Media Room

Peer Support: What it is, What it isn’t, and Why it’s Important

Peer support is central to the CT Support Group’s offerings. We offer it on our Discord several nights a week and through one on one meetings. There are a lot of misconceptions around what peer support actually is. This week, our project manager and peer support specialist Quinn, was given the opportunity to present about our project to a legislative task force here in Connecticut. Here are some of the slides they shared about peer support.

What it is:

Peer support is grounded in shared lived experiences and allows us to connect with one another. It is collaborative and mutual. Participants and I are constantly learning and growing alongside each other. That means that both the peer supporter and the participant are building trust and deciding what that looks like together. The first thing I tell any participant that I meet with is “I don’t expect you to trust me right away, and I don’t want you to trust me right away. I want to earn your trust and I want us to decide together what that looks like.”

Peer support is rooted in curiosity, consent, and choice, not fear. This is critical for understanding what peer support is. As a peer supporter, I’m curious about what participants are experiencing. I’m not there to give advice or to tell someone what they should or shouldn’t do, but rather understand what their needs are and to work together to find ways to get those needs met.

I don’t operate from a place of fear of what might happen or what someone might do, because I know that when we start from that place, it leads to exertion of control and force. Participants should always be able to consent to conversation topics, to answering questions, to hearing about resources that may be relevant, but they should never be forced to do any of those things. That disrupts the collaborative nature of the relationship, and it also disrupts the trust and rapport we aim to build with each other.

Peer support is non-hierarchical. Non-hierarchical relationships are not devoid of power imbalances, but rather center the relationship as a space where both people can learn and grow together, and that one is not “more healed/recovered” or “more worthy” than the other. We understand that we are all the experts of our own experiences and we treat each other as such.

Inviting curiosity into relationships allows us to get information about how we each view the world and how we’ve come to know what we know. Curiosity invites conversations to learn about each other, our experiences, or similarities, what feels generative and connecting, and what we each need from the relationship. Participants define their own goals, and peer supporters are here to walk with folks on their journey towards achieving those goals.

What it isn’t:

Peer support doesn’t start with the assumption of a problem, nor does it assume that someone needs to be fixed, treated, or cured. We start with the understanding that everyone could use support throughout their lives.

Peer support is not having a paid friend. This myth really diminishes the value of the role. It also discounts the amount of training, practice, and reflection that folks undergo as they prepare for and step into the role. In CT, Recovery Support Specialists complete 80 hours of core training and pass an exam before becoming certified. Recovery Support Specialists also complete additional education in order to maintain their certification.

Peer support is not about taking care of someone. While supporting participants, we do not take responsibility for or over anyone else. This robs them of autonomy, challenges the mutuality of the relationship, and can threaten a foundation of trust.

Why it’s important:

Peer support is important for so many reasons. It is a source of validation and understanding from someone who “gets it”. Having that shared lived experience is important – especially for young people who are dealing with isolation and disconnection.

Peer support improves mental health and recovery outcomes for participants. SAMHSA has a plethora of literature in support of the effectiveness of peer support.

Peer supporters provide participants with relevant and timely resources. This is important, because it is a direct reflection of the continuing education we receive. This education and our connections to other peer supporters in the state keep us informed about resources that may be useful for the folks we support.

Lastly, peer support is offered by folks who are trained and certified as a peer support specialist here in the state of CT. This education is integral to our ability to offer support in authentic ways.

If you’re interested in learning more, check out the IPS approach developed by Sherry Mead or reach out to Quinn at qjannetty@positivedirections.org.