Reviews:

“Melissa Killeen does what hasn’t been done before: a thorough explanation of recovery coaching. This will be an indispensable resource for both the coach just starting and the veteran. Well-researched, practical and very readable.”

Omar Manejwala, M.D. Author of Craving: Why We Can’t Seem to Get Enough

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“Hi Melissa. Just ordered 30 of your books for our winter term AD 107 Recovery Mentor class at Portland, WA Community College. Thanks for writing this very helpful text.”

Jonny Gieber, Professor, Portland Community College

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“I purchased your book, ‘Recovery Coaching,’ through Amazon. I have just started reading it and was thrilled to see Oxford House mentioned a couple of times so far. I am the Regional Manager for Oxford House, Inc., and am now living in Corpus Christi, TX, with my wife and youngest son. I am in long-term recovery (7 years) and have been employed by Oxford House, Inc. since 2007. I spent three years as an outreach worker, and I opened houses in my home state of Oklahoma. In 2010, I was promoted to regional manager and am now solely a supervisor for 10 outreach workers, 3 in Oklahoma and 5 in Texas. The Department of State Health Services (DSHS) recently expanded the contract with OHI, and we are on pace to open well over thirty houses this fiscal year. I hope that Texas will one day have over 600 houses to help people new in recovery seeking safety, support, structure, and sobriety.”

The DSHS is also on a path to incorporate the SAMHSA ROSC ideas, and there are twenty-eight ROSC coalitions scattered across TX from Amarillo to Galveston, El Paso to Tyler. The ROSC group in my area (Coastal Bend ROSC) is about to elect me as its chairperson, and I am seeking support to open a Recovery Community Center. We are also working toward starting a Recovery Coaching network, where I am hopeful that I will be trained as a Recovery Coach trainer, working with residents of Oxford House to teach them how to become Recovery Coaches. This is why I purchased your book. I look forward to finishing the book and doing everything I can to help push the paradigm shift of recovery here in Texas toward the Recovery Management Model. Thank you for writing the book.

Jackson Longan
Regional Manager, Oxford House, Inc., Corpus Christi, TX

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I’ve worked in the addiction and recovery field for decades, and this 3rd edition is one of the most practical and ethically grounded recovery coaching resources available.

Much of the content in this book took me years of formal education, specialized training, supervision, and real-world experience to learn. Having it clearly and responsibly presented in one place is invaluable. I recommend this book every time someone asks me about recovery coaching or companion work.

This guide makes an important point that needs to be said plainly: recovery coaching is not something learned through personal recovery alone. While lived experience has value, it does not replace education, skill development, ethical training, or accountability—especially when working with vulnerable clients.

The book strongly reinforces that the goal of a recovery coach is client independence, not long-term dependency on the coach. Too many clients are kept reliant on coaches for years, whether intentionally or not. This book emphasizes empowerment, boundaries, and ethical practice. Coaches should never financially depend on a client’s long-term dependence.

If you are serious about doing this work responsibly—and not exploiting it—this book should be considered essential reading.

D.E., Recovery Coach, Detroit, Michigan