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Peer Support Shows that nobody is alone!

 

 

Wendy Knowlton is coordinator of peer support programs at the Women’s Place Resource Centre in Kingston.

 

PEER SUPPORT SHOWS NOBODY IS ALONE

 

Peer support is defined as emotional and practical support between two people who share a common experience. The process works by offering the support, encouragement and hope that shows recovery is possible.

Beginning this month, the Women’s Place Resource Centre in Kingston is offering a peer support group for women in Kings and Annapolis counties who have experienced violence or abuse.

“Women have been going to other women for support for generations,” says Wendy Knowlton, coordinator of peer support programs at the Centre. “Healing is possible, and a big part of peer support is hope.”

Since 1991, the centre has been providing a safe, non-judgemental environment for women and girls to gather. Located at 694 Main St. in Kingston, the centre offers referrals, programs, resource and peer support in a time of need.

The first group session was held on Saturday, Jan. 11. Knowlton anticipates the sessions being held once or twice a month on Saturday mornings.

“People can join at any time,” Knowlton says. “They don’t have to sign up in advance.”

The centre currently offers a one-on-one peer support program, with a trained supporter working with someone who is healing from her experience of violence. Peer supporters go through 40-45 hours of training before volunteering, and much of the information and guidance from this training will be shared during the group sessions. This includes coping and grounding skills, as well as how to deal with stress, Knowlton adds.

“We’ll be taking the information from the training and imparting that in a group session.”

Being able to recognize when your body is having a stress response and identifying the emotions around that is a valuable coping skill, Knowlton points out.

“You want to be able to talk yourself out of that response and bring your body back to a place where you’re not as stressed and anxious,” she says. “We don’t take the place of any professional services, but we can offer support and connections and some tips to get you through the day.”

The Mental Health Commission of Canada did a research paper on peer support in 2010 and concluded: “The development of personal resourcefulness and self-belief, which is the foundation of peer support, can not only improve people’s lives but can also reduce the use of formal mental health, medical and social services.”

Peer support is not a replacement for professional services that assist women in crisis. Rather, it is a resource for women who are trying to heal from their experiences through setting personal goals.

The first session will focus on setting goals for your healing journey. Participants will be encouraged to think about where they want to be in six months, in a year and in five years.

“There will be a chance for people to sit with their thoughts and reflect on what they want their goals to be,” Knowlton adds. “The last half hour will be a chance for people to chat and connect and to realize that they are definitely not alone in their experiences.”