A classic philosophical debate for psychological treatment providers is whether someone who has recovered from a particular problem (i.e. depression) or a trained professional that has not personally experienced a specific problem is better equipped to be a helper for said problem. Both models thrive, with Alcoholics Anonymous perhaps being the most visible example of peer support, since the groups are often run by recovered alcoholics. The Boston Globe has a piece on the benefits of peer support, and describes a growing trend of using this method for issues like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

Overall, I think peer support and professional treatment can both be very helpful depending on what someone is looking for. I think one of the best benefits of peer support is the normalization of the problem as well as giving people hope that they can recover, since the person they work with is a living testament to it.

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    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 9 Jun 2007
    Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.