1:1 Peer Support
"To be accepted as we are, without correction or condition, is one of the most profound healing experiences. Peer support is centered in that experience. This acceptance is something a peer support worker, grounded in their own lived experience, is uniquely equipped to offer."
Bernadine Fox
Bernadine Fox
Not long ago, people who experienced therapy abuse and exploitation often found themselves completely alone. Information was hard to find, language was limited, and support was scarce. Many survivors struggled in silence, unsure where to turn or how to name what had happened.
Today, there are more resources available. Survivors may find community through online forums, peer-led spaces, or organizations such as Therapy Exploitation Link Line (TELL), which offers free education, resources, and ongoing support for those harmed in therapy.
At the same time, returning to therapy is often not a viable or safe option. For many survivors, it can be deeply triggering to enter another therapeutic relationship, especially when clinicians may have limited understanding of therapy abuse and exploitation. This can lead to further harm rather than healing.
For those who want support that is private, non-clinical, and grounded in lived experience, one-to-one peer support offers another path. It allows survivors to speak with someone who understands the terrain firsthand, without judgment, diagnosis, or pressure to explain or prove their experience.
1:1 peer support is for those who want to move at their own pace, in their own way, with clear boundaries and shared understanding.
Today, there are more resources available. Survivors may find community through online forums, peer-led spaces, or organizations such as Therapy Exploitation Link Line (TELL), which offers free education, resources, and ongoing support for those harmed in therapy.
At the same time, returning to therapy is often not a viable or safe option. For many survivors, it can be deeply triggering to enter another therapeutic relationship, especially when clinicians may have limited understanding of therapy abuse and exploitation. This can lead to further harm rather than healing.
For those who want support that is private, non-clinical, and grounded in lived experience, one-to-one peer support offers another path. It allows survivors to speak with someone who understands the terrain firsthand, without judgment, diagnosis, or pressure to explain or prove their experience.
1:1 peer support is for those who want to move at their own pace, in their own way, with clear boundaries and shared understanding.
To know more about 1:1 Peer Support with Bernadine use this drop down menu
What is peer support?
A Peer Support Worker draws on lived experience of mental health challenges to support others navigating similar experiences. While they may work without formal mental health training, what they offer is grounded in mutuality, respect, and shared understanding, rather than diagnosis or clinical treatment.
Peer Support Workers do not provide therapy or medical care. Instead, they offer relational support, practical guidance, and system navigation rooted in firsthand knowledge of the issue at hand (in this case therapy abuse and exploitation), mental health systems, and recovery journeys.
Peer support recognizes that lived experience is a form of expertise, and that people often benefit most from support offered by someone who understands from the inside.
Peer Support Workers do not provide therapy or medical care. Instead, they offer relational support, practical guidance, and system navigation rooted in firsthand knowledge of the issue at hand (in this case therapy abuse and exploitation), mental health systems, and recovery journeys.
Peer support recognizes that lived experience is a form of expertise, and that people often benefit most from support offered by someone who understands from the inside.
why peer support is important in a healing process
Peer support plays a vital and distinct role within mental health and community care systems:
- It reduces isolation by connecting people with someone who truly understands their experience
- It supports self-determination, choice, and personal agency
- It complements and may provide healing opportunity, but does not replace, clinical or medical care
- It provides validation without pathologizing
- It helps people navigate complex systems using real-world knowledge
how peer support differs from therapy & friendship
Peer support is not the same as friendship. While it is relational and human, it is a structured, purpose-based relationship with clear boundaries. It is focused on supporting your goals rather than mutual social or emotional exchange, and it does not create social obligation or reciprocity.
Peer support also differs from therapy. It is non-clinical and non-diagnostic, and does not involve treatment or assessment. Because lived experience is a core part of peer support, peer support workers may share relevant aspects of their own experiences in ways that therapists are typically not permitted to do. Any personal sharing is intentional, limited, and offered only when it supports understanding or reduces isolation.
