"For last year's words belong to last year's language. And next year's words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning ."

— T.S. Eliot

Welcome to the winter edition of Recovery Coaching Times. As the second decade of the 21st century rolls out, we are very proud to be trailblazers providing strengths-based coaching to the recovery community. RCI welcomes you to learn more about our organization and participate in our growing dialogue. As part of our efforts to get the word out, we now have a page on Facebook, and we invite you to become a “fan” of RCI and contribute to our lively virtual discussion. We know there are lots of folks who would like to connect with our Recovery Coaching community, and this is one possible venue to do just that.

Message from the Presidents
Message from the 2009 President

Jan Brown

Jan Michelle Brown, ACC

Greetings,

I take this opportunity to share some reflections about the year in RCI. And, what a year it has been. While I had extremely ambitious goals in my role early on in the year, I was quickly able to settle in and allow things to emerge, as they ought for a growing organization. Here are some of the highlights. The first Board of Directors was established and held meetings throughout the year to set the course for the organization. The ezine was developed and shared worldwide with interested individuals and organizations. The RCI database was created and the Get the Word Out Task Force provided awesome leadership for the organization.

Read more »

Message from the 2010 President

Doreen Cardwell, CRC

In a Spirit of Collaboration —

As the incoming President, I want to thank all who put their names forward as officers and congratulate those elected. I look forward to working with all of you “in a spirit of collaboration.”

As I review 2009 as President Elect of RCI, I want to acknowledge Alida Schuyler and Andrew Susskind, Co-founders of RCI, for their vision in creating RCI, and for the vast time and effort they devote to RCI. I want to thank Jan Brown for her leadership as President of RCI in 2009. I look forward to continue working with her as she assumes the Board Chair in 2010. I also want to extend my appreciation to Andrew Susskind for his tireless efforts in making the Ezine a reality, to Mike Johnsen for his talent in getting the Ezine to each of us, and to every other person who volunteers their valuable time and talent to RCI. You are the solid foundation of RCI.

Read more »

Featured Article
Early History of RCI
by Doreen Cardwell, CRC

One day in 2003, Alida Schuyler, who had been searching for her coaching niche, came to the realization that her tribe was “alcoholics and people in recovery.” As a result, she decided that her niche would be “Recovery Coaching.” Alida googled “Recovery Coach” and “Recovery Coaching” and found nothing — not a thing came up! In Alida´s word “nada!” Alida, the visionary, thought to herself — hmmmm, there must be others out there who are interested in coaching people in recovery. She founded the “Great Life in Recovery” Special Interest Group (GLR SIG) under the banner of the International Coach Federation (ICF) with the intention of attracting other coaches interested in “Recovery Coaching.” The first GLR SIG met in the summer of 2003, and today there are more than 5 million hits on Google for “Recovery Coaching!”

Read more »

Coach Spotlight
Elizabeth Belzer, M.S., M.ED, ACA
(Master of Science, Master of Education, American Coaching Academy)

I have been working with individuals and groups in substance abuse for the last 30 years. What I learned from 24 years in the criminal justice system is that substance abuse is a major Beth Belzer determinant of crime. The majority of individuals incarcerated have some form of substance addiction. I believe that we need to provide gender-responsive treatment in substance abuse. As the past director of a national model program for incarcerated pregnant and parenting women, it was discovered that women self-medicate due to issues of abuse and trauma. In teaching in the college arena for many years this also rang true for my female students. What has been interesting in my journey to teach and coach clients who have been addicted to substance is that substance abuse is no different for those behind bars or those sitting in a college setting.

I became interested in Recovery Coaching mainly from my belief that we are not broken. I coach from the ontological perspective that we need to treat the whole person. The majorities of substance abusers have clearly lost their path and have forgotten who they truly are. Recovery coaching gives people their dignity back and provides a safe place of support on this journey of recovery. I also love working with people who have been impacted by addiction. As a recovering co-dependent, I understand the dynamics and challenges that family and loved ones face when they are confronted with addiction.

Beth's Website »

Conferences & Events
RCI Meetings & Task Forces
· Get the Word Out Task Force
Contact: Andrew Susskind at
andrew@andrewsusskind.com
3rd Wednesday of each month, 8:30am PT
All RCI members are welcome to attend.

Ongoing Educational Seminars
with a Recovery Coaching Focus
· A Great Life in Recovery
An ICF SIG--Special Interest Group
2nd Tuesday of each month, 12:00 Noon PT
Contact: Alida Schuyler at greatlifeinrecovery@gmail.com

· Recovery Uncovered
(A Coaches Training Institute-sponsored group)
4th Wednesday of each month, 10-11am PT
Contact: Deborah Smith and Theresa Swift at
voiceoftheheartcoaching@gmail.com

For a full calendar of events, click here »

We wish you a very peaceful, prosperous New Year and look forward to getting to know you as part of our expanding community.

Gratefully submitted on behalf of RCI,

Andrew Susskind, MSW, ACC
Editor


Winter 2010 In This Issue · Message from the Presidents · Featured Article · Coach Spotlight · Conferences & Events Click Subscribe to receive future issues of Recovery Coaching Times and opt-in to the RCI mailing list. RCI Officers Doreen Cardwell, CRC President Mark Scannell, ACC Vice President Joyce Bennett Secretary Carol McKenzie, CPC Treasurer Catherine Campaigne, ACC President-Elect RCI Welcomes Our Newest Members: Darlene Templeton, CPCC, CRC Round Rock, Texas Mark Scannell, ACC Minneapolis, Minnesota Marilyn O'Malley, CPCC Santa Barbara, California Beverly A. Buncher, MA, CEC, CLPF Broward County, Florida Jeanie Gower United Kingdom Founders and Past Presidents Alida Schuyler, MA, PCC Andrew Susskind, MSW, ACC RCI Board of Directors Kristin Allott Jan Brown Catherine Campaigne Doreen Cardwell Molly Gordon Andrea Saint Clair Alida Schuyler Andrew Susskind Editor Andrew Susskind, MSW, ACC Mission Statement of Recovery Coaches International: To advance, promote, and provide strengths-based coaching to the addiction recovery community. To support, educate, and inspire the members of Recovery Coaches International. To further the interests of Recovery Coaching clients worldwide. If you no longer wish to receive our newsletter and other RCI communications, please click Unsubscribe.

Recovery Coaches International (RCI) · www.recoverycoaching.org