Peer Support Services
Better Together
Peer support changes lives.
We're all in it together.
What does peer support really mean?
And why it's beneficial
A peer is a person we identify with in some capacity. This can include anything from age, to gender, to sexual orientation, to a shared language.
In behavioral health, a peer refers to someone who shares the experiences with living with a psychiatric disorder and/or addiction.
Who better to discuss recovery with than someone who has gone through it themself.
Apogee Center & Water Street Studio
Peer Centers for Columbia & Greene
Apogee Center & Water Street Studio are peer-run recovery centers. The model of a recovery center is to build upon the foundation of peer support to assist individuals in identifying, remembering, or discovering, their own passions, interests, and hobbies.
Our focus is to support the building of connections between individuals. We do this through different programs and groups available at our space and in the community.
How peer support can help
A variety of ways to be involved
Peer support can come in many forms. Unlike a clinical or therapy setting, peer support is about shared experiences. It can be conversation, a writing group, an art class, listening to music, or doing yoga. It can be a group to talk through what you're going through, or individual support to help with what's next.
Check out what's happening
Apogee Center and Water Street Studio have many programs happening in our sites and in the community.
All of our programs are drop-in, no registration is required.
Check out our peer support line
Sometimes you just need someone to talk to. That's exactly why we created the free and confidential peer support line.
When you call, you're connected with one of our Peer Recovery Specialists to talk about whatever is on your mind.
You can talk about your hobbies, pets, goals, or a challenge you're going through.
About Our Teams
The role of a Recovery Specialist has been defined as “offering and receiving help, based on shared understanding, respect and mutual empowerment between people in similar situations.”
Our specialists know what you're going through - because they've lived it.
About our Recovery Specialists
Personal experience to work with
All Recovery Specialists have personal experience overcoming mental health struggles, we are your peers in the recovery journey. We give and receive help based on key principles that include shared responsibility and mutual agreement of what is helpful.
We can assist you in a wide variety of activities including linkage to resources, sharing of experiences, community and relationship building, skill-building, mentoring, goal setting and more.
Their role in helping you live your potential
Their role is:
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to inspire hope of recovery from mental health struggles and/or addiction.
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to share lived experiences in an appropriate manner to foster connections and build relationships with peers.
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to listen to and understand peers’ pain and isolation while exhibiting empathy and support as they move forward in recovery.
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to assist peers in exploring options and overcoming barriers preventing them from moving forward.
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to provide person-driven support that taps into an individual’s strengths.
Their role is not:
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to provide clinical care.
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to replace case managers.
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to “fix” people.
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to tell people “what to do.”
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to force compliance.
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to speak on behalf of a peer.