1-1 Support

The one-on-one peer support program is designed to support NBIS clients who would benefit from meeting with a trained peer support volunteer with the lived experience of acquired brain injury. Peer support volunteers provide a listening ear, compassion, understanding, wellbeing tips, and most importantly, hope for clients. 

Upon intake, clients are assessed for interest in and compatibility with the peer support program, and a peer support referral is sent to the volunteer coordinator. The volunteer coordinator then matches the client with the peer support volunteer who is most compatible to provide support given the client’s history, age, preferences, and availability. Clients then meet with volunteers one-on-one at the NBIS office in a quiet space, virtually through zoom or over the phone, for a duration of one hour. Meetings can occur once or bi-weekly, depending on the need, for a limit of ten sessions.

The one-on-one peer support program addresses the unique needs of clients who are waiting on, or currently undergoing, other sources of support such as counselling. Additionally, the peer support program acts as a bridge for clients who are referred to NBIS while in-hospital by visiting peer support volunteers, and who want to continue meeting with a peer support volunteer in a structured environment once discharged back into community. The one-on-one peer support program guides the way for clients on their unique recovery journeys, and is bolstered by the power of the shared lived experiences of the peer support volunteer and the client.