Ashley Smith

And in that program, I learned more about my diagnosis, especially through the program WRAP, the Wellness Recovery Action Plan by Mary Ellen Copeland. And ever since then, I've been inspired to be a mentor, to be a peer counselor. And that's what I'm doing today when I'm not writing books, when I'm not taking care of my family and my pets.

I'm actually a peer counselor called a certified peer specialist here in Georgia. And what that means is the main criteria to be a CPS is to have a diagnosis. have a mental health diagnosis. I've been at CPS since 2012, even though I've been working with NAMI since 2009. I was doing work before I was actually doing the work.

I'm actually a peer counselor called a certified peer specialist here in Georgia. And what that means is the main criteria to be a CPS is to have a diagnosis. have a mental health diagnosis. I've been at CPS since 2012, even though I've been working with NAMI since 2009. I was doing work before I was actually doing the work.

I'm actually a peer counselor called a certified peer specialist here in Georgia. And what that means is the main criteria to be a CPS is to have a diagnosis. have a mental health diagnosis. I've been at CPS since 2012, even though I've been working with NAMI since 2009. I was doing work before I was actually doing the work.

And so I support people and their goals, going back to work, going back to going into group home, taking care of their families, whatever it is that they're working on, just get on medication. And so I really love what I do. Back in grade school, I wanted to be an actress, but then when I graduated, I wanted to be a social worker.

And so I support people and their goals, going back to work, going back to going into group home, taking care of their families, whatever it is that they're working on, just get on medication. And so I really love what I do. Back in grade school, I wanted to be an actress, but then when I graduated, I wanted to be a social worker.

And so I support people and their goals, going back to work, going back to going into group home, taking care of their families, whatever it is that they're working on, just get on medication. And so I really love what I do. Back in grade school, I wanted to be an actress, but then when I graduated, I wanted to be a social worker.

And so this is another form of social work, being a CPS, a certified peer specialist.

And so this is another form of social work, being a CPS, a certified peer specialist.

And so this is another form of social work, being a CPS, a certified peer specialist.

I think that being a CPS or doing any type of work, it's important to build rapport with the individuals, whoever you're working with. And so I love talking to people. I love supporting people. And so just sharing my story and them knowing that, hey, I have a diagnosis similar to theirs or exactly like theirs, that gives them a lot of hope.

I think that being a CPS or doing any type of work, it's important to build rapport with the individuals, whoever you're working with. And so I love talking to people. I love supporting people. And so just sharing my story and them knowing that, hey, I have a diagnosis similar to theirs or exactly like theirs, that gives them a lot of hope.

I think that being a CPS or doing any type of work, it's important to build rapport with the individuals, whoever you're working with. And so I love talking to people. I love supporting people. And so just sharing my story and them knowing that, hey, I have a diagnosis similar to theirs or exactly like theirs, that gives them a lot of hope.

And I've actually seen firsthand how my blog books, sharing my story vocally through my blog has helped other people and empowered them to be authors. to share their memoir or to share their blog stories.

And I've actually seen firsthand how my blog books, sharing my story vocally through my blog has helped other people and empowered them to be authors. to share their memoir or to share their blog stories.

And I've actually seen firsthand how my blog books, sharing my story vocally through my blog has helped other people and empowered them to be authors. to share their memoir or to share their blog stories.

Yes, yes. I've worked with quite a few individuals and two become at the forefront where the communication was really soft and really hard in the early on because it was an icebreaker. It takes time to develop these relationships. And so now that in the beginning, this individual wasn't talking as much or they'll give short, brief answers or responses.

Yes, yes. I've worked with quite a few individuals and two become at the forefront where the communication was really soft and really hard in the early on because it was an icebreaker. It takes time to develop these relationships. And so now that in the beginning, this individual wasn't talking as much or they'll give short, brief answers or responses.

Yes, yes. I've worked with quite a few individuals and two become at the forefront where the communication was really soft and really hard in the early on because it was an icebreaker. It takes time to develop these relationships. And so now that in the beginning, this individual wasn't talking as much or they'll give short, brief answers or responses.

Now their face lights up and now they're looking forward to our sessions and the opening up about different things I would never thought was going on or just noticed because it's just more vocal now. And so that has been really empowering and motivating for me to continue doing this work.