Peer Into Recovery

Hosted by Virginia Peer Recovery Specialist Network

Business Health Fitness EducationInterviews guests

Website RSS feed

Episodes

Latest episode

Jun 2025

Language

EN-US

About the show

A podcast for Peer Support Professionals

Listen to episodes

31 recent

June 5, 202547 min

Episode 31: DBHDS Office of Recovery Services Closure with Cheryl DeHaven

Podcast DBHDS Office of Recovery Services Closure with Cheryl DeHaven About the Episode Date: June 5, 2025 Episode 31: DBHDS Office of Recovery Services Closure with Cheryl DeHaven Summary In this episode, Cheryl DeHaven of Wonderous Ways Coaching & Training joins us to discuss the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services' plans to close the Office of Recovery Services. We discuss the history of the office, what may be at risk and what its loss might mean for the peer recovery workforce. As a longtime peer advocate, Cheryl shares resources for advocacy opportunities and other ways to stay informed as this story develops. Resources Protect Virginia’s Office of Recovery Services (ORS) Peer Support Act of 2025 - Section 4 Overview DBHDS Community Services Division Reorganization Update on the DBHDS Community Services Division Realignment Virginia Recovery Advocacy Project Email Campaign: https://actionnetwork.org/campaigns/help-save-the-commonwealths-office-of-recovery-services Sign and share the petition: https://chng.it/NDnN9NnNG7 DBHDS Leadership Roundtable: https://youtu.be/pfVvp-FDBcw Transcript Read the transcript for this episode. Cheryl DeHaven, BS, ACC, CPRS, is the owner and founder of WonderousWays, LLC. Cheryl has over 20 years of experience as a trainer working with peers in the mental health recovery field, 10 years of experience as a peer support trainer, and 5 years of experience as a DBHDS Peer Recovery Specialist Trainer. This podcast episode reflects her personal and professional observations as someone working in the field, not as a representative of any state body.

January 19, 202456 min

Episode 30: Problem Gambling Peer Support with Donald McCourtney

Podcast Problem Gambling Peer Support with Don McCourtney About the Episode Date: January 19, 2024 Episode 30: Problem Gambling Peer Support with Don McCourtney Summary Check out our latest podcast episode featuring Don McCourtney, Lead Problem Gambling Coordinator with the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services Office of Recovery Services, as he shares his experience with supporting others on their journey in recovery from gambling addiction. Transcript Read a transcript of this episode. Don McCourtney holds a PhD in psychology from the University of Nebraska and is a Registered Peer Recovery Specialist, a Certified Older Adult Peer Specialist, and a Certified Problem Gambling Counselor. He is the Lead Problem Gambling Coordinator with the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services Office of Recovery Services.

November 1, 202336 min

Episode 29: Life Coaching with Veronica Castro-Albano

Podcast Life Coaching with Veronica Castro-Albano About the Episode Date: November 1, 2023 Episode 29: Life Coaching with Veronica Castro-Albano Summary Check out our latest podcast episode featuring Veronica Castro-Albano as she shares her story of becoming a PRS and a Certified Life Coach. Veronica discusses utilizing the strengths of both approaches without diluting their individual qualities. Transcript Read a transcript of this episode. Veronica Castro-Albano is a Peer Recovery Specialist as well as a Certified Life Coach. She also volunteered with NAMI for several years. She has written three books about being a peer recovery specialist and also from a Life Coach perspective as well. Born in Argentina, Veronica is a world traveler who has lived in England, New York, New Jersey and now Virginia with her husband and children. An encourager by nature, her passion is to help women become who they truly are inside and who they want to be on the outside.

August 30, 202337 min

Episode 28: Racial Identity as a Peer Recovery Specialist with Sarah McFarland

Podcast Racial Identity as a Peer Recovery Specialistwith Sarah McFarland About the Episode Date: August 30, 2023 Episode 28: Racial Identity as a Peer Recovery Specialist with Sarah McFarland Summary Our new podcast episode features Sarah McFarland, R-PRS, discussing her racial identity and the trials and tribulations and everyday challenges she faces as a BIPOC in her role as a registered peer recovery specialist. Transcript Read a transcript of this episode. Sarah is a Certified Trauma Professional, Certified Personal Medication Coach, Registered Peer Recovery Specialist and Resilience Practitioner. Her professional experience includes CASA volunteer, Advocate for Sexual Trauma Services and Domestic Violence Prevention. She devotes much of her time to advocate for survivors of childhood abuse and neglect. Sarah is an active member, advocate and facilitator and former board member for NAMI, The National Alliance on Mental Illness.

August 16, 202335 min

Episode 27: Peer-Run Centers with Heather Pate

Podcast Peer-Run Centerswith Heather Pate About the Episode Date: August 16, 2023 Episode 27: Peer-Run Centers with Heather Pate Summary In this brand new episode with Heather Pate, R-PRS, we discuss the intersection of being a peer who serves as a Director of Operations at a peer-run day center. We discuss the daily challenges of such a role that includes both a vision-casting perspective as well as an implementation, or operational, perspective. Transcript Read the transcript for this episode. Heather Pate is the Director of Operations at Robin’s Hope. She is a Certified Older Adult Peer Support Trainer. She is also certified to work as a trainer with the LGBTQIA+ community. She holds certifications as a WRAP trainer, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice-involved trainer, Trauma-informed Care trainer, Peer Activated Resilience trainer as well as a State trainer of the DBHDS 72-hour PRS training.

