The role of peer specialists has become increasingly important in modern mental health care, yet questions about their recognition and professional identity persist. While many bring years of lived experience and extensive training, peer specialists are often treated as second-class when compared with traditional counsellors. This inequality is reflected in lower salaries, limited career progression, and the frequent denial of professional titles that more accurately capture the scope of their work.
The issue of terminology has long created division. At various times, the field has embraced “peer specialist”, “peer supporter”, “peer support specialist”, and even “peer counsellor”. Each term reflects attempts to define the profession, yet the constant shifting conveys uncertainty rather than unity. Such inconsistency undermines credibility and reinforces the idea that peer specialists are not yet viewed as full professionals.
Part of the resistance appears rooted in the protection of status within counselling and therapy professions. The title “counsellor” has long been guarded, reserved for those within established frameworks of training and licensing. Yet peer specialists often use the very same therapeutic approaches. Methods such as client-centred therapy and motivational interviewing are widely practised across disciplines, and peer specialists adapt these frameworks through the lens of lived experience. This combination of academic knowledge and personal insight has the potential to enrich mental health support in ways that traditional models alone cannot achieve.
Despite these contributions, the profession struggles for recognition. While some textbooks and training manuals continue to use the phrase “peer counselling”, others have firmly settled on “peer specialist”. The inconsistency not only confuses the public but also weakens the professional identity of those working in the field. If lawyers, camp counsellors, and countless other professionals can rightfully use the title “counsellor”, it seems contradictory to deny peer specialists a similar standing.
The future of this profession depends on greater clarity and unity. A consistent title, widely adopted across agencies, training programmes, and academic institutions, would strengthen credibility and open doors to further development. National bodies and policymakers should acknowledge peer specialists as a distinct and valuable profession, with appropriate standards, training, and remuneration. Universities could one day offer degrees in peer support, creating an academic foundation for a recognised and sustainable career path.
Whatever title ultimately prevails, the essence of the work remains the same. Peer specialists provide critical support, blending evidence-based practices with empathy born of experience. They offer perspectives that challenge traditional hierarchies and demonstrate that mental health care benefits from diverse approaches. Recognition of this contribution is long overdue, and the time has come to grant peer specialists the respect, stability, and legitimacy they deserve.
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Jordan Ellis is a writer focusing on mental health policy and professional identity in support services. Their work examines emerging roles in care and the challenges of recognition within the field.