United Kingdom
Castle Craig, Scotland
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Page last updated
Monday 29th Jun 2026
Page written by
Victoria McCann
It’s time to put addiction behind you
Sober companion support
A sober companion offers one-to-one support in recovery. They are there for the moments when day-to-day life feels too hard to face alone.Â
That might be travelling to or from in-clinic treatment. It might be the first weeks back at home after a residential rehab programme. Or it might be a work trip or family event you feel uncertain about. Castle Health arranges this support across Castle Craig in Scotland and Smarmore Castle in Ireland. It forms part of a wider treatment pathway.
Your companion works alongside your clinical team, so what you have built in treatment holds up in everyday situations.
What is a sober companion?
A sober companion – sometimes called an addiction recovery support companion – is a trained one-to-one support person who works with you in real-world settings. They are not a therapist and do not replace clinical care. The role is practical support, in the situations where day-to-day life feels harder to manage alone.Â
A companion can travel with you, stay with you for a set period at home, or accompany you in specific situations you feel uncertain about. The role is shaped by what you and your clinical team agree is most useful. You can read more about how this fits into our wider inpatient treatment offer.
When sober companion support may be helpful
Some moments in recovery are more difficult than others. The transition out of an inpatient stay is one of the hardest. You are moving from a setting built around recovery into one that holds the same triggers you had before. The day-to-day structure that supported you is no longer in the room. Recovery companion support can help during:
- travel to or from a treatment centre, including international journeys
- the first weeks at home after an inpatient stay
- a return to work, a family event, or a trip that feels difficult
- a court date, hospital appointment or other situation you would rather not face alone
- any period where you and your clinical team agree extra support would help
How sober companion support works
Support starts with a conversation between you, your clinical team and our admissions team. We agree what you need, when you need it and for how long.Â
Your companion stays in touch with the people involved in your care, so you don’t have to repeat yourself or manage updates. Day to day, that might mean travelling with you, going to a meeting together, or being in the house when you get home from work.
Arrangements vary. Some clients work with a companion for a couple of weeks. Others want support over a longer period. There is no fixed length and the arrangement can be reviewed at any point.
Sober companion vs sober transport
Sober transport and sober companion support overlap, but the services are different. You may also see sober transport referred to as a sober escort service.
- Sober transport is a logistical service. It gets you safely from one place to another, usually at the start or end of an inpatient stay.
- A sober companion service is wider; it can include transport, but it also covers the time on either side. A companion can pack up your home before you travel to treatment, they can settle you back in afterwards, or stay with you during the weeks that follow.
At Castle Health, sober transport is included within companion support when needed. If transport is all you want, we can arrange just that. If you want longer support, the wider service usually fits better.
Locations designed to support your recovery
Castle Health operates two residential locations: Castle Craig in the Scottish Borders and Smarmore Castle in County Louth, Ireland. Sober companion support can be arranged in connection with either site, and can extend across borders for clients travelling internationally.
Who can benefit from a sober companion
Recovery companion support is useful at a range of points in recovery. The service tends to suit:
- People about to start an inpatient stay who want someone with them on the journey
- Someone leaving inpatient care who wants a steadier route home
- Anyone in the early weeks of recovery who would rather not face certain situations alone
- Clients travelling internationally during a recovery-sensitive period
- Families arranging structured support for someone in their life
Sober companion support during treatment transitions
Transitions are the in-between moments, when one setting has ended and the next has not begun. Discharge from an inpatient stay is the clearest example. Others include moving from inpatient to outpatient care, returning to work, or travelling for the first time in recovery. The NHS recommends ongoing support after structured treatment to help sustain recovery. Sober support services, including companion arrangements, give that aftercare shape in the weeks following discharge.
How Castle Health provides sober companion services
Castle Health’s sober companion UK and Ireland service is delivered by trained, vetted companions. Many have lived experience of recovery themselves. We can also travel further afield where needed. Each arrangement is agreed in advance with the clinical team responsible for your care, and reviewed at regular points.
You can read more about our wider addiction treatment approach. We offer a full range of rehab treatment options across Castle Craig and Smarmore Castle.
When you first get in touch, there is no pressure to commit to anything. We will talk through your situation and help you work out what kind of support is most useful.
Integrating sober companion support into recovery
A companion service works best when it sits within a wider plan. That plan includes therapy and continued contact with your clinical team. Peer support such as 12 Step groups often forms part of it. The companion meets you in real-world settings, while the rest of your treatment continues in the background.
Recovery companion arrangements are one of the ways Castle Health stays involved after discharge. They support the parts of recovery that happen outside the clinic.
RECOVERY HUB
Learn more about recovery support
Best rehab clinics: how to choose the right treatment for you
Category Rehab
The disease model of addiction explained
Category Addictions
Advice for people seeking help to stop drinking alcohol
Category Alcohol Addiction
How drugs affect your mental health: what you need to know
Category Drug Addiction
Family support
If someone you know needs help with recovery support
When someone in your life is in recovery, you can end up organising the practical side of treatment. You might also become the person they call when things feel uncertain.
A sober companion can take on the practical handovers. That includes the drive to treatment or the first night back at home, so you do not have to. The companion works alongside your clinical team. You can go back to being family or a friend rather than a carer.
We can also arrange family therapy and intervention support as part of the wider treatment pathway. If you would like to talk through what is available, we will help you work out where to start.
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Frequently asked questions about sober companions
What does a sober companion do day to day?
It depends on the arrangement. Some days a companion will travel with you or attend a meeting alongside you. They might help with practical tasks like getting your home set up. Other days the role is simply about being a consistent presence. The shape of the day is agreed with you and your clinical team.
Is a sober companion the same as a therapist?
No. A sober companion provides one-to-one support in real-world settings. They are not a clinician and they do not deliver therapy. They work alongside your clinical team, who lead on the therapeutic side of your care.
Can a sober companion travel with me internationally?
Yes. Our companions can travel with you within the UK and Ireland and to destinations further afield. International journeys are arranged in advance, with documentation, accommodation and the clinical handover all coordinated by our team.