If I am reading this right, you posted that you struggle with emotional communication? It sounds to me like you have some things to work out in you and it may not pertain to this person who is in recovery.
Ways to be supportive of your partners recovery:
Listen. Communicate. Work through any issues. Let your partner work on his recovery. Do activities that do not involve drug/ alcohol use. Be supportive in the way of accepting his problem and accepting the steps he takes to remedy his problem; as in meetings and other support groups. Stay in your own lane and know what problems are yours and what problems are his.
Relationships are work no matter if the person is in recovery or not.
You do not have to adopt his program. Just be there.