Naetha Uren
Naetha Uren, RCP, RCPF, is the CEO and Owner of Recovery Coach Academy UK, leading a transformative mission to advocate for recovery and advance the field of recovery coaching both locally and globally. With a focus on training, community support, and collaborative partnerships, the academy has impacted individuals in over 20 countries, pioneering recovery coaching initiatives in regions such as the MENA area and beyond.
In collaboration with CPD Standards and CPD MENA, Naetha, as a Certified British Trainer, has built on the foundation of the CCAR Recovery Coach Academy© to develop a global ecosystem that includes Recovery Friendly Workplaces, recovery education for schools, and initiatives to empower and support recovery entrepreneurship. As the first CCAR Certified Recovery Coach Professional and trainer in the UK, she and her team have trained nearly 2000 people in 27 countries. This work underscores her commitment to excellence and innovation in recovery coaching.
Beyond her role at Recovery Coach Academy UK, Naetha is actively engaged with various international organizations as a Trustee, Advisor, and supporter. Her multifaceted perspective—shaped by her experiences living in both the USA and the UK—enriches her professional endeavors. Drawing on personal, familial, and community insights, Naetha remains dedicated to fostering recovery and building resilient communities.
Scaling Peer Support in a Country Lacking Mutual Aid: Implementing Recovery Coaching in Qatar
The theme of “Change” is integral to the work we have done in Qatar, where the need for peer support and mutual aid has long been underdeveloped. The international guidelines from the WHO and UNODC (2020) highlight the importance of peer support, particularly in the context of substance use disorder (SUD) recovery. Evidence shows that peer support, when integrated alongside treatment, can reduce relapse rates, improve relationships between patients and healthcare providers, and enhance overall treatment satisfaction (Eddie et al., 2019). Yet, for many countries like Qatar, where mutual aid systems are limited or nonexistent, implementing peer support remains a significant challenge.
In response, Recovery Coach Academy (http://recoverycoachacademy.co.uk/) has partnered with Naufar and the Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery (CCAR) to introduce culturally adapted recovery coaching. We successfully trained over 200 individuals in 2023, with 22 achieving accredited Recovery Coach certification, and 6 further trained as facilitators to ensure the sustainability of this culturally relevant program in Arabic. These trained coaches now work alongside clinical staff to offer valuable peer support, using their personal experiences to guide and support those navigating recovery from substance use disorders.
This presentation will share the lessons learned from this journey, focusing on the process of culturally adapting recovery coach training and scaling peer support in Qatar. We will highlight key insights and considerations for those seeking to implement recovery coaching in countries with limited or no tradition of mutual aid, offering a blueprint for creating transformative change through peer support. Our work in Qatar exemplifies how, through thoughtful adaptation and collaboration, recovery-focused communities can emerge even in the most challenging environments.
References:
Eddie, D., Hoffman, L., Vilsaint, C., Abry, A., Bergman, B., Hoeppner, B., Weinstein, C., & Kelly, J. F. (2019). Lived Experience in New Models of Care for Substance Use Disorder: A Systematic Review of Peer Recovery Support Services and Recovery Coaching. Frontiers in psychology, 10, 1052. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01052
World Health Organization and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (2020). International standards for the treatment of drug use disorders: Revised edition incorporating results of field-testing. Geneva: World Health Organization and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO. Retrieved on 10th February 2025 from https://www.unodc.org/documents/drug-prevention-and-treatment/UNODC-WHO_International_Standards_Treatment_Drug_Use_Disorders_April_2020.pdf