Learn how to integrate peer support and evidence-based interventions in your practice. Find out the benefits, challenges, strategies, examples, and resources for this approach.

I think that critical to this piece is to have really strong supervision and supervisors who have BOTH knowledge of EBP and peer approaches and are skilled in finding the right balance between both. While peer support never has been and never will be “clinical”, having a working knowledge of EBP and some other “clinical” elements can be useful when working in the “system”. It’s up to peers to disrupt that “system” and use their living experience to be bridges between their world and the world of those they support by fostering hope, safety, and empowerment. Being as knowledgeable and aware of ALL modalities of helping is key to providing holistic support.

How do you integrate peer support and evidence-based interventions in your practice?

Peer support is a valuable and empowering way of helping people with mental health challenges, substance use issues, or other lived experiences. Peer support workers use their own recovery stories and skills to inspire, encourage, and guide others who are facing similar situations. Evidence-based interventions are practices that have been proven to be effective by rigorous research and evaluation. They are often based on theories, models, or frameworks that explain how and why they work. How do you integrate peer support and evidence-based interventions in your practice? Here are some tips and examples to help you.

1 Benefits of integration

Integrating peer support and evidence-based interventions can provide a range of benefits, such as providing more holistic and person-centered care that addresses the social, emotional, and practical needs of your clients. Peer support workers can offer hope, empathy, and role modeling to your clients, increasing engagement and retention. Furthermore, this integration can bridge the gap between research and practice by translating and adapting evidence-based interventions to fit the context and culture of your clients and peers.

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Dr. Stacey d'Aonne Reynolds

LCSW, DSW, MSOL, PSS
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The most critical part in integration is role clarity. For the peer the integrated team and the supervisor. Buy-in from the organization and clear roles for the staff working with the peer as well. Supervision with a foundation of the peer role and the peer code of ethics. Support for peers by other peers so they can bounce ideas off each other and collaborate with one another in their own discipline not just with supervisors.

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Rolando Andrade

Psychologist; Psychotherapist
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Há muitos anos que tenho o hábito de ter um supervisor que me ajuda a fazer um trabalho consistente na Psicoterapia. Por outro lado, faço muita pesquisa.acerca de assuntos que vão surgindo no decorrer da.minha prática. É uma tarefa de crescimento contínuo

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2 Challenges of integration

Integrating peer support and evidence-based interventions can also pose some challenges and barriers. Finding a balance between the formal and informal aspects of these interventions, such as the level of structure, documentation, and fidelity, can be difficult. Additionally, respecting and valuing the different roles of peer support workers and other professionals can be a challenge. Moreover, providing adequate training, supervision, and support for peer support workers is essential to ensure they have the necessary skills to cope with stress or ethical dilemmas. Lastly, addressing any potential conflicts or tensions that may arise from different expectations, beliefs, or values among your clients, peers, and other professionals is key.

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Tara Miller, MA, CPS, NCPS, CPRP
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I have found that approaches to peer support differ from state to state and program to program. For example, in one state…a peer provider may use the EBP of Motivational Interviewing and be informed of stages of change to help someone they are supporting to move to a new way of thinking about an issue. In other states, some peer models see this as too “clinical” or going against the nature of peer support by trying to evoke, rather than support. This has been a struggle of mine after recently moving from PA to VT. I hope that that National Guidelines recently put forth by the Office of Recovery might help streamline not only reciprocity across states, but training and EBPs used in training peers.

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3 Strategies for integration

In order to overcome the challenges of integration and maximize its benefits, it is necessary to adopt certain strategies and best practices. This includes collaborating and communicating with peers, clients, and other professionals to set clear goals, roles, and boundaries for service delivery. A recovery-oriented and trauma-informed approach should be adopted, respecting the autonomy, preferences, and experiences of clients and peers. Evidence-based interventions should be selected and tailored to be relevant, accessible, and acceptable for clients and peers; such as motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, or mindfulness. Furthermore, it is important to evaluate and monitor the process and outcomes of service delivery to ensure quality, effectiveness, and satisfaction for clients and peers.

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Tara Miller, MA, CPS, NCPS, CPRP
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I think that critical to this piece is to have really strong supervision and supervisors who have BOTH knowledge of EBP and peer approaches and are skilled in finding the right balance between both. While peer support never has been and never will be “clinical”, having a working knowledge of EBP and some other “clinical” elements can be useful when working in the “system”. It’s up to peers to disrupt that “system” and use their living experience to be bridges between their world and the world of those they support by fostering hope, safety, and empowerment. Being as knowledgeable and aware of ALL modalities of helping is key to providing holistic support.

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4 Examples of integration

Successful integration of peer support and evidence-based interventions can be seen in different settings and populations. For example, the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) is a self-management tool that helps people create their own recovery plans based on their strengths, values, and goals. This is facilitated by peer support workers who have been trained and certified in WRAP. The Peer-Enhanced Illness Management and Recovery (PE-IMR) program combines peer support and illness management and recovery (IMR) to teach people skills and strategies to cope with mental illness. It is delivered by both peer support workers and clinicians working as a team. Lastly, the Peer-Led Forensic Assertive Community Treatment (PACT) model provides intensive community-based services for those with serious mental illness who are involved in the criminal justice system. This is led by peer support workers who have lived experience of both mental illness and incarceration.

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5 Resources for integration

If you are interested in learning more about how to integrate peer support and evidence-based interventions into your practice, there are a variety of resources available. The SAMHSA-HRSA Center for Integrated Health Solutions offers webinars, publications, and tools for this purpose. Additionally, the Peer Support Toolkit is a comprehensive guide for implementing and sustaining peer support services in mental health and addiction settings. Lastly, the Evidence Exchange Network (EENet) provides webinars, podcasts, blogs, and newsletters to connect researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and people with lived experience to share and use evidence on mental health and substance use.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How do you integrate peer support and evidence-based interventions in your practice?

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1 Benefits of integration

2 Challenges of integration

3 Strategies for integration

4 Examples of integration

5 Resources for integration

6 Here’s what else to consider

Peer Support

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How do you integrate peer support and evidence-based interventions in your practice?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Benefits of integration

2 Challenges of integration

3 Strategies for integration

4 Examples of integration

5 Resources for integration

6 Here’s what else to consider

Peer Support

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