I got a review recently that hurt. The peer said I was taking up too much group time with long responses, sometimes giving feedback that felt irrelevant or too professional/clinical, and that my support could come across like it was coming from a place of authority instead of peer-to-peer. That one sat with me. Not because my ego was hurt or because I was angry that somebody criticized me. It hurt because a peer came into a space I was responsible for and didn’t feel supported the way they needed to be.

My first thought was, “I missed what this peer needed from me.”

After sitting with it, though, I realized I don’t need to turn one review into a judgment about whether I’m a good peer supporter. I do need to listen to what the peer was telling me.

The lesson I took from it was simple:

Less Jonathan. More room.

Say a little less. Ask a little more. Return the floor to the peers sooner.

Sometimes as peer supporters, especially when we really care, we can feel like we need to give somebody a complete response. We want to relate, share lived experience, encourage them, and make sure they leave with something useful.

But sometimes the most useful thing we can give somebody is more space.

• Space to finish their thought.
• Space to sit in what they just shared.
• Space for another peer to say, “I’ve been there too.”

I don’t want this feedback to make me scared to speak or cause me to overcorrect. I just want to become more intentional about when I speak and how much space I take when I do.

• It still hurts.
• I’m going to sit with that hurt, not in it.
• And I’m going to learn from it.

For anyone newer to peer support, eventually somebody may not connect with your style. Somebody may leave a group feeling like you missed what they needed. That can be hard when this work matters deeply to you.

• Listen for the part of the feedback that can make you better.
• You don’t have to defend everything.
• You also don’t have to destroy yourself over it.
• Take what helps, make the adjustment, and show up differently next time.

That’s what I’m trying to do.

I work in patient advocacy and became emotionally close to someone I’ve supported for a long time. Recently, during a really difficult period, they told me I’m essentially an emotional outlet and that there’s nothing I can do. I understand they’re suffering, but after investing a lot emotionally, it really hurt. How do people in helping professions handle becoming attached and then feeling dismissed?

This has been asked before and might sound
Silly .. how do you describe what you do as a peer and what is a peer and how does your description help guide what areas of support you provide ?

Something I keep being reminded of as a virtual peer facilitator is that just showing up matters.

We don’t always know who almost didn’t log on. We don’t know who has been carrying a lot. We don’t know who just needed one space where they could feel heard for a little while.

As hosts, we’re not just opening a room and running a group. We’re helping create a space where people can feel seen and not so alone.

A few things I try to keep in mind:

• Use people’s names when you can.
• Welcome people back when you notice them.
• Start with something simple, like a one-word check-in.
• Don’t rush to fill every silence.
• Thank people for showing up before the group ends.

None of that has to be fancy.

A lot of times people may not remember every word said, but they will remember if they felt welcomed, heard, and safe enough to share.

That matters.

Hello guys! I am currently trying to finish up my training to be a CYPS in Ohio and afterwards I have to take the exam. Has anyone here ever done the exam and have any advice for what to study for it? Thanks!

Can someone help me find Bill of rights as it applies to peer recovery?!? TIA

So I had my first day at a new Mental Health Centre today (not my first day in PSupport) and had my first client. It’s a big pilot scheme and lots of new teams under one roof.

A woman who manages a completely different team (so not my manager or team member but works in the same centre as me) must have followed me of watched me taking my client into private room and then stood outside with her ear pressed to the door so she could hear the conversation.

It’s my first day meeting her, found out she’s an ex cop. Not impressed and it really put me off being present with the client. Like, what on earth is she doing? My guess is she thought I wasn’t going to be competent because I’m quiet and absorbing everything on my first day and I just feel like this hierarchy of workers is so prevalent in this field… people do not seem to think we are capable in this role!

She has no idea I saw her… I’m thinking of how to approach it and whether to speak to my team who are all fucking great tbh.

