At Zepf Center and throughout the country, peer supporters are a vital part of substance use and mental health treatment. By utilizing their previous experience to navigate their recovery, these professionals create a critical bridge between clinical staff and clients.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), peer supporters are people who have successfully navigated their recovery process and use their lived experiences to help others facing similar situations. Peer supporters help people seek treatment, access resources, and engage in recovery through shared understanding, respect, and mutual empowerment. Because of this, peer supporters can more meaningfully impact clients and better support their recovery than clinical treatment alone.
“The peer support role is big in recovery—it’s hands-on, it’s lived experience,” said Zepf Center Recovery Support Specialist and Certified Peer Torenzo Gregory. “It’s easier for clients to connect with me because of my history.”
Gregory has worked at Zepf Center since 2021 after living in the agency’s recovery housing. He spends most of his day out in the surrounding community, offering resources, educating individuals about Zepf Center services, and connecting with those who need mental health or substance use disorder (SUD) treatment.
“It’s on them to seek treatment, but it’s on me to let them know about the options we have at Zepf,” he said. “We aren’t just sitting in the lobby waiting for people to come to the door—we’re out in the community connecting clients to treatment.”
Gregory and his colleague Cristina McClure, Certified Peer and Peer Support Specialist II, work mainly within Zepf Center’s MATTER grant, which specifically supports certified peers and ensures they have a direct role in client care for SUD treatment. Over the past years, Gregory and McClure have witnessed the evolution of peer support and been a part of the movement to integrate peers into all aspects of recovery.
McClure, like many, was unaware of the peer role when she began her career at Zepf Center in 2022. However, she knew that working in an environment that supported her recovery would be the best option for her continued engagement and success.
“When I was newly recovered, I knew I needed to start my whole life over and put my recovery first,” McClure said. “I chose to work at Zepf Center and started as a receptionist.”
After getting her foot in the door, McClure set her sights on building a career at the agency. As she learned more about the role of peers at Zepf Center, it became her ultimate goal to work in that capacity. Two years later, McClure works as a certified peer, meeting with new clients to walk them through treatment options, provide program orientation, and function as the first point of contact in their recovery journey.
Even after they are enrolled in services, McClure has regular contact with clients in her caseload and communicates with them at least once per month. During these interactions, she offers support and ensures they are still receiving the care they need.
“One of the most important things I see in my role is the client experience with peers,” said McClure. “When they come into intake and see us as they progress through their treatment, they know that we are going to be there every step of the way.”
The benefits of peer support services in recovery doesn’t only impact the client, but the peer professional as well. For those working as certified peer supporters, the journey involves both personal growth and professional development.
“Being a peer keeps me focused on recovery and helps me grow without getting a big head,” Gregory said. “It shows me that we’re all the same in recovery, no matter how far along we are."
McClure also revealed that although there is a lot of good they encounter in their roles, there are many challenges as well. Because peers have lived experience, it can be difficult when clients disengage with treatment, or in some cases, pass away. Although facing these realities can be hard, she finds that it motivates her as well.
“[Working through those challenges] reminds me of what I don’t want to go back to,” McClure said. “I have to keep my recovery in the forefront, and it helps me remember why I’m doing this and why I’m in recovery.”
Although peer support services are the latest focus of mental health and SUD treatment providers, this “new” approach to care is reflective of the original grassroots models that were phased out in favor of clinical approaches.
Historically, SUD services were provided by people with a lived experience. When Senior Director of Outpatient and Recovery Support Services and Certified Peer Steve Kapela was hired at Zepf Center in 2010, the industry looked very different. Though not called peers at the time, those who lived in recovery in the community for at least two years were able to run groups and provide treatment for those living with SUD.
"Since the onset of the pandemic, the State of Ohio has placed a high priority on the training and development of peers within the behavioral health sector," said Zepf Center CEO Deb Flores. "Zepf Center has wholeheartedly adopted this evidence-based approach and remains dedicated to fostering hope and facilitating recovery within the peer community.”
At Zepf Center, peers take on many roles. From client-facing to administrative staff, peers who share their lived experiences allow the client perspective to shine at all levels. Peers who work directly with clients complete several trainings to become certified peers and are given opportunities to continue growing as professionals in the agency. Certified peers often work either as SUD, mental health, or family peers, and use their specialized skills to connect with clients and engage them in treatment.
“When I meet with clients, one of the first things I tell them is that I’m in recovery too,” said McClure. “Once they know that, they are much more likely to engage with me in an open and honest way.”
Because peers possess a unique ability to relate to individuals seeking treatment, their shared experiences create a bond of trust and understanding, leading to a more genuine connection. Whether it's providing outreach in the community or guiding clients through the treatment journey, peers play a pivotal role in bridging the gap between individuals and the support they need.
“What I love about peers is that they are always welcoming people into recovery,” Kapela said. “Even after your treatment is over, peers remain connected, available, and judgment-free for whatever life brings next.”
As peer support services continue to evolve, the future looks brighter than ever. With increased recognition and appreciation for the peer role at Zepf Center and across the country, more agencies are embracing peer support as a vital component of the recovery process.