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We are a team of dedicated Peer Supporters who have come together from diverse backgrounds. We are united by our shared commitment to mental health advocacy and our own personal experiences with recovery.
Each of us has navigated our own way through mental health challenges. These experiences, plus our education in Peer Support deeply inform our approach and drive our passion for supporting others.
We have experienced and witnessed in others the profound impact that empathetic, knowledgeable support can have during the mental health recovery process. Inspired by this, we have pursued professional training to enhance our ability to assist others effectively.
Our collective mission is to offer a blend of specialized mental health education, supported by peer support and enriched by coaching techniques, to provide a comprehensive service that addresses both the emotional and practical needs of those we support.
We are grounded in the belief that everyone’s path to wellness is unique and that tailored, compassionate support can be transformative. As Recovery Coaches, we strive to empower our clients, helping them to reclaim control over their lives and move forward with confidence and resilience.
Monica is the driving force behind Stress Recovery Coach, bringing over 40 years of experience in business ownership. Her previous company provided IT services, consulting, and training to clients in York Region and the GTA. This extensive business background equips her to excel in managing and supporting an exciting new initiative in mental health; making Peer-Led Supports accessible to everyone.
Why Peer Support?
Because Peer Support works.
After experiencing a series of violent events leading to crippling anxiety and a PTSD diagnosis, Monica became a consumer of the mental health system. Health care workers insisted on a life of disability and reliance on medication, but Peer Support offered a different path. Connecting with others who had lived experience within the mental health system, Monica was able to navigate life with PTSD, learned tools to live in a way that was mindful of her PTSD that gave her back the life choices she had lost through her initial diagnosis.
Monica worked for a grassroots consumer-survivor mental health agency, coordinating and teaching a well-known and very successful six-month Peer Support education and internship program in York Region. Through this work and having experienced her own personal success in recovering, she recognized the transformative nature of Peer Support.
These profound experiences drive her commitment to ensure others do not navigate their darkest hours alone. Monica believes that everyone, not just those experiencing hardships, can be equipped with skills to overcome challenges and build stable, fulfilling lives. She is dedicated to making skills and community supports available to anyone seeking optimal mental health, promoting proactive habits that support well-being.
If you haven’t heard about Peer Support and are curious; if you or someone you care about could benefit from extra support, please reach out. Ask for Monica.
Pattie M. is a Certified Peer Support Worker with extensive experience in addiction and mental health support.
Since starting her career in 2019, Pattie has worked across various settings, providing compassionate peer support to those navigating the challenges of addiction and mental health. She strives to create a safe and supportive environment where individuals feel heard and understood, whether through one-on-one support or group sessions. Pattie is committed to helping individuals develop coping strategies, build resilience, and achieve their personal goals.
Skilled in active listening, de-escalation techniques, and guiding individuals in creating actionable plans, Pattie excels in facilitating peer-led support groups, offering guidance to families, and developing relapse prevention plans. Her background includes a diploma in Addiction Counselling and Community Service from Everest College and certifications in Peer Support Canada and WRAP Level 2.
Outside of work, Pattie enjoys spending time with her family and exploring nature, reflecting her commitment to self-care and wellness.
Sara left the corporate world after twenty years to pursue a career in the services sector, where she has extensive volunteer experience as an activist, advocate and leader in various community organizations.
After being certified in the Peer Recovery Education Program (PREP), she worked for a grassroots consumer-survivor mental health agency, providing one-on-one peer support, developing and running workshops, facilitating courses and giving presentations to hospitals, community agencies and colleges.
Sara has lived with mental health challenges since childhood, receiving diagnoses of anxiety, depression and later C-PTSD. A psychiatric survivor, Sara battled addiction issues before coming to embrace and rest in Buddhism. She leverages her lived experience to support others through active listening, empathetic acceptance and the transformative power of mindful compassion.
Sara believes that all people have the right to a safe, healthy and happy life and is dedicated to supporting individuals in their journey to wellness. Her work at Stress Recovery Coach focuses on developing and facilitating courses and workshops on numerous wellness and recovery topics as well as providing individual peer support.