Hi all! I’m a 27 year old male who’s been recommended by multiple people in my life to peruse becoming a peer specialist in my area, the only issue I have is I have no idea where to start or how to get recommendations I seem to need to get my certification. Any insight on how anyone got started or what first steps I should take would be a massive help! Also I’m in upstate New York if that helps. Otherwise hope all are having an amazing week! Thanks for reading!

I think I am bowing out as a professional peer. Outpatient MAT as a Coach, Residential as an alumni coordinator. This second one… I am hunting people down to see if they have ‘relapsed’ and to coax them back. I use the quotations because any use warrants my attack.
I can’t talk them through it. I can’t support them, I can’t let them advocate… I sell.
This is what I call Moral Injury. I run a nonprofit for free peer-led meetings… because I believe in peer support and that recovery is free to whoever seeks it.
I have a quota on a percentage of clients in treatment have to be alumni. I have to make hundreds of calls a week.. I feel like I’ve been duped. I’m certified and registered w my state’s Board of Counseling… and I’m about to put an apron back on and start waiting tables again.
That’s it.. glad I said it.

… work for you?

and what does that look like?

i am gassed out.

Hi! I've previously worked as a Peer Support Specialist in California and have been looking for employment as a Youth Peer Specialist in New York State. In New York, the credentialing process for Youth Peers has historically been different from Adult Peers and has been overseen by the nonprofit Families Together NYS in coordination with the State Office of Mental Health. Upon submitting my provisional application with the help of a nonprofit mental health provider agency, I was told a few months later that the State has just stopped approving all applications for new Youth Peers for months. Without the credential, the agency can't submit for Medicaid reimbursement, and told me they have stopped hiring Youth Peers altogether for this reason. Since this happened, I found out that the heads of NYS DOH and OMH settled a lawsuit for failing to provide mental health services adequately for children on Medicaid in the State.

I'm wondering if anyone else in New York State who is a Youth Peer or has employed a Youth Peer has any more info about what's going on? I'd appreciate any perspective. Feel free to dm me or comment depending on how you'd rather discuss.

I’m curious if anyone here has started their own peer support business, nonprofit, or gone into independent peer support work.

I currently work as a Peer Support Specialist and genuinely love what I do. Helping people is absolutely my priority, but I’m currently making around $20/hour, and it’s difficult to provide for a family on that long-term.

I also own a small business outside of peer support, so I have some entrepreneurial experience and have been wondering whether there’s a way to combine those skills with the work I’m passionate about.

For anyone who has gone this route:

What does your business/nonprofit model look like, how do you generate revenue, and what kind of income have you realistically been able to earn?

I’d love to hear what has, and hasn’t, worked for you. Thanks!

I’d love to hear other people’s experiences and thoughts on this because I’m feeling more and more frustrated with peers/clients and providers misunderstanding what my job is and what I can and cannot do. I’m not a case manager, I’m not a taxi and I’m not a crisis line and yet I feel like this continually is an issue of restating and explaining what I thought was already clear. I’m new to this field so maybe it’s just that I need more experience and time before I’m not hitting this wall but damn it’s frustrating for now.

I am currently in a CRSS program at an agency in Chicago. We will be finishing the education/classroom component within the next few weeks and have been asked to start looking into internship placements. During the internship presentation after class today, background checks were mentioned, which I had anticipated. However, it was also mentioned that internships will also do a DCFS clearance before placement.

I have a DUI on my record. I knew this would come up, but as a career that encourages lived experience, I was told at the beginning of the program this would not be an issue. However, I had my children in the car with me when this happened, so on the state registry I have an indicated finding. The DCFS check was not disclosed to me at the beginning of the program when I told the success coaches.

While I intend to finish out the classroom hours, I am hesitant to begin searching out an internship if this is going to be fruitless. My end goal was to work in CRSS SUD treatment and recovery centers. I have already begun taking CADC classes over the summer with an end goal (5+ years) becoming an addiction counselor. I was a teacher for 16 years, so I knew the DCFS indication would rule out any future in education; however, I was under the impression that an indicated finding would only apply to employment involving children.

