Thank you Artie. I think I would certainly qualify. Unfortunately I guess, With the wonders of hyper-vigilance, I can figure things out pretty quickly. An example would be the female friend I hung out with for a few weeks. We are back to just being church acquaintances. She is separated legally but not divorced for a long time for financial reasons. She was adamant that her children or nobody at church knew we were friends. For me, married is married, and God and I didn't like that aspect. My diagnosis is that she was play acting and getting even with her husband for stated infidelity.

I might have to look further into that Peer Support Specialist thing. I have looked into jobs like this in the field before, but they all require a Master's degree or higher. I would probably be ready for the barbeque by the time I ever got my Diploma. It's worth checking out at the very least. Thanks

I read the firsat one, it is the basics of an outreach caseworker that came up from the trenches. As in themselves help with a strategy to help others. The authenticity of this person makes the seemingly huge task doable to the client(s) because they have the guidance and experience of a person that has done it. That person also seems to have the authority to make some of those steps happen, like a caseworker. But within the program I am sure there are actual certified caseworkers(where the state and federal program money is used) to authorize the request made by the peer support specialist, on behalf of the client.

By that description I have already made the qualifying, without the need for passing or applying for a caseworker certification. The classes "Personal dynamics & interviewing , Intro to human services and maybe the completion of a 12step group in an area pertinant to thier own growth, goals achievement, or other relevent life training( Think budgeting, nutrition, childhood development or geriatric care as examples)

I am sure there will be a crash orientation of HIPPA, plus a mentor assigned, until the PSS has achieved the skills to be a good judge of their own clients to understand the capabilities of them and combined resources to facilitate growth out of their situations in smaller steps if needed.
This person would be doing all of the roles of an "intern" caseworker, and gain experience themselves to move up. The pay would a;so move up as they do, but start at the same federal minimum for this area of service. Which foe some would be a few steps higher than what they are making in an average level one or two job. ~ $ 12 -14. .ph. would be educated (long list of fam that do some sort of public service in care jobs.)my guess, but may be set as a salary with expense for gas, transportation, if using their own vehicle at times.

too early for typing, but I think you get the info okay. hah more coffee input as we speak.

I read the second which is the crash course area of being certified through the Hope foundation in Texas. Based on the description it seems doable but the total cost is $1000. if you are not grant eligible, or employer paid. and includes the stay during training. Good deal, for those who have the $500. start up. Also that the testing is done immediately and all materials are supplied... well test are easier when the material studied are still fresh!. The continued 20 credits is not to hard to maintain over 2 years.


Can I stay at the compound? hah.


I will run interference with the wonderful son and loving DIL! lol!

That was a great professional analysis of the first one, Jewells! I've got nothing to add except to say that these positions sound exciting for someone who has the years of experience you've got, arfie.

Thanks Muji, 2 years of classes and a whole lot of WD 40 do work for our age in learning.

Yes, when I was in the hospital I was hounded by a group to sign up to get a peer supporter when I left the hospital. In a weak moment I said yes and filled out the forms. Honestly they just wore me down. The thought was good, this group selected the peer supporters, ensured that they were stable and paired them up with people with like mental health issues. We were to get together once a week and do things like go for coffee, walks and movies etc. The peer supporter had to give a 1 year commitment.

So, my peer supporter was crazier than I am ever was. The first meeting we went for a hike, she rambled on and on and told me she was moving in a year, just wanted me to know. I could not get a word in edgewise, but that was ok I was not much in the mood for talking to a stranger. Second meeting she came from work and was freaked out that everyone at work was out to get her. I came home from that meeting very triggered. I thought one more time, it went great, so we continued to meet. She then dropped off the face of the earth for over a month were I could not reach her so I figured that was the end. Then she showed up again and told me she was moving in a 6 months up north. She still had over 6 month remaining on her commitment. I was not to upset at this because I kind of figured she had not dealt with her PTSD as well as she thought she had. Did I mention she was a nurse.

Any long story short in the next 2 months she met a guy online and moved to another province. I told my therapist that this was not going to work, and how upset I was at the peer support group for pressuring me into hanging out with someone who was not well herself. Because she was a nurse they latched on to her thinking she was stable, but she was not. If you asked her she would tell you she was over it and had been stable for years, but I could see through it. She was lying to herself and everyone else, been there done that. Apparently they do not have a good way to screen if someone is stable or not at these peer support things.

