Certified Mental Health Peer Support Specialist

Tobias Solutions; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Tobias Solutions in Houston, TX is seeking a Certified Peer Support Specialist to provide recovery-focused support to individuals facing mental health and substance use challenges. Using lived experience and formal training, you will help clients develop coping skills, set recovery goals, and access community resources.

You will work alongside a multidisciplinary care team in a person-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive setting, maintaining confidentiality and professional

Qualifications

• Current certification as a Peer Support Specialist recognized by the applicable state, agency, or credentialing organization.
• Personal lived experience with mental health and/or substance use recovery that can be appropriately utilized within a peer-support role.
• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Associate or bachelor's degree in psychology, social work, behavioral health, human services, or a related field is preferred.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to establish trust and build positive, professional relationships with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and appropriate professional boundaries.
• Basic computer skills and ability to complete electronic documentation.
• Ability to work independently while also functioning effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Responsibilities

• Provide one-on-one peer support using personal lived experience with mental health and/or substance use recovery.
• Assist individuals in identifying personal recovery, wellness, and stability goals and developing practical action plans.
• Provide encouragement, emotional support, and appropriate peer-based assistance during periods of emotional or mental health challenges.
• Help clients connect with behavioral health services, community resources, recovery programs, and support systems.
• Facilitate peer support groups, educational sessions, and workshops focused on recovery, wellness, coping skills, and mental health awareness.
• Share appropriate recovery tools, self-care techniques, wellness strategies, and coping skills based on personal experience and approved peer-support practices.
• Encourage self-advocacy and empower individuals to actively participate in decisions regarding their recovery and well-being.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential documentation of client contacts, services provided, goals, and progress.
• Collaborate with clinical professionals, case managers, social service providers, and other members of the care team while maintaining appropriate peer-support boundaries.
• Support a person-centered, recovery-oriented, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive approach to service delivery.
• Recognize situations that require clinical intervention and appropriately refer or elevate concerns to qualified clinical or emergency professionals.
• Maintain confidentiality, professional boundaries, ethical standards, and all applicable organizational and regulatory requirements.

Skills

Peer Support Cert

Lived experience

Communication skills

Relationship building

Confidentiality

Documentation

Team collaboration

Education

Associate or Bachelor's degree

Job description

Houston, United States

We bring a diverse range of skills and experiences to the table, supported by a stellar team of recruiters with extensive recruitment expertise. Our foundation rests on a mission to prioritize the needs of both clients and candidates. Whether dealing with major or minor markets, serving small or large clients, or assisting candidates at all career levels, our dedication remains steadfast from start to finish. At Tobias Solutions, our ethos revolves around the principle that "People are our business: recruitment is the byproduct." We're not merely selling a service; we're committed to building lasting relationships and delivering exceptional results.

Job Description

The Certified Peer Support Specialist provides compassionate, recovery-focused support to individuals experiencing mental health and/or substance use challenges. Using personal lived experience and professional peer-support training, the specialist helps individuals develop coping skills, strengthen emotional wellness, navigate available resources, and work toward personal recovery goals.

This position is centered on empowerment, mutual respect, self-advocacy, and recovery. The Certified Peer Support Specialist works alongside clients—not as a clinical provider—to encourage hope, independence, and overall well-being.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide one-on-one peer support using personal lived experience with mental health and/or substance use recovery.
• Assist individuals in identifying personal recovery, wellness, and stability goals and developing practical action plans.
• Provide encouragement, emotional support, and appropriate peer-based assistance during periods of emotional or mental health challenges.
• Help clients connect with behavioral health services, community resources, recovery programs, and support systems.
• Facilitate peer support groups, educational sessions, and workshops focused on recovery, wellness, coping skills, and mental health awareness.
• Share appropriate recovery tools, self-care techniques, wellness strategies, and coping skills based on personal experience and approved peer-support practices.
• Encourage self-advocacy and empower individuals to actively participate in decisions regarding their recovery and well-being.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential documentation of client contacts, services provided, goals, and progress.
• Collaborate with clinical professionals, case managers, social service providers, and other members of the care team while maintaining appropriate peer-support boundaries.
• Support a person-centered, recovery-oriented, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive approach to service delivery.
• Recognize situations that require clinical intervention and appropriately refer or elevate concerns to qualified clinical or emergency professionals.
• Maintain confidentiality, professional boundaries, ethical standards, and all applicable organizational and regulatory requirements.
  

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• Current certification as a Peer Support Specialist recognized by the applicable state, agency, or credentialing organization. Certification is required for this position.
• Personal lived experience with mental health and/or substance use recovery that can be appropriately utilized within a peer-support role.
• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Associate or bachelor's degree in psychology, social work, behavioral health, human services, or a related field is preferred.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to establish trust and build positive, professional relationships with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and appropriate professional boundaries.
• Basic computer skills and ability to complete electronic documentation.
• Ability to work independently while also functioning effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience working in mental health, behavioral health, substance use recovery, community services, or peer support.
• Knowledge of local behavioral health programs, recovery resources, crisis services, housing resources, and community support systems.
• Experience facilitating peer support groups, wellness groups, or educational workshops.
• Training in trauma-informed care, crisis intervention, motivational interviewing, or other relevant peer-support practices.
• Experience working with individuals experiencing behavioral health or substance use challenges.

The Certified Peer Support Specialist may work in a variety of settings, including:

• Behavioral health and mental health facilities
• Community-based programs
• Hospitals and healthcare settings
• Residential or recovery programs
• Client homes or community locations
• Other approved service settings

Some local travel may be required for client meetings, community outreach, appointments, or resource coordination. Flexible scheduling, including evenings, weekends, or holidays, may occasionally be required based on program and client needs.

Core Competencies

• Empathy and active listening
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Nonjudgmental and recovery-oriented approach
• Respect for client choice and self-determination
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries
• Reliability and accountability
• Confidentiality and ethical conduct
• Cultural awareness and sensitivity
• Advocacy and empowerment
• Team collaboration
• Professional documentation
• Commitment to recovery, wellness, and peer support

Certification Requirement: Candidates must maintain an active and valid Peer Support Specialist certification throughout employment and comply with all applicable certification, continuing education, and organizational requirements.