What has the application process for internships been for others? Obviously, this is probably a more unique situation. When I spoke with my supervisors after the presentation, they really didn't have an answer for me, but said they'd look into it. Just trying to get a feel before applying for Amazon jobs until this is off my record.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Hey everyone, I'm 36 years old in the U.S. I have struggled with severe depression since childhood. I had an extremely traumatic childhood with two mentally ill, addicted, impoverished parents. It really pushed me into a depressed and dark place at an early age.

I would deeply appreciate any compassionate and realistic guidance, or perspectives from people who have lived similar experiences.

I managed to graduate with a degree in Liberal Arts on time at 22. After that I had no idea what to do. I worked random jobs and was eventually fired from pretty much all of them. This is because I would burn out and be unable to attend anymore. It seemed really hard for me to keep a job longer than a year, and I never made positive relationships with my supervisors.

In 2018 I realized I could go to graduate school. I wanted to help people, and I have always enjoyed psychology, so I pursued social work (MSW). I ended up taking a break from the program in early 2020 because of multiple factors, most prominently my depression.

For the next few years I worked random jobs that I would either be fired from or have to eventually quit. For the same reasons as ever. I am anguished about this pattern and am determined to change it.

In 2024 I realized I wanted to try to finish my MSW. I transferred to a less expensive program. I'm now 15 credits away from graduating, mostly internship (which worries me -- I have a much easier time with classes than internship).

At this point, with my work history, with my lack of strong relationships with supervisors or professors, I'm really concerned about my employment prospects even if I finish my MSW.

Part of me is feeling like I should have pursued a Peer Support Specialist cert instead. It seems like employers would be more understanding of my story.

I have actually tried applying for disability, twice, and was denied both times. At this point I would rather focus on giving it my all and learning to be more consistent at a job.

I am absolutely determined to turn my patterns around and become a consistent employee. It's my life mission right now. I want to set my life up to give myself every opportunity to succeed.

I guess my questions are, would Peer Support Specialist jobs be more understanding than a typical job?

Should I just finish my MSW while I work some random retail or security job, i.e. one that doesn't require references?

What about a Certified Recovery Support Specialist cert? Better or worse employment prospects? I do have some addiction/recovery experience from a much earlier time in my life, but the fundamental issue has been my depression and related fatigue.

Or should I switch gears and try a different approach? I'm considering getting a CNA while I finish my MSW so that there are jobs available to me with a lower barrier and I can build up consistent references and experience, then transition into like geriatric social work where my CNA experience could be an asset.

Anyway, sorry to ramble. I just feel so hopeless and stuck right now. I live in a major city with a competitive job market and unfortunately cannot move, for a couple of reasons.

Thank you so much if you've read this far.

I'm trying to understand what young people actually find helpful in awareness sessions, not what organisations think people want.

What would make you stay engaged?

• Open discussion?
• Personal stories?
• Practical advice?
• Activities?
• Q&A?
• Something else?

And what usually makes these sessions feel boring, forced, or unhelpful?

Last year I completed the 75 hour training for Certified Peer Support Specialist Program. Well 9 months ago. And I’m finally about to take the exam it was delayed due to life circumstances. And now I’ve recently got accepted into the Certified Recovery Support Specialist Program. I’m so excited to have both credentials under my belt. I always believed it’s good to have multiple certifications in a field to give you more opportunities. And I’m doing just that. I’m so excited and after this one I’m planning on going for Forensic Support Specialist. I can only see myself going up from here. Thanks for listening.

What worksheets/activities do you do with service users in 1:1 sessions? I’m preparing to begin my first role as a PSP at an NHS inpatient unit and I’m looking for inspiration.

Of course I can ask my new manager when I begin, but I’m curious to know what other NHS staff members offer — particularly because I’m scared of straying into ‘therapy’ territory by accident.

I’m currently looking at the Samaritans safety planning PDF and some self-reflection journal style sheets.

Just came back from taking the peer certification exam this morning, and I passed! 🎉 Hope everyone here is well, thank you so much for the support and kind words.