How is Peer Support different than traditional counseling or therapy?

As a Peer Support Specialist, my job is to help point you in the direction that works best for you, without providing a diagnosis or performing clinical assessments. While both work to support individuals in recovery, therapists typically have a formal clinical degree and provide therapy. Peer support specialists draw on their lived experience and focus on recovery support and connection. 

How will speaking with a Peer Support Specialist help?

Peer Support Specialists have lived through many experiences and made it to the other side of healing by building resilience, so they help in ways that traditional therapists do not. Lived experience allows peer support specialists to connect with individuals on a deeper level, offering empathy, understanding, and a shared perspective that can be incredibly powerful in the recovery process. 

What do peer support specialists do?

They offer support, encouragement, and guidance to individuals in recovery, helping them develop and implement recovery plans, connect with resources, and build a strong support network. They may also facilitate support groups, provide education, and advocate for individuals' needs

How can peer support specialists help with mental health or substance use recovery?

Peer support specialists offer hope, motivation, and practical assistance in navigating the recovery process. They can help individuals develop coping skills, connect with resources, and build a strong support system.