Family & Peer Support

Peer support staff, from left: Pete Anziano, Mariellen Jacobs, Kim Ross, Karen DeVault, Daquarius Greene and David Carter at the Shepherd Center

A community built on understanding, connection, and growth

At Shepherd Center, we believe in the power of Peer Support, and we invite you to join our community of compassionate individuals who have been on a similar path.

Our Peer Support Program is a community like no other, led by former patients and caregivers who have firsthand knowledge of the diverse and unique challenges you may be facing. We’re here to offer you a safe and welcoming space, where you can connect with individuals who truly understand and can relate to what you are going through.

How peers support each other

By connecting with others who share similar experiences, you can learn from their stories and gain insights you might not find elsewhere. Our Peer Support community serves as a vast repository of knowledge about resources available to you during and beyond your rehabilitation journey, from learning about returning home to navigating the challenges of daily life and getting back to school or work.

Research shows that patients and families who connect with each other through peer groups experience successful rehabilitation and are more likely to sustain that success even after returning home. Our peer groups are here to help you every step of the way.

Share your experiences and learn from others who have been on a similar journey, gaining valuable insights and building a sense of camaraderie.

Discover the wealth of resources available as you progress through your rehabilitation journey and daily living after returning to your community.

Create a support network of individuals who truly understand your experiences and challenges.

Gain insights into returning home, resuming school or work, navigating accessibility barriers, and facing life after rehabilitation.

Develop and maintain meaningful and supportive relationships with parents, children, family, friends, and others.

Explore how to manage the changes in your intimate relationships with the guidance of those who have gone through it themselves.

How we meet and connect

Shepherd Center’s Peer Support Program relies on empathy-rich communication to assist patients and families through their stages of change and rediscovery as empowerment for independent living.

Connecting with someone who genuinely comprehends what you’re going through is truly meaningful. That’s why we offer various ways for you to engage with our Peer Support community.

Our Peer Support opportunities extend far beyond traditional one-on-one sessions.

  • We host group meetings, inviting individuals from various backgrounds to come together and foster meaningful connections.
  • During group dinners, community outings, and seasonal events, you’ll get to experience the joys of camaraderie as you explore life beyond Shepherd Center.
  • We offer education classes and co-treatment sessions with your therapist, ensuring you have access to all the resources you need on your journey to recovery.
  • We also facilitate virtual meetings via phone, FaceTime, and other digital platforms.

Our goal is to make Peer Support easily accessible so that you never feel alone on your journey.

Megan Collins, an attendee of the spinal cord injury survivor peer support group, sits by a plant, smiling.

The first peer support mentor that I had was a beautiful woman who had been in a chair since she was 12. Seeing someone still confident, still beautiful, still active in a chair showed me that I could be that as well. That’s when my motivation turned from the rehabilitation of walking to the rehabilitation of my full self and know that it’ll be okay.

Megan Collins, Tennessee Patient, Spinal Cord Injury

Peer support staff (from left) Mariellen Jacobs and Kim Ross speak in a meeting at the Shepherd Center.

Peer support groups

Our peer support program brings together individuals who have experienced similar life-changing events, offering a space to share experiences, challenges, and victories.

Whether you are adjusting to life after a spinal cord injury, brain injury, or other neurological conditions, our compassionate and experienced peers are here to offer guidance, friendship, and hope on your journey to recovery and beyond. Join us in building a network of strength and resilience.

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