1:1 Peer Support

There are two ways to get started. One is to explore our peer supporters and contact them yourself. The other is to fill out our Getting to Know You Form and we will share your responses with our team of supporters to try and find somebody that may be a good fit. 

Peer Support is non-clinical support offered by a peer (someone with lived experience). Lived experience varies from person to person - so the peer supporter you connect with might have lived experience navigating mental illness, neurodivergence, disability, grief, trauma; lived experience also might look like unique aspects of your identity (age, race, sexual orientation) that might resonate with others. 

To be clear, we aren’t therapists, case managers or clinicians, we are simply folks who have a lot of compassion and space to offer to support those who might be struggling. We will not “treat” you, “fix” you, analyze you, or diagnose you. 

• Peer support is voluntary: you may engage or disengage at any time.
• Peer support is self-directed: we respect your autonomy and choices at all times.
• Peer support is NOT prescriptive: we won’t tell you what to do, but will support you along the way as you navigate your own unique life journey. We might share our lived experiences when appropriate, but ultimately we aren’t here to tell you what you should/must do. 
• Peer support is NOT carceral - we seek to avoid things that may take away somebody’s autonomy.

This is just the tip of the big iceberg that is peer support! We encourage you to explore what peer support means to uniquely you.  

No! They do not cost, but we do encourage all individuals participating in individual peer support to fill out this New Participant Form as it allows us to keep all of our offerings free!

We are not an immediate resource that is available 24/7. You must schedule a time to meet with your 1:1 supporter. 

We care about the individuals who reach out to us, but we are also a collective of peers who have our own various needs around time and responsiveness. We will get back to you when we are able, but would like those reaching out to be aware that it may take a moment. 

That’s okay! Not every supporter is going to necessarily be the right fit - it’s absolutely okay to explore a different peer supporter if you find that this is the case. Also, you may find that peer support is not right for you in general - also absolutely okay! This is just one option for your mental wellness and we encourage each person to do what feels right, best, and most comfortable for themselves. If you have something you want to share about your experience please feel encouraged to give us feedback. 

You can discuss this with your peer supporter, or contact dandelion@peersupportspace.org to be rematched.

We emphasize confidentiality and prioritize consent before sharing any details of what you share with a peer supporter. You may decide for your peer supporter to share details with our network of peer supporters to help brainstorm or find resources for your unique needs. Otherwise, what you share is between you and your peer supporter unless otherwise consented to. 

With that said, in instances of harm, depending on the level of harm, a Peer Supporter may breach confidentiality if it is affecting their physical or emotional safety. (ex: sharing what happened with Peer Support Space leadership).

We are based in Central Florida but provide support for anyone over the age of 18, living anywhere. 

We ask that anybody using this resource agrees to, with their peer supporter, follow this communal agreement. 

By sharing this space we:

• Can decide we are not the right fit for each other, no reason is needed to be stated.
• Are not coercive, forceful, and do not engage in ways that violate consent.
• Respect boundaries, and create a space where uplifting them is welcomed.
• Own our impact when we cause harm
• Do not tolerate bigotry, intentional or not, and we own our impact when we cause harm. Bigotry can include things such as sexism, racism, transphobia, classism, ableism, and more.

Currently, all session are held virtually. We hope to provide in-person 1:1 peer support soon. Sessions may be held via zoom, phone call, text, email, or even google doc - whatever you and your peer supporter decides works mutually best for both of you.