There are times in outpatient treatment when it is a challenge for clients to meet their goals.  This may be due to an recent increase in symptoms, unexpected stressors, a premature discharge from a higher level of care, lack of adequate support, or a lapse, even though motivation for recovery is high.  In these situations, it can be helpful to augment the weekly therapy session with a personal recovery coach who can do targeted clinical activities with the client outside of the sessions to help him/her practice newly learned coping skills and challenge old behavior patterns.

Recovery coaches are not only helpful in increasing the intensity of outpatient therapy, but also can assist those who are transitioning out of a higher level of care (such as residential treatment), those who are not ready or able to attend residential treatment, or who need more support while waiting for a bed to open in a treatment facility.  There may be situations where the addition of recovery coaches allows the client to have a very personalized treatment plan that accommodates their particular life circumstances.