Personal Recovery Space
Personal Recovery Space is a digital peer support program that offers personalized, confidential support to anyone* aged 14+ who wishes to recover from an eating disorder. In PRS, all of the support takes place in a secure, anonymous forum setting, in which participants can safely share their experiences, struggles, goals, and hopes with a team of trained, compassionate Looking Glass volunteers.
Participants can access their personal forum space 24/7, and their posts will receive an encouraging, supportive message from one of their two volunteer mentors within 48 hours. PRS has been described as “a diary that talks back to you”. The program is provided at no cost and can continue for as many weeks or months as is helpful.
This program differs from our Online Peer Support (OPS) program in that the forum space is available around the clock, rather than at scheduled times. Responses are not in "real time", but they can be more personal and in-depth than in the OPS chats, where support is group-based. While peer support is not therapy, Personal Recovery Space can support participants to remain focused on their recovery. Every individual is different, and the support is personalized based on the often multi-faceted aspects of their eating disorder, where they are in their recovery, and any other treatment or support they are receiving.
Our peer support programs meet you where you are at in your path to recovery, and are intended to provide ongoing support as you navigate the ups and downs along this journey. Many PRS volunteers know first-hand that recovery is possible, and that each individual's struggles are unique. Our support is for the whole person, and not just the eating disorder.
This program is suitable for a wide range of experiences: those getting help for the first time; those currently waitlisted for other treatment; those who wish to augment other forms of treatment; or those who have come a long way in their recovery, but want support with relapse management. Frequent, confidential, pro-recovery encouragement and support from an empathetic person with a deep understanding of what it means to struggle with this disorder can make all the difference in sustaining real recovery.
Here's how just a few Personal Recovery Space participants describe their experience:
"Writing tonight in my forum has helped. I think I’m going to be okay this evening. Thanks for listening."
"I just have no other outlet for these thoughts; no one who understands or wants to hear it. Thank you."
Participants: If you are interested in being matched with a trained volunteer mentor, please sign up here. You will be redirected to our Program Hub and invited to create a profile (fields with * are required in order for us to be able to match you in the program). First, please watch this short video which tells you everything you need to know about logging in and navigating around the Program Hub. Contact us at programs@lookingglassbc.com if you have any questions.
*Please note that all program participants must be medically and psychiatrically stable to participate in PRS.