As a practitioner of mindfulness and yoga, Sara takes the wisdom gained from these practices to maintain equilibrium, stay open to all life has to offer and keep her anxiety in check enough to perform stand-up comedy and improv!
Sara P. is a dedicated Peer Support Worker with a passion for mental health advocacy and spreading awareness. Sara has worked extensively on warm lines and youth helplines, providing crucial crisis support and practicing strength-based, trauma-informed peer support.
Sara’s personal journey with mental health began at sixteen when she was diagnosed with a lifelong mental illness and experienced psychosis. Despite being told she would never recover, Sara found hope and inspiration through the support of a Peer Support Worker, which significantly influenced her own recovery and motivated her to help others.
Certified through the Peer Recovery Education Program (PREP) and as a Pathways to Recovery facilitator, Sara also holds an Advanced Diploma in Child and Youth Care from Seneca College and a Graduate Certificate in creative writing from Humber College. She specializes in working with individuals experiencing psychosis and has honed skills in active listening, empathetic validation, and strength-based questioning.
Sara believes that early access to mental health education and support could have profoundly impacted her journey, reducing fear and isolation. She advocates for Peer Supporters as essential figures in providing early interventions, helping peers understand and navigate their experiences, and supporting families in understanding mental health challenges.
In her personal time, Sara enjoys creative writing, particularly focusing on Young Adult fiction that addresses mental health issues, and is an avid reader and animal lover, sharing her home with two cats and a vast vinyl collection.
Miranda’s journey as a peer support worker is deeply rooted in her lived experiences of overcoming trauma and finding resilience. Facing significant trauma in her early adulthood as well as challenges with transfer addiction, post-weight loss surgery, has given her a unique perspective. Connecting with others who have faced similar struggles has been a source of immense courage and strength, fueling her passion for Peer Support work.
With over 13 years of experience as a Certified Peer Support Worker and Mental Health Advocate, she believes in the transformative power of shared experiences and the profound impact of providing a compassionate space for others to heal and thrive. Throughout her career, she has gained extensive experience in 1:1 peer support and motivational interviewing, using a warm, gentle, and compassionate approach.
Her skills include facilitating WRAP and Mindful Photography sessions, supporting individuals dealing with transfer addictions and weight loss surgery, and applying trauma-informed care. She am also trained in de-escalation techniques and crisis response, with a focus on youth mental health and wellness. Her work is characterized by active listening, and she operates from a sense of hope, authenticity, and trust.
In addition to her professional work, she is an avid outdoor enthusiast, enjoying activities such as kayaking, fishing, and capturing nature’s beauty through photography. These hobbies help her connect with the world around her and to find peace and inspiration. Recently, embracing the role of a new mother has brought immense joy and fulfillment to her life, balancing motherhood with her professional passions and deepening her appreciation for life’s simple pleasures.
Sarra Rashid is a Certified Peer Supporter and passionate mental health advocate with over 10 years of experience supporting individuals facing various mental health challenges. She has volunteered and worked with multiple organizations in the mental health field, bringing a wealth of knowledge and empathy to her role.
Sarra holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a Minor in Social Work and has completed her Peer Support Certification with Peer Support Canada. She specializes in active and empathetic listening, providing peer support using a person-centered and strengths-based approach. Sarra is skilled in facilitating workshops, support groups, and providing one-on-one individual support.
Sarra’s personal journey with mental health challenges, including a diagnosis of ADHD in young adulthood, fuels her belief in the power of creating safe spaces for connection through unconditional positive regard and non-judgmental support. She sees this as a fundamental part of healing.
At Stress Recovery Coach, Sarra is responsible for providing individual support and leading workshops, helping clients navigate their mental health journeys with compassion and expertise.
Outside of work, Sarra enjoys reading, cuddling her cat, and practicing yoga and mindfulness. She believes in the importance of taking time for oneself to build a balanced routine that supports mental well-being.