Although peer support is not hierarchical in the clinical sense, it is also not power-neutral. Peer support workers may hold greater knowledge, perspective, or emotional stability at a given time. With that comes a responsibility to use this position ethically, with transparency, consent, and clear boundaries, always centering the autonomy of the person receiving support.
Peer support also differs from therapy. It is non-clinical and non-diagnostic, and does not involve treatment or assessment. Because lived experience is a core part of peer support, peer support workers may share relevant aspects of their own experiences in ways that therapists are typically not permitted to do. Any personal sharing is intentional, limited, and offered only when it supports understanding or reduces isolation.
Although peer support is not hierarchical in the clinical sense, it is also not power-neutral. Peer support workers may hold greater knowledge, perspective, or emotional stability at a given time. With that comes a responsibility to use this position ethically, with transparency, consent, and clear boundaries, always centering the autonomy of the person receiving support.
Core Boundaries in Peer support
Core Boundaries for Peer Support Workers1. Peer support is not therapy
2. Shared experience does not mean shared decisions
3. The peer relationship is time-limited and purpose-based
4. Mutual respect without role reversal
5. Confidentiality with clear limits
6. No crisis management beyond scope
7. Respect for autonomy and pace
8. Clear boundaries around power and influence
9. Ethical compensation and transparency
10. Ongoing self-reflection and supervision
- Peer support does not involve diagnosis, treatment, or clinical intervention
- The role is to support understanding, choice, and self-directed decision-making
- Referrals to clinical or emergency services are made when appropriate
2. Shared experience does not mean shared decisions
- Lived experience informs support but does not dictate outcomes
- What worked for the peer worker may not be right for the person being supported
- Advice is offered as perspective, not instruction
3. The peer relationship is time-limited and purpose-based
- Sessions have clear start and end times
- Ongoing dependency is not encouraged
- The goal is increased autonomy, not reliance
4. Mutual respect without role reversal
- The peer worker does not become a friend, rescuer, or advocate without consent and scope
- The person receiving support is not responsible for the peer worker’s wellbeing
- Emotional labor flows appropriately, not bidirectionally
5. Confidentiality with clear limits
- Information shared is kept confidential except where safety or legal obligations require disclosure
- Confidentiality boundaries are explained upfront
- Peer workers do not investigate, verify, or report on people’s experiences unless mandated
6. No crisis management beyond scope
- Peer support workers are not emergency responders
- Clear plans are in place for crisis situations, including referrals to appropriate services
- The peer role focuses on grounding, connection, and next steps, not containment of crisis
7. Respect for autonomy and pace
- Participation is always voluntary
- Individuals choose what to share, when, and how
- Silence, observation, and pauses are respected forms of participation
8. Clear boundaries around power and influence
- Peer workers do not pressure, persuade, or direct decisions
- Support is offered without coercion, judgment, or agenda
- The person receiving support remains the authority on their own life
9. Ethical compensation and transparency
- Fees, sliding scales, and access options are stated clearly
- No hidden costs or emotional obligation to pay
- Receiving peer support does not require loyalty, endorsement, or disclosure
10. Ongoing self-reflection and supervision
- Peer workers attend to their own limits, triggers, and capacity
- Supervision, consultation, or peer reflection is part of ethical practice
- Stepping back when needed is considered responsible, not failure
Qualifications and Approach to Peer Support
My qualifications to provide peer support to survivors of therapy abuse and exploitation are grounded in recognized core criteria used across Canada, including those articulated by Peer Support Canada.
I have lived experience of mental health challenges and am a survivor of therapy abuse and exploitation (see Coming To Voice: Surviving an Abusive Therapist). I bring nearly four decades of direct experience navigating mental health, legal, advocacy, and complaint systems as both a peer support worker and mental health advocate. I have provided structured peer support to individuals and groups, facilitated survivor-centered spaces with clear boundaries, and supported people navigating complex and retraumatizing systems.
