Todd Meyer is a peer support specialist and peer supervisor in training at Positive Energy Affecting Recovering Lives (P.E.A.R.L.), a recovery community organization founded in 2014 to provide assistance, education, and support to the specialty courts and the recovery community of Arkansas.
What personal and professional experiences led you to your current role of peer supervisor at P.E.A.R.L.?
I took a big step 3 years ago when I changed careers. At the time, I was a carpenter doing remodeling and construction. One morning, while dropping my son off at school, I received a peer support specialist application from his teacher. I had shared with her my lifelong challenges with substance use disorder and mental illness, and she recognized something in me that I didn’t recognize myself: that I was a perfect candidate for helping others find their way to recovery. I had been hearing about peer support from people in my 12-step program. They also encouraged me to pursue peer support as a career.
I currently work with 117 peers and supervise 3 peer support specialists at P.E.A.R.L. My wall is filled with certificates documenting my growth in this field, and I’m excited to now be working on the highest level of certification. Arkansas is one of the few states—and may be the only state—with three levels of peer support certification: core, advanced, and supervisory. I figured if I’m going to do this, I’ll do it to the best of my ability and to the full extent.
What are three essential qualities of a supervisor of peer workers, and how do you aspire to apply these in your work at P.E.A.R.L.?
Honesty, transparency, and integrity are three essential qualities of peer support specialists, and I aim to model these qualities for the people I supervise. I’ve learned these qualities go hand in hand with peer support activities.
It’s easy to slip into half-truths, so it’s important to practice “active” honesty, to always be conscious of what you’re saying and how it will impact the ones around you.
Honesty goes along with transparency. The person to whom I’m providing peer services needs to be able to identify with me, and sharing my story is great for building trust. I’ve worked with people who readily share their mental health issues but deny any substance use problems. A month into giving them rides to doctor’s appointments or job interviews and providing other services, they start talking about their substance use. And that’s due to the trust that grew between us.
By integrity, I mean doing the right thing even when no one is looking. Taking shortcuts or relaxing expectations can be very tempting, particularly when the going gets rough. I’m experiencing this right now because I’m relatively new to supervision. My work feels stressful, but I come each day and guide the peers under me to the best of my ability. Maybe I should add perseverance as a fourth quality!
P.E.A.R.L. works with individuals experiencing substance use disorder who are involved with the criminal justice system. What key elements of peer support help this population improve their health and wellness, live self-directed lives, and move forward in their recovery?
The power of peer support is “being there.” So many of the people I work with have struggled with substance use disorder for so long, they’ve burned bridges with their families and friends. I want to be that one person taking an interest in them.
When I start working with new peers, I schedule weekly meetings for the busy first month of navigating drug court, paying fines, and seeking employment. After that, we meet regularly but less often. When circumstances pose a challenge—perhaps someone returns to substance use or has a job change—I schedule more frequent meetings. Graduating from drug court is another critical time because of the risk of going right back to what they were doing prior to arrest. So, I schedule weekly meetings for the first month after graduation too. Constancy is a key element that helps people move forward.
Our peer support specialists also help the people we serve set goals, with P.E.A.R.L. offering services to support those goals, including classes on parenting, financial literacy, and life skills; employment resources; and recovery meetings.
Supporting individuals in their recovery journey can involve navigating complex and emotional situations. How do you prioritize self-care and uphold your own wellness while engaging in this critical work?
I take care of myself by spending time with my family, going to my 12-step meetings, and attending to my mental health. In a way, the disconnection associated with my diagnosis helps me maintain emotional distance. But I also set personal boundaries, such as shutting off my work phone at the end of the workday. I encourage the peer support specialists I supervise to also practice self-care, which may mean establishing a relationship with a healthcare professional or engaging in self-reflection or any number of other strategies.