Connection Recovery Coaching and Monitoring

Successfully Navigate Early Recovery from Addiction with Connection™

Convenient and confidential, Hazelden Betty Ford's Connection program provides you and your loved ones with personalized, phone-based, addiction recovery coaching by licensed counselors.

You can receive monitoring and accountability reports as a part of the Connection program, and random drug testing is also an option, as appropriate. These services are all part of Connection's intensive combination of recovery support and monitoring that has proven to be especially helpful for individuals who:

• Have been through treatment multiple times
• Are facing the loss of a professional license
• Are struggling with legal issues or custody matters
• Are planning to return to college
• Need additional accountability

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"It was exactly what I needed at the time. Held me accountable in ways I needed it but also allowed me to focus on things besides recovery, like school and work."

Sober Recovery Support within Reach

Your first weeks and months clean and sober are critical. Honesty and accountability are key. Recovery coaching, guidance and support from the outset can help pave the way to long-term sobriety.

Research verifies the importance of continuing with regular participation in recovery-focused activities following treatment for alcohol or other drug dependence. In fact, scientific findings published by Hazelden Betty Ford's Butler Center for Research show that the average abstinence rate increases to 82 percent for individuals who participate in recovery monitoring programming. 

Through Connection services, family members and/or other key stakeholders designated by you—such as your employer, licensing board, school administrator or probation officer—are able to stay informed and involved in your recovery, too.

Connection services at Hazelden Betty Ford incorporate the most promising drug and alcohol addiction recovery support practices, including:

• Intensive, personal sober coaching and case management
• Frequent phone contact with a recovery coach—for you and designated family members
• Documented recovery compliance updates
• Random drug testing for accountability (monitoring services)

These activities help to strengthen your sobriety while also promoting peace of mind for your loved ones.

"The Connection program was something I needed, and I am glad I did it. My Connection coach was helpful, insightful and courteous at all times. My goal when I started Connection was to be well established in sobriety when it was complete. I achieved my goal, thanks to my Connection coach and the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation. I have a strong recovery program, and I am grateful for each day in recovery. Thank you to all who helped me get this far."

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Connection for Families

Addiction has a devastating impact on families—and the harmful consequences don't magically disappear once your loved one finds recovery. Hazelden Betty Ford clinicians developed the Connection for Families program because family members need healthy coping strategies and support, too. For example, as a consequence of your loved one's addiction, your family could still be struggling with difficulties related to:

• Extreme stress
• Anxiety
• Distrust
• Deteriorating relationships
• Feelings of powerlessness
• Codependency

Through convenient, phone-based recovery coaching sessions with a licensed addiction counselor, Connection for Families provides support and guidance to parents, spouses, siblings—anyone whose emotional, physical or spiritual health has been compromised by a loved one's addiction. Coaching sessions are designed to help your family recognize and change fear-based behaviors you may have developed in response to living with the pain and turmoil of addiction.

Sessions with a Connection recovery coach will help your family learn practical skills for:

• Setting healthy boundaries
• Holding your loved one accountable
• Rebuilding trusting relationships 

Recovery coaching sessions for your family can be scheduled weekly, monthly or used on an "as needed" basis.

Request information about Connection programs and services.

Complete the form below or call 1-877-394-6014 to speak with Connection Program member. Available Monday-Friday, 8-4:30 p.m. central.

"Without Connection, I don’t think my son could have managed his transition to a new city and a new school and, most important, to a recovery mind-set. He found his sponsor mostly because of continued contact with Connection. The urine analysis tests kept him accountable, and the staff did a good job of staying on top of our requirements and making those clear to my son. It was important for my son to have that extra accountability and for me to be able to step back and allow him to take the Steps himself (which are the only steps that matter). As I see it, the six months of Connection was critical for his movement into a journey of recovery. So yes, it made a big difference. Thank you."

Learn more about the Connection program and how it can help you or a loved one strengthen and sustain long-term sobriety.

"Great program for accountability and offers many resources. Helpful and understanding."

Your Connection Team

Your Connection team will coach you through three distinct phases based on emerging research about what makes recovery from alcohol and drug addiction last:

• Initial training focused on practical tasks such as developing your sober support network and resources, managing your time, following through with commitments
• Ongoing identification of roadblocks related to your social, emotional, spiritual, financial and vocational wellbeing
• Personal goal-setting and creating an action plan for reaching those goals

Connection sober coaches are licensed addiction counselors with extensive training in recovery management, relapse prevention and phone support. Meet the Connection sober coaching team.

"My Connection coach always went up and beyond the call of duty for me. We had schedule changes at times, and she was always flexible when that happened. She communicates very effectively and returns messages promptly."

Certified Soberlink Provider

As a Certified Soberlink Provider, our Connection staff is trained on how to best utilize Soberlink alcohol monitoring system to support your recovery through testing and connecting to a recovery support network.

"I appreciated the constant communication and understanding of difficult situations that come up and the ability to provide valuable advice."

Connection Recovery Coaching Q&A

How do Connection services bridge the gap between addiction treatment and recovery?

In drug and alcohol treatment, patients are educated about how recovery works, but learning how to live in recovery—actually changing your mind-set and behavior in relation to almost every aspect of your life—presents new challenges at every turn. Having support, guidance and accountability in those early months makes that transition more viable.

That's the idea behind Connection. Our licensed addiction counselors work with you over an extended period of time to help you establish and sustain sobriety so you can be the person you want to be and lead the life you want to live.

What behaviors or objectives do Connection Coaches focus on?

Honesty and accountability are key. Coaches ask a lot of questions to stay on top of both. First and foremost, coaches always ask patients if they've remained abstinent. The Connection program's random drug testing verifies that information easily enough, but what sober coaches are really after is helping you recognize triggers, feelings, and attitudes that could lead to relapse and identify how, exactly, you plan to address those emotions and situations.

The reality is that relapse begins long before an individual actually picks up a substance. Relapse can start with getting complacent about recovery or experiencing some kind of loss, deciding not to go to meetings, neglecting to use coping skills and eventually becoming less and less resilient to handling life on life's terms.

Do recovery coaches really get to know their patients?

Yes, and patients grow to trust and count on Connection recovery coaches. Even patients who may have initially resisted Connection services become engaged and encouraged.

One of Connection's first patients was a professional athlete who, at first, didn't want anything to do with the program or services. His team insisted that he participate. As the Connection coach and patient got to know one another over many weeks and months, they shared some good cries and laughs—and the patient  began to really thrive in recovery. His wife was thrilled. He was thrilled. And his team was extremely thankful and impressed.

Family members can be involved in Connection, too?

Absolutely. There are two ways that happens. One way is for a patient to designate loved ones along with continuing care professionals, employers, or others concerned about his or her well-being to receive Connection accountability updates and verification reports. The other way is for family members to sign up for Connection coaching and support services, even if their loved one isn't a Connection participant. Our licensed addiction counselors work with spouses, parents and other family members on how to set boundaries, hold their loved one accountable and rebuild trusting relationships.

What's the best advice for people who are new to recovery—and their loved ones?

Be patient – there can be ups and downs in early recovery and change takes time. Try to stay positive and stick together through the journey – things will eventually stabilize and a new normal will be established. Make sure to seek your own support throughout the process. We are here for you.

Request Information

Complete the form below or call 1-877-394-6014 to speak with Connection Program member. Available Monday-Friday, 8-4:30 p.m. central.