Peer Recovery Coaches Perceptions of Their Work and Their Implications for Training, Support and Personal Recovery

Julia W. Felton, Tolulope M. Abidogun, Kristen Senters, Leah D. Maschino, Barrett W. Montgomery, Ronnie Tyson, C. Debra Furr-Holden, Sarah A. Stoddard

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The peer recovery workforce, including individuals in sustained recovery from substance use, has grown rapidly in the previous decades. Peer recovery coaches represent a scalable, resource-efficient, and acceptable approach to increasing service delivery, specifically among individuals receiving substance use services in low-resource communities. Despite the potential to improve access to care in traditionally underserved settings, there are a number of barriers to successfully integrating peer recovery coaches in existing recovery services. The current study presents results from two focus groups composed of peer recovery coaches. Findings suggest that peer recovery coaches report discordance between their perceived role and their daily responsibilities and experience both inter- and intrapersonal challenges that impact their own recovery processes. These results point to several promising policy and structural changes that may support and enhance this growing workforce.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)962-971
Number of pages10
JournalCommunity mental health journal
Volume59
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2023

Keywords

  • Access to care
  • Peer recovery coaches
  • Substance use

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Health(social science)
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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