Sober companions in Florida
A sober companion stays close to your loved one in early recovery. What they do, what they are not, and how to check one before you hire.
Calls are answered by a partner at-home treatment provider, not by this guide.
- Role Day-to-day recovery support
- Not A doctor, nurse or therapist
- Works with Your loved one’s clinical team
- Settings Home, work and travel
What a sober companion does
A sober companion is a support person who spends time with someone in early recovery, sometimes for a few hours a day and sometimes around the clock. Many have their own lived experience of recovery. Their job is practical: help your loved one get through ordinary days without drinking or using.
In practice, that can mean:
- Helping clear the home of alcohol and drugs, and keeping it that way
- Going along to appointments, meetings and therapy sessions
- Traveling with your loved one for work or family events
- Helping build a daily routine of sleep, meals, exercise and support
- Noticing warning signs and, with consent, telling the clinical team
- Being there in the hard hours, often evenings and weekends
Families often bring in a companion after a home detox, alongside concierge rehab, or when someone comes home from a residential program.
What a sober companion is not
Being clear about limits protects your loved one and your money.
- Not medical care. A companion cannot manage withdrawal, give medicine or judge when a hospital is needed. Detox needs a physician and nurses. Severe alcohol or benzodiazepine withdrawal can need a hospital, and in an emergency you call 911.
- Not therapy. Support is valuable, but it does not replace a licensed therapist or psychiatrist.
- Not a guard. A companion cannot hold someone against their will. If your loved one refuses help and is in danger, Florida has a court process called the Marchman Act, explained in our Marchman Act guide.
- Not a referral agent. A companion should not steer you to a center for a fee.
On that last point, Florida’s patient brokering law, section 817.505, makes it unlawful to pay or receive kickbacks or similar benefits for referring patients. If a companion pushes one particular center, ask whether they are paid by it.
How to check a sober companion
This is personal, close work, so check the person carefully. Ask:
- What training and credentials do you hold, and which body issued them? Then check with that body.
- Will you agree to a background check?
- Who supervises your work clinically, and how do you share updates?
- What exactly is included, and what is not, in writing?
- How do you handle privacy, including phones, social media and visitors?
- What do you do if you see signs of a relapse or a crisis?
- Do you receive anything from any treatment center?
A good companion welcomes these questions. Watch for anyone who promises results, discourages medical care, or wants to replace the clinical team rather than work with it.
If your loved one is also seeing a clinician, ask that clinician to speak with the companion before they start. It is the simplest way to make sure everyone is working from the same plan. For the wider picture of support at home, see our guide to helping a loved one accept treatment.
Sober companion questions
How long does a sober companion stay?
It varies. Some families use one for a few days around a hard moment, such as a trip or a holiday. Others keep one for weeks while a new routine takes hold. Agree on a length and an end plan at the start, so the support steps down rather than stopping suddenly.
Can a sober companion travel with an executive?
Yes, travel is a common reason to hire one. Agree in advance on hotel arrangements, how work events with alcohol will be handled, and what the companion should do if plans change. Our executive rehab guide covers work and privacy more broadly.
Does insurance pay for a sober companion?
Ask your insurer, but plan for the possibility that it will not. Companion services are often not billed as clinical care. Get a written price that shows daily or hourly rates, travel costs and what happens if you end early.
Is a sober coach the same as a sober companion?
The terms are used loosely. A coach may meet or call on a schedule, while a companion usually spends extended time in person. Ask exactly what the person will do, and how often, rather than relying on the title.
For treatment centers
Licensed Florida centers can apply for the one featured spot on this guide.