Peer support focuses on strengths, recovery goals, hope, and trust. It eliminates the “you don’t know what it’s like” feeling that many people may be experiencing with other mental health services they are receiving. 

A Certified Peer Support Specialist (CPSS) who has first-hand experience of their own mental health or co-occurring recovery process truly understands its challenges. CPSSs are able to offer constructive feedback, establish trust, and role model recovery for their clients. They know what it’s like to experience mental illness and overcome the confusion, loss, and grief that often results. Because of this, CPSSs can be integral to a person’s recovery by offering consistency and support during their recovery. The inclusion of peer support in the behavioral health system promotes mental health recovery for all! 

Who are Certified Peer Support Specialists? 

Certified peer support specialists (CPSSs) are individuals in recovery from mental illness or mental illness with co-occurring substance use disorder who use their personal recovery experience to support the recovery of others. They know firsthand what recovery is all about because they themselves have experienced their own recovery process. CPSSs have attended peer support specialist training, passed a comprehension exam, and been certified in the state of Idaho. Sharing mental health recovery experience is at the root of providing effective peer support and we encourage training applicants to be comfortable doing so prior to applying to the training.