Alcohol Recovery That Works: How I Use Solution-Focused Sober Coaching to Support Change
When I began my recovery from alcohol addiction in May 2018, I wasn’t searching for what was wrong with me—I was searching for a way forward.
What worked wasn’t shame.
It wasn’t reliving old trauma.
It was a future-focused conversation that gave me a sense of possibility.
That same approach—Solution-Focused Sober Coaching—is now at the heart of the work I do to help others reclaim their lives and lead with clarity, calm, and purpose.
🍃 A Better Way to Recover
Not everyone struggling with alcohol fits the stereotype.
You don’t have to hit “rock bottom” to feel out of control.
You might be a high performer. A parent. A business leader. A friend.
You may be asking yourself questions like:
“Am I drinking too much?”
“Why can’t I stop once I start?”
“Is this just stress… or something more?”
These are the clients I work with every day—high-functioning professionals who want to explore change without judgment, shame, or a one-size-fits-all label.
🧠 What Is Solution-Focused Sober Coaching?
This method is based on Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)—a proven model that focuses on:
✔️ What’s already working
✔️ Where you want to go
✔️ Small, realistic steps that build momentum
✔️ Resilience, not relapse
✔️ Strength, not shame
As part of my current studies—I'm nearing completion of a Postgraduate Diploma in Psychotherapy & Counselling at the School of Positive Psychology in Singapore—I recently explored how SFBT supports alcohol recovery.
The research shows what I’ve experienced myself:
💡 People change faster when we focus on their goals
💡 Relapse is reduced when people feel in control
💡 Coaching models like this offer private, stigma-free support
🙋♂️ Why I Coach This Way
I’ve now been sober for more than 7 years, and I didn’t get here by being told what was wrong with me.
I got here by being asked:
👉 “What kind of life do you want to live?”
I answered that question—and then built that life.
Today, I coach others through the same transformation.
I’m proud to be:
A Professional Certified Coach (PCC) with the International Coaching Federation
A Chief Master Coach (CMC) with ITD World, trained by world-renowned coaches
Ranked Top 3 Global ICF Coach (2025) out of 4,500+ professionals
An author, keynote speaker, and mental health advocate
And a committed guide for sober professionals looking for a better way forward
💼 My Approach to Coaching
My method is:
🔹 Solution-focused – We talk about what’s next, not just what’s wrong
🔹 Holistic – We look at every part of your life using my Wheel of Life framework
🔹 Trauma-informed – We honour safety, pacing, and emotional regulation
🔹 Confidential – No labels, no diagnosis, just real support
You don’t need a rehab stay to begin.
You don’t need to call yourself an alcoholic.
You just need to feel ready to explore a change.
🤝 Who This Is For
This might be for you.
Or it might be for someone you care about.
A friend.
A colleague.
A family member.
Someone in your community who’s silently struggling.
If someone comes to mind, please feel free to share this with them—or connect us directly.
📞 Let’s Start the Conversation
Whether it’s for you or someone close to you, I offer a confidential, complimentary connection call to see if this approach is a fit.
👉 Book a free 30-minute call
👉 Learn more about Solution-Focused Sober Coaching
👉 [Or forward this message to someone who needs it]
Alcohol recovery doesn’t have to begin with your worst moment.
It can begin with a single conversation—and a vision for something better.
With strength and compassion,
Nick Jonsson
Sober Coach | Executive & Life Coach | Mental Health Advocate
PCC (ICF) | CMC (ITD World) | Top 3 Global ICF Coach (2025)
Nearing completion of a Postgraduate Diploma in Psychotherapy & Counselling
Author of Executive Loneliness
www.nickjonsson.com
Or follow Nick on LinkedIn for weekly insights on coaching, leadership, wellbeing, and performance.