• 303.524.9231
  • 1245 E Colfax Ave Suite 403, Denver, CO 80218
Become a P2P Coach
Become a P2P Coach
Become a Client
Become a Client   |   Become a Coach
P2P Recovery Resources | A Colorado Medicaid Provider

QBHA & Coaching

Probably the most common statements we hear from new coaches are, “I just want to give back.” And, “If I had a peer coach when I was struggling in my recovery, I would have been sober sooner.” This, along with our success stories, is affirmation for us that our model works.

BECOME A PEER RECOVERY COACH
William White circa 1971 | The Godfather of Peer Coaching

What is a Peer Coach?

  • A Motivator and Cheerleader exhibits bold faith in individual/family capacity for change; encourages and celebrates achievement*
  • An Ally and Confidant genuinely cares, listens and can be trusted with confidences*
  • A Truth-Teller provides a consistent source of honest feedback regarding self-destructive patterns of thinking, feeling and acting*
  • A Role Model and Mentor offers his/her life as living proof of the transformative power of recovery; provides stage-appropriate recovery education and advice*
  • A Problem Solver identifies and helps resolve personal and environmental obstacles to recovery*
  • A Resource Broker links individuals/families to formal and indigenous sources of sober housing, recovery-conducive employment, health and social services, and recovery support*
  • An Advocate helps individuals and families navigate the service system assuring service access, service responsiveness and protection of rights*
  • A Community Organizer helps develop and expand available recovery support resources*
  • A Lifestyle Consultant assists individuals/families to develop sobriety-based rituals of daily living*

     

* The History and Future of Peer Based Addiction Recovery Support Services. William White Papers

What is a QBHA?

Qualified Behavioral Health Assistant. This support professional, non-clinical role works under supervision to carry out activities such as wellness promotion and education, community needs assessment, screening, referrals, crisis management, case management, orientation to services & care navigation, and individual and group interventions. 

QBHAs are required to have training in specific content areas to include:

  • Understanding of Behavioral Health and Healthcare Systems
  • Empathy and Healthy Boundaries
  • Therapeutic Communication Skills
  • Case Management and Documentation
  • Crisis Intervention and Wellness
  • Trauma-Informed Care and Cultural Competency

What is a Peer Coach?

Peer Support Professional. A Peer Support Professional (PSP) may also be referred to as a peer support specialist, recovery coach, peer and family recovery support specialist, peer mentor, family advocate or family systems navigator. 

A PSP “is a person who uses his or her lived experience of recovery from mental illness and/or addiction, plus skills learned in formal training, to deliver services in BH settings to promote mind-body recovery and resiliency.” 

A family advocate is a person whose “lived experience” is defined as having a family member who has a mental illness or substance use disorder and the knowledge of the BH care system gained through navigation and support of their family member. PSPs perform a wide variety of non-clinical tasks to assist members “in regaining control over their own lives and recovery” 6 processes. 

The following is a useful overview of the four major types of recovery support services: (1) peer mentoring or coaching, (2) recovery resource connecting, (3) facilitating and leading recovery groups, and (4) building community.8   PSPs assist members in navigating treatment systems for mental health and substance use disorders. PSPs “promote self-determination, personal responsibility and the empowerment inherent in self-directed recovery.”  

Become a Coach

To become a Peer Recovery Coach in Colorado:

The state of Colorado requires that peer recovery coaches have completed training in the Combined Core Competencies. Certification credentials are based on experience and competencies as set by the International Certification & Reciprocity Consortium. Competencies like a) Knowledge of Mental Health/Substance Use Conditions and Treatments b) Resiliency, Recovery and Wellness c) Ethics and d) Resources to name a few.

  • Formed in 1994 the Colorado Providers Association (COPA) is a professional trade association representing clinical and non-clinical prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery service providers. COPA defines and approves the state of Colorado certification criteria and is the body that awards the Colorado Certified Peer & Family Specialist credential.
  • This certification is intended as a professional credential for individuals with lived experience in behavioral health. Lived experience is defined as having one or more of the following: A history of substance use disorder and currently engaged in recovery, a history of mental health diagnosis, and/or a history of caregiving to a person with substance use or mental health disorders.
  • Those seeking to become a Colorado Peer & Family Specialist must accumulate educational credits- CEUs, have volunteer or paid experience and have evidence of supervised hours. A more detailed description of the criteria can be found here:
Certification Manual