Certified Peer Specialist Program (CPS)
Who We Are
Northern Tier Counseling offers a Certified Peer Specialist program designed for adults and adolescents involved in recovering from various struggles with their mental health. All CPSs have lived experience with mental health challenges or substance use disorders. CPSs use their personal recovery journey to provide hope, guidance, and practical strategies to others navigating similar paths. This unique approach fosters trust and connection through shared experience.
What Makes CPS Unique
The foundation of CPS work is empathy and understanding gained through personal recovery. Specialists undergo formal training in active listening, motivational interviewing, goal setting, crisis intervention, and resource navigation. While they do not provide clinical therapy, CPSs offer emotional support and empowerment through a strengths-based, non-clinical model.
Role and Responsibilities
CPSs conduct one-on-one sessions and help individuals set goals and build resilience. They provide education about mental health and recovery, assist with relapse prevention strategies, and connect clients to community resources. Services are provided in real-world settings, offering opportunities for support in functional but sometimes challenging experiences. Their advocacy ensures individuals greater opportunity to thrive.
Certified Recovery Specialist (CRS)
Our Certified Recovery Specialist program focuses specifically on substance use disorder recovery. CRS professionals draw on their own sustained recovery experience to mentor and motivate others. Training covers recovery models, ethics, communication skills, relapse prevention, and resource navigation, ensuring specialists are equipped to guide individuals toward lasting sobriety.
Empowering Recovery Together
Both CPS and CRS programs share a common mission: to inspire hope and promote recovery through peer support. By leveraging lived experience and specialized training, these roles help individuals overcome barriers, build resilience, and reclaim their lives. At Northern Tier Counseling, we believe recovery is possible—and peer support makes it stronger.