August 2, 202334 min

Episode 26: Peer-Run Warm Lines with Erica Bullock

Podcast Peer-Run Warm Lineswith Erica Bullock About the Episode Date: August 2, 2023 Episode 26: Peer-Run Warm Lines with Erica Bullock Summary Our brand new episode with Erica Bullock, R-PRS, is one that you will love! In this episode, we take a peek behind the curtain of her work as a Warm Line Manager to understand what it takes to do such an important job for peers in need of support. She discusses the intricacies of wearing multiple management hats while keeping the focus of the Warm Line as a welcoming and safe space for the peers who call in for support. Transcript Read the transcript for this episode. Erica Bullock is the Warm Line Manager for the MHAV Warm Line. She has held the R-PRS designation since 2016 and also has a National MHA Certification since 2017. In addition, Erica holds a Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Merchandising from VCU as well as an MBA from University of Phoenix.

July 12, 202335 min

Episode 25: Older Adult Peer Support with Bently Wood

Podcast Older Adult Peer Supportwith Bently Wood About the Episode Date: July 12, 2023 Episode 25: Older Adult Peer Support with Bently Wood Summary Our brand new episode with Bently Wood is one you don't want to miss! We discuss his work as a Certified Older Adult Peer Specialist as well as a Certified Older Adult Peer Specialist Faciliator for Certification. He illuminates the challenges and triumphs of working with Older Adult Peers and highlights the joy of his work with this important demographic of often over-looked peers inviting others to consider being apart of this unique type of peer support.ation. Transcript Read a transcript of this episode. Bently Wood is a Lead Regional Peer Recovery Specialist Coordinator with Richmond Behavioral Health Authority, supporting and developing the peer workforce in Virginia’s DBHDS Region 4. He has lectured on substance use and mental health challenges, stigma, recovery language, and peer support. He is a trainer for peer recovery specialists in Ethics, Leadership, Certified Personal Medicine, emotional CPR, Action Planning for Prevention and Recovery (APPR), Supporting the LGBTQIA+ community, and the 72-hour Peer Recovery Specialist training curriculum required to become a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist in Virginia. Drawing on his personal journey from substance use and mental health challenges into recovery, he works as an advocate for social justice in behavioral health, the LGBT community, while serving as the President of Vocal Virginia.

June 14, 202335 min

Episode 24: Yoga, Meditation and Ayurveda with Billie Carroll

Podcast Yoga, Meditation and Ayurveda with Billie Carroll About the Episode Date: June 14, 2023 Episode 24: Yoga, Meditation and Ayurveda with Billie Carroll Summary Have a listen to our latest episode with Billie Carroll, discuss yoga, meditation and Ayurveda healing modalities. She is a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, Certified Trauma/Mental Health/Addiction Ayurvedic Specialist and Certified Resiliency and Recovery Yoga Instructor. Transcript Read the transcript for this episode. Billie Carroll is the CEO of the HARRT Center located in Richmond, Virginia. She is a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, Certified Trauma/Mental Health/Addiction Ayurvedic Specialist, Certified Resiliency and Recovery Yoga Instructor, Certified Yoga and Neuroscience Instructor, Certified Yoga for Eating Disorders Instructor, Body Positive Ambassador, and a Yoga and Body Image Coalition Partner.

May 31, 202331 min

Episode 23: Surviving Suicide with Lauren Ball

Podcast Surviving Suicide with Lauren Ball About the Episode Date: May 31, 2023 Episode 23: Surviving Suicide with Lauren Ball Summary Have a listen to our latest episode with Lauren Ball, a Virginia Registered Peer Recovery Specialist, share her experience, strength and hope around the issue of suicide and how she bring help, hope and healing to peers who struggle with similar issues in her local community. Please note: The drop in support groups mentioned are for those seeking recovery from addiction and co-occurring addiction and mental health. *Trigger Warning* As May comes to a close and the official observance of Mental Health Month, we felt this is an important topic to discuss to bring support and help remove stigma. This podcast does not go into detail about suicidal thoughts etc. Rather, it is a discussion of how to overcome such struggles. Still, please use caution if this subject matter may be triggering for you. As always, do NOT hesitate to reach out for help. You can always call or text the number 988 for safe, non-judgmental, anonymous and confidential support 24/7/365. Transcript Read a transcript of this episode. Lauren Ball, Registered Peer Recovery Specialist, is the Outreach Substance Use Peer Recovery Specialist at the Rappahannock Area Community Service Board. In addition, she is a WRAP Facilitator as well as a Nami Connections Group Facilitator.

May 17, 202320 min

Episode 22: Equine Specialist with Elizabeth Sluder

Podcast Equine Specialist with Elizabeth Sluder About the Episode Date: May 17, 2023 Episode 22: Equine Specialist with Elizabeth Sluder Summary Have a listen to our latest episode with Elizabeth Sluder, a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist and Equine Specialist in mental health, shares her skills in this healing modality with other peers in her local community. Transcript Read a transcript of this episode. Elizabeth Sluder holds a Bachelors of Applied Science from East Tennessee University in Speech and Leadership Communication as well as a Masters of Education from The George Washington University as an Education Transition Specialist. She works as the Peer Resource Coordinator at Warsaw Peer Recovery Center in Warsaw, Virginia that is connected to the Northern Neck Middle Peninsula Community Service Board.