I maintain clear and consistent boundaries between peer support and therapeutic intervention. I do not provide therapy or clinical care. My work is guided by the Code of Conduct developed by Peer Support Canada, including clear scope of practice, ethical boundaries, and respect for autonomy.
Professional peer support requires clarity around role, responsibilities, and limits. I centre consent, choice, and self-determination, while prioritizing safety, confidentiality, and accessibility. I am transparent about fees, access options, and availability, and I encourage people to pause or discontinue support if it no longer feels helpful.
Because peer support is not licensed, credibility and accountability are established through transparency, consent, and clearly stated boundaries rather than regulation. By openly describing how peer support works, how decisions are made, how confidentiality is handled, and how concerns can be raised, peer support invites accountability in practical and meaningful ways. Clear policies create shared expectations, reduce the risk of harm, and support ethical, collaborative practice.
I am qualified to provide peer support through lived experience, long-standing peer and advocacy work, and adherence to nationally recognized peer support principles. My work is non-clinical, trauma-informed, and grounded in respect, consent, and clear boundaries.
I have lived experience of mental health challenges and am a survivor of therapy abuse and exploitation (see Coming To Voice: Surviving an Abusive Therapist). I bring nearly four decades of direct experience navigating mental health, legal, advocacy, and complaint systems as both a peer support worker and mental health advocate. I have provided structured peer support to individuals and groups, facilitated survivor-centered spaces with clear boundaries, and supported people navigating complex and retraumatizing systems.
I maintain clear and consistent boundaries between peer support and therapeutic intervention. I do not provide therapy or clinical care. My work is guided by the Code of Conduct developed by Peer Support Canada, including clear scope of practice, ethical boundaries, and respect for autonomy.
Professional peer support requires clarity around role, responsibilities, and limits. I centre consent, choice, and self-determination, while prioritizing safety, confidentiality, and accessibility. I am transparent about fees, access options, and availability, and I encourage people to pause or discontinue support if it no longer feels helpful.
Because peer support is not licensed, credibility and accountability are established through transparency, consent, and clearly stated boundaries rather than regulation. By openly describing how peer support works, how decisions are made, how confidentiality is handled, and how concerns can be raised, peer support invites accountability in practical and meaningful ways. Clear policies create shared expectations, reduce the risk of harm, and support ethical, collaborative practice.
I am qualified to provide peer support through lived experience, long-standing peer and advocacy work, and adherence to nationally recognized peer support principles. My work is non-clinical, trauma-informed, and grounded in respect, consent, and clear boundaries.
Cost
I offer one-to-one peer support on a sliding scale to help ensure access for those who need it. Sessions range from $0 to $80, based on the honour system. No one is turned away due to inability to pay.
Availability may be limited at times, and sessions are offered as capacity allows.
Availability may be limited at times, and sessions are offered as capacity allows.
process of working with bernadine 1:1
If you are interested in working with me one-to-one, the process is simple and collaborative.
Step 1: Reach out
You contact me to ask about 1:1 peer support. There is no application process or screening form. This is simply an initial expression of interest. You can write me at [email protected]. If you do not get a response in 48 hours write again. Sometimes mail goes into spam folders.
Step 2: Initial conversation
We begin with a brief conversation to talk about:
Step 3: Decide on sessions.
Together, we decide:
Step 4: Cost and access
1:1 peer support is offered on a sliding scale of $20–$80, based on the honour system. You simply tell me what you can afford. There is no income testing or requirement to explain your circumstances. Availability may be limited at times, and sessions are offered as capacity allows. Cancellations should be done as soon as possible and preferably 24-hours prior to the session.
Step 5: Ongoing check-ins.
As we work together, we periodically check in about:
Clients are free to stop the work at any time it feels appropriate for them to do so and they are not required to explain this to me unless they want to.
Peer support is non-clinical, collaborative, and grounded in choice. You remain in control of what you share, the pace of the work, and the direction it takes.
