Certified Peer Counselor (CPC)

Certified Peer Counselors (CPC) work with their peers (adults and youth) and the parents of children receiving mental health services. They draw upon their experiences to help peers find hope and make progress toward recovery.  Because of their own life experience, they are uniquely equipped to provide support, encouragement and resources to those with mental health challenges.

The Certified Peer Counselor is an active member of the Mental Health Recovery Team and

provides peer support services to clients with a mental illnesses diagnosis. A Peer Support

Specialists will work under supervision of a qualified Mental Health Professional (MHP). The Certified Peer Counselor will function as a role model to peers; exhibiting competency in personal recovery and the use of coping skills; serve as a mental health consumer advocate, providing consumer information and peer support for clients in a variety of settings. The Certified Peer Counselor performs a wide range of tasks to assist peers of all ages, from young adult to old age, in regaining independence within the community and mastery over their own recovery process.

Typical Work

•     Encouraging a self-identified, active model of recovery by assisting mental health

consumers to recognize and develop resiliency through identifying and supporting

personal strengths and goals;

•     Promote self-advocacy through exploring and assisting in the development of an active

Natural and Communal Support structure to meet individual needs;

•     Assist in organizing, encouraging, and assisting personal recovery goals as identified by

Individual Treatment Service Plan provided by the primary Mental Health Provider;

•     Support symptom management and relapse prevention through developing a personal

self-care program based upon personal needs by utilizing educational resources and

experiential means;

•     Inspire hope through sharing personal experiences that are relevant to the needs of

mental health consumer;

•     Update and manage Case Notes within treatment and guideline protocols reporting on

status and progress in conjunction with treatment plan;

•     Set up regular sessions with mental health consumer to promote consistent growth of

recovery goals;

•     Provides Peer Counseling support to clients in their natural environment including but not limited to local schools, the clients home and in the local and surrounding communities;
•     Complies with all HIPAA and 42 CFR privacy and security regulations;
•     Performs other work as required.

Qualifications

•     Actively holds a Certified Peer Counselor (CPC) certification with the state of Washington by successfully completing a 80-hour approved training and passing the state exam;
•     Possesses an active Agency Affiliated Counselor Registration (R-AAC) in Washington State or is able to obtain a pending AAC in Washington State prior to hiring;
•     Knowledgeable in HIPAA and 42 CFR regulations;
•     Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, in both group and individual settings;
•     Conduct effective interviews and facilitate meetings;
•     Work in a team based environment;
•     Implement quality process initiatives by utilizing tools to ensure customer satisfaction;
•     Establishes and maintains effective interpersonal relationships with customers, peers, management, partners, community based organizations, private employers, and other state & public agencies;
•     Perform computer applications & internet operations;
•     Work with diverse populations; comprehend and interpret program provisions, regulations, and administrative policies;
•     Facilitate workshops including but not limited to youth summer events;
•     Work in a fast paced environment demonstrating flexibility and ability to adapt to change;
•     Recruit & engage customers into a system that provides a multitude of services to meet their needs;
•     Ability to life up to 25 pounds at a time;
•     Ability to sit at a computer for prolonged periods of time;
•     Must have a valid driver’s license and active car insurance.