So guess what, she is back in this province, the guy threatened to kill her in a drunken fit. She lost everything financially and is on welfare looking for a job. Through out this whole peer support thing I felt more like I was the one supporting her rather than her supporting me.

So, looking back on the experience, I cannot say if It failed entirely. It did get me out of the house once a week. She did get me back into photography which she also enjoyed. I have always enjoyed photography but had gotten away from it. She did get me out into the woods looking for beautiful things. On the other side she was highly unstable and at times I felt I was wrapped up in a tornado. At times she triggered me. I did feel abandon by her more than once. She was suppose to by my stability and she was far from that. She did a lot of damage with her lack of commitment and unstableness.

I have very mixed feelings about peer support. My therapist does not believe in it as it can cause you to take on the other persons problems. This takes away time you could use to stabilize yourself or work on you. It can also cause mixed emotions and triggers that can be hard to deal with. You do not know what the other person is capable of doing if they get triggered by you. There is a danger they could become violent. She makes some good points.

But here I am on DS which is essentially one big support group. This works for me, but I have control over what I read and who I respond to. I have to admit there are people here I cannot read their posts because I know they will trigger me. I have to admit I sometimes get frustrated with people how seem to refuse to try and thing...they are so far down in the weeds every suggestion is met with no, I cannot, or that does not work for me. I have to admit that I sometimes get frustrated that there is not more talk about how to get well, more sharing of things that work well.. I am trying to find stuff that works for me when I get down in the weeds and would like to try new things. For example a friend told me her therapist told her to suck on cloves for grounding, freeze them too. So I did, they are very interesting for sure and you cannot help but be reminded of the texture of that stupid clove in your mouth. Plus that taste. Not something I going to reach for everyday, but I can see where they would be effective. I would love more stuff like this. Helpful hints etc.

I think we all have a want to help others. When we discover things we are amazed, when things work we are surprised and often thing we now know it all. I know I have thought about becoming a social worker or councilor, but would I just be another "bad" counsellor out there? Would I be able to keep my own personal experiences out of it and be objective? Not likely. I am very opinionated on what works and what does not. I can see through people and see who is going through the motions to keep there disability in check, who is faking and who really is trying but is lost.. I think the constant stories of others trauma would wear on me and I would become sick again. Yes, I want to help, but perhaps it is better that I support the awareness campaign by getting myself better and telling my story or supporting groups trying to end the stigma of mental health or those they to improve patient care and access to programs. Perhaps a success story is more valuable to mental health than another poor therapist?

This is just me however, some people can go on to recovery from trauma and become good solid therapists and peer supporters. My therapist admitted to me she was hospitalized with depression, she is amazing. I trust her and I am somewhat comforted by knowing she gets this crap because she experienced it. Having said that she is very neutral, not sure how she does that, but she does. Every once and a while she says or does something that makes me question her ability to do the job, but those are few and far between. I have been blessed to find her. My life and my future rest in her hands.

Sorry I rambled for a bit.

Ramble away...you makde amd make some very good first hand observations.
I have wonderered whether I could actually do what I want to after all this academics are out of the way.
But I do compartimentalize well, which my therapist says is a very attribute to have to allow someone to work. The ability to listen and look at things from different points I used to call jumping shoes is also helpful to help someone verbally explore different options in a calm analytical way.
Then there is the art...too believe it's not the product but the emotion released in it, good or bad. I will be working toward the full set of goals, but my latest instructor said I would also do very well as a school counselor...Maybe? not sure on stopping at less than I want to achieve. But time is also not on my side, so...

The goal was and is still to teach art as therapy, giving tools to children that have too much stress to overcome with the capabilities of their own, on their own. If I make a difference in even one child, it's all worth it to me.

Hmm. Not for me, but Jewells, you nailed it, IMHO.

If life experience counted as degrees, we're all post-doctorates....

continued support for you as i know you are very smart and fiesty and will find a great answer for what is right for you

Thanks for the feedback, guys.

In the live peer support network I have relied on for so long, there is a generalized thought that it the absence of professional affiliation that makes it so effective. The minute you add a paycheck, ranking system and/or job description, it ceases to be peer support. I have heard it described as the diff between a friend and an associate.

Still chewing.