Step 1: Reach out
You contact me to ask about 1:1 peer support. There is no application process or screening form. This is simply an initial expression of interest. You can write me at [email protected]. If you do not get a response in 48 hours write again. Sometimes mail goes into spam folders.
Step 2: Initial conversation
We begin with a brief conversation to talk about:
- what you are looking for support with
- what has been most challenging for you recently
- what kind of support you are hoping for
Step 3: Decide on sessions.
Together, we decide:
- whether peer support feels like a good fit
- how many sessions to begin with (for example, a small number to start)
- the pace and focus of the work
- day and time that will work for both of us
Step 4: Cost and access
1:1 peer support is offered on a sliding scale of $20–$80, based on the honour system. You simply tell me what you can afford. There is no income testing or requirement to explain your circumstances. Availability may be limited at times, and sessions are offered as capacity allows. Cancellations should be done as soon as possible and preferably 24-hours prior to the session.
Step 5: Ongoing check-ins.
As we work together, we periodically check in about:
- whether the support is meeting your needs
- what has shifted or changed
- if issues have arose that are problematic and find a way to resolve
- whether to continue, adjust focus, or pause
Clients are free to stop the work at any time it feels appropriate for them to do so and they are not required to explain this to me unless they want to.
Peer support is non-clinical, collaborative, and grounded in choice. You remain in control of what you share, the pace of the work, and the direction it takes.
code of conduct
My peer support practice is guided by the values, principles, and Code of Conduct developed by Peer Support Canada, which set out nationally recognized standards for ethical, trauma-informed peer support work.
While I am looking into registered with Peer Support Canada, I am not currently registered. However, I have intentionally aligned my work with their framework, including clear boundaries, transparency of role, respect for autonomy, confidentiality, and accountability. These principles inform how I structure peer support relationships, communicate scope, and ensure support remains non-clinical, consent-based, and grounded in lived experience.
Following an established peer support code of conduct helps ensure that support is offered responsibly, ethically, and with care for both the person receiving support and the peer support worker.
Peer Support Canada's Code of Conduct:
I will act ethically, according to the values and principles of peer support
I will treat all people with respect and dignity
I will respect human diversity and will foster non-discriminatory activities
I will honour the rights, beliefs and personal values of individuals
I will behave with honesty and integrity in providing support to peers
I will respect the privacy of individuals and maintain confidentiality within the limitations of program policies and the law e.g. potential harm to self or others
I will not knowingly expose a peer to harm
I will not take advantage of the peer relationship for personal benefit, material or financial gain
I will respect the boundaries of peer support work and will not engage in romantic or sexual relationships with the peers that I support
I will not provide peer support in a manner that negatively affects the public’s confidence in peer support
While I am looking into registered with Peer Support Canada, I am not currently registered. However, I have intentionally aligned my work with their framework, including clear boundaries, transparency of role, respect for autonomy, confidentiality, and accountability. These principles inform how I structure peer support relationships, communicate scope, and ensure support remains non-clinical, consent-based, and grounded in lived experience.
Following an established peer support code of conduct helps ensure that support is offered responsibly, ethically, and with care for both the person receiving support and the peer support worker.
Peer Support Canada's Code of Conduct:
I will act ethically, according to the values and principles of peer support
I will treat all people with respect and dignity
I will respect human diversity and will foster non-discriminatory activities
I will honour the rights, beliefs and personal values of individuals
I will behave with honesty and integrity in providing support to peers
I will respect the privacy of individuals and maintain confidentiality within the limitations of program policies and the law e.g. potential harm to self or others
I will not knowingly expose a peer to harm
I will not take advantage of the peer relationship for personal benefit, material or financial gain
I will respect the boundaries of peer support work and will not engage in romantic or sexual relationships with the peers that I support
I will not provide peer support in a manner that negatively affects the public’s confidence in peer support
