Open AccessPeer and Non-Peer Co-Facilitation of a Health and Wellness Intervention for Adults with Serious Mental Illness
Author(s) -
Anjana Muralidharan,
Amanda Peeples,
Samantha M. Hack,
Karen L. Fortuna,
Elizabeth A. Klingaman,
Naomi F. Stahl,
Peter Phalen,
Alicia Lucksted,
Richard W. Goldberg
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
psychiatric quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.79
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1573-6709
pISSN - 0033-2720
DOI - 10.1007/s11126-020-09818-2
Subject(s) - facilitator , thematic analysis , mental health , peer support , mental illness , psychological intervention , peer group , facilitation , psychology , teamwork , intervention (counseling) , qualitative research , randomized controlled trial , nursing , clinical psychology , psychiatry , medicine , social psychology , neuroscience , sociology , political science , law , social science , surgery
Peer specialists, or individuals with lived experience of mental health conditions who support the mental health recovery of others, often work side-by-side with traditional providers (non-peers) in the delivery of treatment groups. The present study aimed to examine group participant and peer provider experiences with peer and non-peer group co-facilitation. Data from a randomized controlled trial of Living Well, a peer and non-peer co-facilitated intervention for medical illness management for adults with serious mental illness, were utilized. A subset of Living Well participants (n = 16) and all peer facilitators (n = 3) completed qualitative interviews. Transcripts were coded and analyzed using a general inductive approach and thematic analysis. The complementary perspectives of the facilitators, teamwork between them, skillful group pacing, and peer facilitator self-disclosure contributed to a warm, respectful, and interactive group atmosphere, which created an environment conducive to social learning. Guidelines for successful co-facilitation emerging from this work are described.