What is Peer Support?

Peer support is the mutual sharing, connection, and growth that happens between two people with similar personal, lived experience. For example, someone who is in recovery of an eating disorder may support someone who is currently struggling with disordered eating. Peer support specialists are professionals who have personal, lived experience that drives their work. That means when you talk to a peer support specialist, you're talking to someone who gets it because they've been there. 

Peer support is not a clinical intervention or treatment like therapy or psychiatry. While peer support specialists are professionals with extensive training and education, what makes their expertise unique is how they are trained to talk about and draw from their own lived experience in order to build relationships and help others feel hope, realize opportunities for growth, and find supportive people, services, and resources. 

Find more resources on peer support here.