WHAT IS PEER COUNSELING?
Peer means EQUAL!
A Peer Counselor must have a lived experience as a consumer of some form of mental health services to become certified. A Therapist does not have this requirement to become licensed.
A Peer Counselor CANNOT diagnose, suggest medication, suggest alternative therapies or give advise. A therapist may.
Is A Peer Counselor A Therapist?
No, a peer counselor is not a therapist.
A Peer Counselor must have the shared lived experience of a mental health issue as well as recovery to become certified. A Therapist is not required to have a shared lived experience to be licensed.
Peer Counseling is when the helping peer SHARES a lived experience with the peer being helped. In my case, I share the lived experience of an eating disorder.
A Peer Counselor provides hope by being an example that recovery is absolutely possible!
A Peer Counselor meets a peer where they are without judgement and provides unconditional support.
A Peer Counselor wants to see others get better.
A Peer Counselor can listen, relate, and communicate with compassion and honesty.
A Peer Counselor can share their story when its helpful to the peer as an example of the real-life ups and downs of the recovery process.
A Peer Counselor cannot decide whether someone experiencing crisis needs professional help. They must contact their supervisor or other professional.
As A Peer Counselor, I am required to have a supervisor. I Consult with a licensed clinical supervisor twice a month.
My supervisor is:
Having someone to talk to and support us, who has the same lived experience as ourselves and who provides hope for recovery, is very therapeutic!
A Peer Counselor can be a helpful addition to a recovery program that already includes a therapist.
If we are having cold feet about talking to a therapist, a Peer Counselor can be a great first step in the process.