Peer Professionals are individuals who have triumphed in their own recovery and are trained to provide assistance to others facing similar challenges. By fostering shared understanding, respect, and mutual empowerment, they support individuals to actively participate in and maintain their recovery journey. These services effectively broaden the impact of treatment beyond clinical settings, reaching into the daily lives of those seeking lasting recovery.
A Peer Professional is trained to incorporate their unique personal recovery experiences in mental health and substance abuse services to support the recoveries of others.
Peer Professionals earn a credential, which means they have the knowledge and skills that meet minimum acceptable standards of the Recovery Support profession, regardless of having an academic degree, and that they are qualified to provide professional peer support services for persons in recovery from mental health and/or substance use challenges.
Peer Professionals have been successful in the recovery process who help others experiencing similar situations. Through shared understanding, respect, and mutual empowerment, peer support workers help people become and stay engaged in the recovery process and reduce the likelihood of relapse. Peer support services can effectively extend the reach of treatment beyond the clinical setting into the everyday environment of those seeking a successful, sustained recovery process.
