RCC Coaching Assessment:
Observable Skills in Recovery Coaching
Domain 1: Building the Relationship
1.1 Treats client as resourceful: the client has their own answers; support autonomy
• Invites client to set topic and direction of session
• Holds space for client to determine their own choices, actions, consequences and takeaways
• Doesn’t tell the client the right way but collaborates to find the right choice for them
• Develops a sense of self-efficacy through Affirming (A) the clients strengths and who they are as a person (not praising their choices or plans, but only their qualities, such as strength, intuition, resilience, etc) In this document using OARS: Open-ended questions, Affirming, Reflective statements, Summarizing
1.2 Open-ended questions (O) that start with what, when, how, where (and sometimes why)
• Uses curiosity to guide questions
• Use of evocative questions that invite pause and introspection
• Allows for silence, time to process
• Asks questions to uncover client’s deeper motivations, values and beliefs, as opposed to interrogation style questions mining for information
• Asks for clarification where needed
• Asks one question at a time (avoids question stacking) and uses reflections interwoven with questions
• Incorporates use of clients’ language
• Asks permission to share thoughts/concerns/resource (AAOA: Ask, Ask, Offer, Ask - ask what they know first, ask permission to share, offer your thought, ask what they think)
1.3 Active Listening and Building Empathy
• Being carried along with what the client is saying, fully present, mindful
• Demonstrates accurate empathy by Reflecting back (R) the client’s words, emotions, values
• Summarizes (S) to ensure understanding, deep client awareness and to clarify the current level of motivation
1.4 Increases Change Talk and Motivation
• Listens for change talk, and supports it through further exploration
• Uses double-sided reflections that end with the desired change
• Seeks to find both their intrinsic and extrinsic motivations and to build upon it
• May use scaling as a measure of motivation, followed by upscaling or downscaling
• Awareness of stage of change the client is in, and responds appropriately
• Is attuned to the presence of discrepancies in the client behaviour and actions, and seeks to address it through reflections with an empathetic tone and holding silence
1.5 Managing your Stuff
• Non-judgmental, neutral and accepting in tone
• Allows silence; practice patience
• Rolls with resistance, avoids argument, remains neutral, calm
• Stays in their lane as a recovery coach, without leaning towards a therapist or sponsor role
• Minimal use of own story, dialogue or suggestions; adheres to 80/20 rule of coaching
Domain 2: Building the Coaching Session Structure
2.1 Builds a Safe Space
• Welcoming and invitational language
• Invitation to ground, settle into session
• Confirms confidentiality
• Meets client where they are
• Maintains appropriate language and physical environment
• Warmth, kindness and empathy demonstrated through tone, expression and body language
2.2 Defines the Coaching Relationship (as applicable)
• Identifies or confirms the clients overall coaching goals and progress toward those goals
• Establishes or confirms coaching roles and responsibilities
2.3 Identifies Topic or Desired Change
• Helps client identify what their overall desired change is (abstinence, cutting back, harm reduction, taking a break)
• Helps client identify topic/or focus for the session
• Invites specific measure of success - what will success look like at the end of this session?
• Inquires about motivations for this change, why is this important to you now?
2.4 Exploration Lens
• Establishes readiness for change, listens and asks questions for values, motivations and desires
• May use scaling to determine readiness for change
• Collaborate on options, confirm relevance to goal of session or desired change
• Identifies barriers and collaborates on ways to overcome them
• Referrals and warm hand-off to appropriate resources as needed
2.5 Clarifies Key Developments
• Asks client to share new insights, awareness, possibilities
• What is client seeing for themselves in relation to their topic
• Summarizes to support client in accuracy of learning, motivation and choices
2.6 Confirms Commitments
• Supports client to identify next steps/actions using SMART goals
• Asks questions to identify resources needed
• Uses intuition and inquiry to establish if goals are within the zone of challenge; noticing any hesitancy and seeking commitment to smaller achievable goals
• Invites client to confirm what they need to stay accountable