Peer Assessment

The assessment that a peer supporter provides is invaluable to the entire team. It is easier for us to establish trust and empathy because we know what questions to ask and, because of our experiences, can better determine the accuracy of answers. Clients freely admit that they lie to their therapists and families, but tend to be more open with a peer. There is a greater feeling of trust when talking with someone that you know has had the same or similar experiences. As they say, "It takes one to know one!"

The assessment is done via one or more one-to-one interviews that are guided more by establishing rapport than by a fixed set of questions. It is more important to establish open communication than to get a specific result.

The peer assessment brings insights to the team that do not turn up in the other assessments. While psychological and other evaluations focus on specific diagnostic criteria, our focus is on assessing the client's potential strengths. We alleviate the client's fears about the process while helping him/her to see the value in staying with the entire program.

Contact our Personal Advocate to help you to find the right provider for your needs.