Peer Support Services

Honoring your story

Peer support is an adjunct mental health service for individuals at all levels of service. Some of us just need a confidante who won't judge us. Others need assistance navigating the confusing mental health system. Regardless of what journey you're on and what your story has been, I am here to support you.

Holding Space

"I met Kate after a really bad experience with a therapist. I was convinced I was just too broken to heal. But Kate didn't agree. She listened to me with so much compassion. I never felt like my story was 'too much' for her. After I felt safe enough trying again, Kate helped me find a new therapist that worked for me."

Bethenny C.

Recieved support in 2022

I can't walk the path for you, but it's a great honor to walk beside you holding a lantern. I've been down this way before. I know many of the deep ruts and the dangers, so I am very happy to hold a light in the dark.

Common support methods I use:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Techniques
CBT has long been considered the gold standard for therapeutic methods. For some people, it works really well in a wide range of circumstances. If you are already seeing a therapist who uses CBT or already have an extensive CBT toolkit, CBT can be used in the peer support setting.
Internal Family Systems (IFS) Method
IFS is a newer method that combines a lot of previous therapeutic approaches. It is based on the idea that we as individuals are all comprised of individual parts, with often conflicting goals and ideas. I found this method to be particularly beneficial to me and it informs much of my own self understanding as well as how I work with others. If you are currently using IFS in therapy, IFS can be used as a peer support technique. If you are wondering if IFS would work for you or are seeking an IFS therapist, I can provide a basic framework for how IFS works, the terminology and structure used, and help you find an appropriate therapist.
Body Doubling
Body doubling is a method used for individuals with ADHD, although I've found it can also work for individuals without ADHD. Just the presence of another person holding you accountable for a specific task can be very helpful. If you have embarassment over "doom piles" or cleaning just got away from you, peer support offers a very nonjudgmental, compassionate approach to handling these things. I've been there. We've all been there. It's okay.
Navigating the Mental Health System
The mental health system in the United States is complicated at best, intentionally limiting at worst. I've been navigating it for over eight years and have experience with medical billing, so I am no stranger to its nuances. If you are looking for a therapist or psychiatrist, I may be able to help you navigate your insurance to get what you need.
Life Systems
Sometimes the way we were taught growing up just isn't working out, because of our lifestyle, our health, or any of a myriad of reasons. In my own life, I've had to learn to consciously create systems for myself around food, personal hygiene, finances, medication, and many others. If you're struggling with an aspect of your life and need support to get it in order, I'm happy to help you.

Frequently Asked Questions

I want you to have all possible information to make sure peer support is the right decision for you. If you have questions not on this list, please feel free to reach out.

Is peer support therapy?

No, peer support is not therapy. By its nature, it can be therapeutic, but it's not a replacement for therapy. If you have experienced serious trauma or are experiencing substantial disruptions in your daily life, I will probably suggest you also get support from a therapist.

Peer support can be very effective when done concurrently with therapy. It's also a great stepping stone or alternative option if you've had bad experiences with the mental health system or are just getting started. I will always do my best to help you from my learning and lived experience, but my abilities are substantially more limited than a therapist's.

What does "lived experience" and "trauma-focused" mean?

All peer supports, by definition, have lived experience, typically as consumers within the mental health field. However, that is a very broad field and not all parts may overlap. Someone who recovered from addiction may not have experienced psychosis, and someone who experienced psychosis may not have knowledge of what having a personality disorder feels like.

My lived experience is primarily in the lasting effects of childhood trauma across the lifespan. That's a bulky phrase, so I choose to identify as trauma-focused. However, though my primary lived experience is in trauma, its effects, and healing from it, I also have experience with neurodivergence, having both ADHD and late-diagnosed autism. My lived experience having late-diagnosed autism is going to be substantially different than, say, a man's experience if he was diagnosed at the age of three.

I also have lived experience with chronic illness and chronic pain, which both have mental health components, and am happy to support individuals experiencing these issues.

How much do you charge?

$30 an hour. Truly.

I cut my teeth in low-barrier mental health. I've seen the lack of accessibility. You should not have to pay an obscene amount for help. I also do not have as much of the overhead expenses that a therapist experiences, so I can be flexible.

If you think you'd really benefit from peer support but $30 an hour is a financial hardship for you, please let me know. I may be able to work with you.

Are you credentialed/licensed?

I am certified as a peer support through a Nevada County, CA, program. Depending on the state, peer supports do not have the licensing requirements that therapists and other mental health professionals have.

A peer support's "education" is typically percieved to be in their lived experience, plus the completion of a certification course. However, my lived experience additionally encompasses the extensive research I have done on trauma beyond my own healing along with my work as a trauma trainer.

Kate Kirk