How to Stand Strong, Stay Sane, and Spark Change from the Inside Out
Let's talk about it—really talk about it.
Being the only peer in an organization can feel like walking into a party where everyone knows the dance, but you're the only one dancing barefoot. There is no handbook, no backup, just you, your lived experience, and a whole lot of raised eyebrows.
But guess what? You're not alone!
The Weight of Being "The First"
When you're the only peer on the team, everything you do feels like it's under a microscope.
- You speak from lived experience. "Too personal."
- You bring up systemic injustice. "Too radical."
- You mention harm reduction. Cue the awkward silence.
It's exhausting. It's isolating. Sometimes, it's enough to make you question why you signed up for this in the first place.
But here's the truth: Pioneers are never comfortable. And you didn't come here to play it safe. You came to plant seeds in places that forgot what real connection looks like.
The Challenges Are Real and So Are the Tools
You'll Educate More Than You Expected
Some coworkers won't understand what you do. Others may think peer work is "less than" clinical work. That's not your fault—but it might become your mission. Educating people with compassion and boundaries is part of the gig.
You'll Need to Build Your Own Safety Net
If you're the only peer, your support can't just come from within the organization. Join peer networks like the Washington Peer Network. Schedule regular check-ins with people who remind you why your voice matters.
You'll Be Pulled in a Thousand Directions
People will want you to be a case manager, therapist, spiritual advisor, social worker, and crisis responder. Nope. Stay grounded in your lane. Peer work is about mutuality, empowerment, and choice. Don't let mission drift steal your magic.
Flip the Script: From "Only" to Originator
You may be the only peer now, but you're laying the foundation for many. Your courage opens doors. Your presence challenges old norms. Your truth makes room for future peers to walk in with less friction and more respect. Think of yourself like a lighthouse. You might stand alone, but your light reaches far.
Here's how to keep shining:
Document What You Do
Make your role clear. Write it down. Share outcomes. Your presence shouldn't be mysterious—it should be measurable. That's how you shift systems.
Tell Your Story—Strategically
You don't have to trauma-dump. But your story is your strength. When you speak with purpose, people listen. Frame your experience as expertise, not just background.
Build Peer Culture from Within
Host a lunch-and-learn. Bring a Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) to the table. Suggest peer-informed practices. Start small. Lead with humility, but don't shrink. You might be surprised who joins the movement once someone else dares to go first.
Final Word: Standing Alone Isn't Standing Still
You might feel alone—but you're part of something way bigger. Across Washington State, peers are showing up in hospital systems, jails, youth programs, schools, and recovery centers.
You are not the exception. You are the example!
So, if you're reading this and feeling the weight of being "the only peer," just know this: You are not alone. You are the beginning.
Want to connect with other peers or explore new opportunities?
Visit washingtonpeernetwork.org and join the wave of lived-experience leadership.