Who are Peer Support Specialists?
According to the Depression Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA), A Peer Support Specialist is a person with lived experience with trauma, mood or substance use conditions who are willing to disclose their recovery journey and then trained to provide support, help and encouragement to others working towards wellness. Peers are also known as Recovery Coaches.
How do Peer Support Specialists help others?
The formal description from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) describes the role of Peer Support Specialist is to empower others by way of shared understanding, respect, and mutual empowerment. Peer Support Specialists help people become and stay engaged in the recovery process and extend the reach of treatment beyond the clinical setting into the everyday environment.
How can a Peer Support Specialist help me?
If you are reading this, you are trying to figure out if I am the right fit for you. I’m a trained professional but I’m not a robot. I’m a regular person trying to figure it all out too. My work, life, relationships and fatherhood experiences have seasoned and tuned me to our shared human condition, and continue to do so. I practice what I preach. With patience, persistence and strong determination. I’ve been to the bottom and I can help point the way out. I look forward to working with you.