or alcohol and gradually cross the line into addiction. Others may fall into dependency during difficult life phases or from a young age. Most people dealing with addiction use substances to suppress emotional pain or unresolved trauma.

The digital revolution has introduced new types of behavioural addiction – such as social media, online gambling, gaming, and pornography. These emerging challenges have created a growing demand for professionals trained specifically in addiction care.

Our Addiction and Recovery Coaching and Counselling programme is a comprehensive specialisation programme designed to train professionals to support individuals and families affected by addiction.

Given the complexity of addiction and recovery, it’s essential that practitioners develop deep knowledge, practical skills, and personal insight in this field. This programme is therefore only offered as a specialisation for people who are already trained coaches/counsellors.

Over the course of the training programme, you will:

• Learn the full scope of addiction and recovery counselling.
• Gain practical tools and evidence-based methods.
• Grow personally and professionally to work confidently in the field.
• Learn how to confidently position yourself in the addiction recovery market – whether you choose to build your own practice or work within a clinic setting.
• Learn to professionally intervene in disruptions in the counselling process and apply various attitudes and techniques.

Working in addiction care requires more than just skills – it requires self-awareness and emotional resilience. Throughout the programme, you will:

• Explore your own relationship to the field.
• Alternate between the roles of counsellor and client in exercises.
• Reflect deeply through a personal learning portfolio.
• Participate in peer learning, intervision and supervision.

The programme Addiction and Recovery Coaching and Counselling focuses on six core themes: 1) working with people who struggle with all sorts of addiction, 2) family coaching in addiction, 3) recovery coaching, 4) interventions as a tool, 5) psychological disorders, trauma and loss and 6) positioning yourself as a professional coach/counsellor. These topics will be explained below.

1. Introduction to addiction coaching and counselling
   This module offers an introduction to the complex topic of addiction, focusing on both the theoretical and practical sides of counselling people who are struggling with addiction. You will gain knowledge of all kinds of addictions, the underlying causes, the neurological and physical impact and how addiction affects the entire system around the addicted person. You will also learn methodologies you can apply when working with addiction problems.
2. Family coaching in addiction
   Addiction is often referred to as a family illness due to its impact on the people who are close to the addicted person. You’ll learn how to support families during all phases of addiction and recovery – both when encouraging treatment and during post-detox reintegration. Key areas include: communication within families, addressing co-dependency and unhealthy patterns, educating relatives about addiction.
3. Recovery coaching
   This module prepares you to guide individuals through the challenges of rebuilding life after addiction. You’ll support clients in restoring relationships, managing health, and regaining structure in work and daily life.
4. Interventions
   You will learn how to carry out professional interventions, using models like Arise, Johnson, and CRAFT, to motivate individuals to seek clinical treatment. This intensive process includes guiding both the addict and their family.
5. Psychological disorders, trauma and loss
   Dual diagnosis (addiction and co-occurring mental disorders) is common. Although as a coach/counsellor you cannot diagnose or treat mental illnesses, it’s crucial to understand mental health conditions and the characteristics of mental disorders, the effects of trauma and grief, long-term consequences of addiction and when and how to refer clients appropriately.
6. Positioning yourself as an addiction coach/counsellor
   In this practical module, you’ll learn how to confidently position yourself as a skilled and trustworthy addiction coach or counsellor. Whether you dream of starting your own private practice or working in a rehabilitation clinic.

The programme prepares you to work as an addiction and recovery coach/counsellor. By the end of the programme, you will:

• Understand the many faces of addiction.
• Know how to support both addicts and their networks.
• Have the proper tools to guide recovery processes.

After completing the programme Addiction and Recovery Coaching and Counselling, you can start your own practice as an addiction coach/counsellor and/or recovery coach. You can guide addicted clients and those around them through the entire process of (becoming clean from) addiction and recovery. Our diploma also allows you to work in a rehabilitation facility.

This course is ideal for:

• Professionals already working in (mental) health care.
• Coaches and counsellors seeking to learn more about addiction.
• Individuals who have personal experience with addiction (you must be in active recovery).

Minimum of Secondary Vocational Education (Dutch MBO level 4) and/or sufficient life experience and motivation. Click here for the possibilities if you do not meet this requirement.

Graduates of Coaching and Counselling Year 1 and Year 2 can be admitted to this specialisation programme. If you hold a diploma of another coaching/counselling training, you might be admitted to the specialisation. Please contact us for the possibilities.

This training programme includes 15 training days and 8 online sessions:

Module 1: Introduction to addiction counselling – Understanding addiction

• Definition, causes and mechanisms
• Psychological and neurological effects, signs of addiction
• Role of the addiction coach
• Overview of care systems and interdisciplinary collaboration
• Minnesota model and other models
• Methodologies in coaching in addiction (e.g. motivational interviewing, self-esteem model)
• Attachment issues, trauma, grief, co-dependency and system dynamics

Module 2: Family coaching in addiction (3 days)

• Family systems and dynamics
• Supporting family members and addressing co-dependency
• Providing psycho-education
• Facilitating family/system conversations

Module 3: Recovery coaching (5 days)

• Guiding individuals post-detox into stable, meaningful lives in the domains: health, purpose, relationships, finances
• Applying positive psychology and coaching techniques
• Promoting post-traumatic growth
• Getting to know and work with the social services landscape

Module 4: Interventions (3 days)

• Planning and delivering interventions (e.g. working with the models: ARISE, Johnson, CRAFT)
• Conflict management and family readiness
• Transferring clients to clinical settings (referrals and logistics)

Module 5: Marketing yourself as a coach and/or setting up your own practice (1 day)

• Setting up your own practice –business plan, marketing, administration
• Working in a rehab clinic – understand the expectations and professional standards within clinical environments
• Personal branding and positioning

Online Module: Psychological Disorders, Trauma and Grief (8 sessions)

• Recognising mental health disorders
• Long-term effects of addiction
• Dual diagnosis and DSM-V
• Rehabilitation and referral

To ensure that the training programme is a good fit, all applicants must complete a 45-minute intake interview. This will assess:

• Your motivation and readiness for the course.
• Your ability to support future clients effectively.
• Any prior experience or relevant education.
• If you have any personal experience with addiction, and if so, whether your recovery process is stable enough to start the programme.

If you’ve already completed Coaching and Counselling Year 1 or Year 2, you’ll still be required to complete the interview for entry into the specialisation.

This programme will equip you with the tools, knowledge and personal insight to work meaningfully in one of society’s most urgent care sectors. Whether you’re deepening your existing practice or starting a new career path, this training programme will prepare you to make a real impact.