Who are Peer Specialists?
A peer specialist is a person with lived experience in recovery who partners with others experiencing similar challenges. They provide non-clinical guidance based on their own recovery experiences and personal resiliency. Peer Specialists, also known as Certified Peer Specialists receive training, certification, continuing education and clinical supervision to meet requirements specific to both mental health and substance use disorders.
Peer specialists share personal knowledge of what it is like to live and thrive with mental health conditions and substance use disorders. They support people’s progress towards recovery and self-fulfillment.
Certified Peer Specialists provide peer-to-peer learning to supplement the clinical roles of therapists, psychiatrists and other members of the treatment team.
What is the role of a Certified Peer Specialist?
Peer specialists relate to others in a personal, non-clinical way because they have similar lived experiences. They are positive role models who offer hope to others, demonstrating by their own life that recovery is possible. Peers are often easy to talk with because they have empathy through lived mental health and addiction experiences. Peer Support is personalized to help:
- Strengthen community networks and natural supports
- Learn effective coping and self-regulation skills
- Increase engagement with recovery services and whole health care
- Increase self-awareness and self-acceptance
- Effectively manage substance use disorders
- Support self-discipline and goal setting
Peer support specialists share personal knowledge of what it is like to live and thrive with mental health conditions and substance use disorders. They support people’s progress towards recovery and self-fulfillment.
Results for Consumers
Research on Peer Support in mental health systems document that peer recovery support may result in:
- Reduced use of inpatient services
- Decreased emergency service utilization
- Improved access to social supports
- Improved relationships with treatment providers
- Increase social functioning
- Decreased substance use and depression
- Decreased rates of relapse
- Decreased psychotic symptoms
- Decreased criminal justice involvement
Certified Peer Specialists in Wisconsin work in accordance with Core Competencies, a clearly defined Scope of Practice, and a Code of Ethics. Bill adheres to these standards and maintains his Peer Specialist certification with continuing education and clinical supervision.