A Peer Recovery Specialist is someone with personal, lived experience of recovery from substance use or mental health challenges who has been trained to support others on the same path. They aren't therapists, and they don't replace therapy. They offer something different: the understanding of someone who has been there.
What a peer specialist does
- Listens without judgment. Many people say it's easier to be honest with someone who has faced the same struggles.
- Helps set and reach practical goals. That can mean building a daily routine, preparing for a job interview, or finding a support group.
- Connects you to resources. Peers know the local landscape: recovery housing, benefits, transportation, and community groups.
- Shares what worked. When it's helpful, they talk about their own recovery to show that change is possible.
How peer support fits with treatment
Peer support works well alongside outpatient therapy. Your therapist helps you work through the clinical side of recovery, such as trauma, depression, or cravings. Your peer specialist helps you put those skills to work in everyday life. Some people meet with both; others start with peer support while they decide on next steps.
Peer support at Freedom Behavioral Health
Our Peer Support Services include one-on-one sessions with a Peer Recovery Specialist, support groups, mindfulness sessions, and life skills workshops. Peers can also help you find a place in our recovery housing.
If you think peer support might help you or someone you love, give us a call. We're glad to explain how it works.
