What it Takes: Wisdom from Peer Support Specialists and Supervisors

by National Association of Peer Supporters, Rita Cronise (Editor), Jonathan P. Edwards (Editor)

This book is about the practice of peer support from its origins in self-help to its continuing evolution as a profession. It provides some history, research, values, and guidelines of peer support brought together from conference presentations from real-world practitioners. Written by NAPS members for NAPS members and others, it aligns with foundational "Nothing about us without us" and "Each one Teach one". Each chapter contains information from the front-line practitioners and peer support allies who are crafting the profession on a daily basis. The purpose of this edition is to provide one of the first guides to peer support work from a peer-led authoritative source. The field has grown rapidly with a need to provide the basic information for those entering its ranks. The book is intended to provide the latest information on a philosophy and profession that is at the forefront of the transformation of behavioral health services from a medical model satisfied with symptom relief and stability to a recovery model determined to inform those with a diagnosis of mental illness that a quality life is possible and doable.

440 pages, Paperback

Published January 3, 2023

Reviews

[Robbyn Schwartz · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is a disjointed collection of short essays about peer support; however, I learned next to nothing about actually doing peer support. It was really hard to read, and I did not find much of it relevant.