Supportive Peer Spaces
Peer support focuses on community and shared experiences. Our peer supporters strive to create brave spaces where people can honestly express what they feel is best for them–and know that they will be trusted.
What exactly is peer support?
As defined by Oregon State: services provided to an individual who shares a similar life experience with the peer support specialist (e.g. addiction to addiction, mental health condition to mental health condition, family member of an individual with a mental health condition to family member of an individual with a mental health condition).
Meet Clare
Clare believes we are all intuitive experts of our own bodies, desires, and goals. we may need support in recognizing what we already know. She holds a Master’s degree in Social Work. Her practice is focused on community organizing and coalition building. She is a proudly certified Qualified Mental Health Associate (QMHA-I), Wilderness First Responder (WFR) and, most importantly a Peer Support Specialist (PSS) through the state of Oregon.
Clare grew up along the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland in a rural community surrounded by big cities. Growing up, she was weird, and funny, and found community in her dog and her friend, Sophia. She lived through her parents’ divorce and sexual abuse at home and in her romantic partnerships when she was older. Today, she identifies with the word “survivor” and all the messiness that comes with that.
Clare currently lives in the Columbia Gorge, and she constantly feels in awe of this landscape after not seeing a hill until she was 18 years old. She holds her lived experience by the water, in the mountains, and as someone who has survived suicidality, panic attacks, and the complex impacts of trauma as some of her deepest knowledge. Similarly, she considers the times she connected with a peer on what’s happened in her life as some of the most connected, safest, and validated she’s ever felt.
How does this work?
1
If you feel comfortable starting peer support today, you can book a session with Clare. Once you find a time that works for you, I’ll ask that you sign a consent form and a brief intake form. Then, we’re all set, and I'll see you at our scheduled time!
2
If you have some more questions or you want to get a feel for me before you commit to a whole session, you can schedule a free, fifteen minute consultation below. Where I ask all your remaining questions. Like, what does it mean to center lived experience? Or, I still don’t get it…can you tell me what peer support is?
3
At this stage, I am not able to accept insurance, so each session will have to be covered “out of pocket”. If this is a barrier to you, hop on a consultation with me, and we can try to figure something out!
Ok, I’m interested.
Now what?
You can book a free, 15 minute consultation so we can have a chat to see if it’s a good fit, or you can go ahead and book a session. Either way, we’ll explore your needs and make a plan for what’s ahead.