peer support
Person-focused mental health support for those struggling with friendship loss, social burnout, or isolation.
Down to earth support in a non-clinical environment
Grounded in shared, lived experience
Confidential, affordable, accessible
What is Peer Support?
Peer support is a mental health service based on shared lived experience. Peer support provides empathy, understanding, and emotional support for a wide range of experiences. Peer support has long been an accepted and celebrated concept in many cultures and communities, through different expressions, such as talking circles, sweat lodges, and consumer/survivor groups. Peer support is person-focused, not illness-focused - meaning it is oriented towards encouraging an enhanced quality of life for an individual rather than diagnosing or treating a specific malady. Rooted in principles of mutual aid, peer support aims to reduce barriers to access to mental healthcare and power imbalances.
Peer Support may be helpful if you resonate with any of the following:
Experiencing loneliness and are seeking support and practical tools to feel more connected
Going through a friendship breakup and aren’t sure how to move forward
Feeling out of place and are looking for belonging and community and don’t know where to start
Navigating life transitions that have changed your relationship dynamics and need support in stepping into your next chapter
Struggling to maintain healthy relationships due to past hurt or trauma
Finding yourself consistently ‘masking’ during social interactions, feeling unable to be your real self around others
Striving to develop friendships beyond the limiting (and sometimes toxic) examples that were set for you
Our mental and physical health is inextricably linked to our social health. If you resonate with one or more of the above, you’re not alone. It can feel awkward and scary to reach out for help, but I promise you these feelings are far more common than you think. Just like other parts of wellness, it’s not linear and its not always easy, but with support, skills, and resorces - vibrant social health is achievable.
FAQs
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Peer Support is a valuable mental health approach that is fundamentally based on the mutuality of experiences related to mental illness, trauma, or various societal or cultural hardships. Unlike therapy, which often focuses on diagnosing and treating mental illnesses, peer support is solely concerned with providing emotional support to nurture your psychological wellbeing and quality of life. The aim of peer support is to minimize power imbalances that can often exist in mental health care, creating a more supportive and equitable environment for all involved. Peer Supporters are not mandated reporters, meaning we are not legally obligated to report to police or medical institutions. This lowers your risk of police contact when seeking mental health care.
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At this time, I am primarily offering sessions virtually or over the phone. There are a limited number of walking sessions (weather permitting) available for those living in Toronto and the surrounding area. Please let me know during our first call what your needs are, and we’ll take it from there.
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Our introductory call is an opportunity for you to share why you are considering peer support and what you are hoping to get out of the experience as well as ask any questions about myself and my approach. From there, we will craft together what we would like our sessions to look like, and they will likely evolve over time as you grow and your needs change. In general, sessions will be a space for you to share what is going on in your inner and outer world that is influencing your wellness and together we will hold space for those experiences and work toward enhancing your day to day quality of life.
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$35-65 for a 60-minute session, and $45-75 for a 90-minute session.
I offer a limited number of sliding scale spots reserved for those facing systemic barriers to mental health services, if you require a reduced fee in order to access services please inquire during your consultation call.
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A walking session is a peer support session done while walking in nature. Walking sessions are beneficial for people that find sitting in one place during a session a barrier to care or who simply prefer a natural environment to their home or office for a support session. Walking can be beneficial for most people as it helps our brains process information and feelings with more emotional regulation than when we are stationary. If you have a place in mind that you feel connected to or feel safe at, please share with me during our consultation. Otherwise we will discuss your accessibility needs and find a location that works for us.
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If notice is given at least 24-hours prior to the session start time, a full refund will be given. Less than 24-hours notice will result in a 50% refund. A no-call/no-show will result in no refund given. I understand that there are special circumstances that arise from time to time. Ask me more about my cancellation policy if you have any questions.