Peer support is about empathy and mutual understanding. It is grounded in the shared experiences of having had a mental health challenge. Peer Support about emotional connection and solidarity.
Both participants can benefit emotionally and grow from an interaction. There is now power exchange involved. Its focus is on creating a sense of community and belonging.
Peer supporters provide strengths-based emotional support, share strategies that have worked for them, and may focus on coping mechanisms and emotional resilience.

Recovery coaching is structured and focused on goals. Coaches help clients set and achieve specific recovery goals, which may include managing symptoms, improving personal habits, or making progress in social or occupational functioning.
While peer supporters focus on support from personal experience, recovery coaches use a wide range of tools and professional techniques. This might include motivational interviewing, problem-solving strategies, and personalized wellness plans.
Recovery coaches can help clients navigate healthcare systems, connect with resources, and develop skills necessary to move through barriers to get to an end goal. They act more like a guide or mentor in the client’s journey toward long-term wellness.