Healing is more than a process, it's a journey. And like any journey, it's easier to take the next step when someone is walking beside you. 

That's where the Peer Support Specialist comes in. 

They are more than just a member of our team. They're survivors themselves. Their lived experience and openness help bridge the gap between isolation and connection, fear and trust, hopelessness and hope. 

We sat down with Demetis Chatman, Supportive Services Manager at Safe Alliance, and Aprhyl Hood, Certified Peer Support Specialist, to understand just how powerful this role can be in a survivor's healing journey. 

"Meeting Survivors Where They Are" 

Demetis oversees several areas at Safe Alliance: victim advocacy, housing, and peer support. But her passion for peer support is unmistakable. 

"I spend a lot of time developing our peer support program and making sure our groups are right for the people we serve," she says. "We're not here to just have groups for the sake of having groups, we're here to be meaningful, supportive, and intentional." 

For Demetis, one of the most important goals is to empower survivors to self-determine their own path, not to push them toward someone else's idea of what healing should look like. 

"The Peer Support Specialist helps survivors get to where they want to be," she explains. "It's about walking alongside them. Not leading, not pulling, just being there." 

She recalls a story of a mother in shelter struggling to maintain her living space. Instead of judging her or writing her off, the Peer Support Specialist stepped in and showed her how to organize and clean her home. 

"They got their hands dirty. Literally," Demetis says. "That's what peer support is. It's not about telling people what to do. It's about showing up without judgment and saying, 'Let's do this together.'" 

"I've Been Where You Are. And I'm Still Here" 

Aprhyl joined Safe Alliance in early 2024, but she's been working in peer support since 2020. Her lived experience includes recovery from substance abuse, and she's been drug-free for over eight years. 

"I'm here to show survivors that even though we've been through hard things, we can overcome them," Aprhyl shares. "We can conquer them." 

One of the most powerful tools she uses in her work is her story. Carefully and thoughtfully shared, her experience becomes a mirror, reflecting not just pain, but also possibility. 

"I had a guest come up to me and say, 'Remember that talk we had?' She told me she took my advice and now she has her own place. She's moving forward in her life and in her faith," Aprhyl says. "Those are the moments I carry with me." 

She acknowledges that not everyone is ready to make a change, and that's okay. "I can't do the work for them," she says. "But I can be there. I can believe in them until they're ready to believe in themselves."  

The connection between survivor and peer support specialist creates a level of trust that often opens doors to deeper healing. It can also enhance collaboration across the Safe Alliance team. 

"Sometimes survivors disclose things to Peer Support that they don't feel comfortable sharing with their advocate or counselor," Demetis says. "And that's okay. We work together. Peer Support helps us better understand what survivors might be struggling with so we can support them more effectively." 

One key distinction Peer Support Specialists make is that they don't rescue, they empower. 

Demetis remembers a young mother who needed help navigating the housing process. "We could have done the paperwork for her, but instead, our Peer Support Specialist walked her through it, step by step. She explained the documents and the process. And that mom? She did it herself. She was empowered. Now she knows the process for the future" 

This kind of guidance creates lasting change. As Demetis puts it, "Peer support isn't about checking off boxes. It's about real-life transformation. It's about believing someone into believing in themselves." 

At Safe Alliance's Clyde and Ethel Dickson Domestic Violence Shelter, Peer Support Specialists provide on-the-ground, in-the-moment support. They welcome new residents, facilitate weekly groups, and are always available for one-on-one conversations. Their presence alone can be healing. 

"When a survivor walks in and meets someone who says, 'I've been through what you've been through', it's like a light turns on," says Aprhyl. "They don't feel alone anymore." 

At Safe Alliance, we believe in walking beside survivors, not ahead of them. Peer Support Specialists are proof that healing is possible and that no one has to make the journey alone. 

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. 

Visit safealliance.org or call our 24/7 Greater Charlotte Hope Line at 980.771.4673.