A Sober Coach fills the gap between indigenous communities of recovering people and residential treatment facilities. There is a level of accountability that the indigenous recovering community cannot be expected to provide; the Sober Coach acts as an advocate for the newly recovering person and provide new ways for the client to act in their own living environment that treatment programs are simply unable to offer.

Most people hear about sober coaches and sober companions through the media; these treatment professionals are depicted as adult babysitters for actors, musicians, and other celebrities.

While some coaches do work with high-profile clients, most work anonymously with people re-entering the world after residential treatment for alcohol and/or drug abuse.

Sober Coaches usually provide their services in person, but some do telephone consultations. Often, one of these professional treatment providers will remain with the client 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for a pre-determined period of time.

Some sober coaches are members of professional "life coaching" organizations, but there is currently no national board providing certification in this field.

Sober Coaching is expensive, and it is not covered by insurance companies. It is used primarily by people who can afford to spend a lot of money on residential treatment.

Sober Companions also are used in cases where an actor or musicians will not attend treatment, but must remain abstinent to complete a film or recording project. In cases like these, the producer may pay for part of the service.