Rich V.
State Certified Peer Supporter · Austin, TX
Hi, I'm Rich. I'm in recovery, and I bring a peer support approach grounded in lived experience — I also draw on rhythm and drumming as one of my own personal tools, but our conversations will be centered on you and what helps you. I'm here to listen without judgment.
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About Rich
I've spent 30 years leading and mentoring people in professional settings, always with a "power with" approach rather than "power over." I've also been drumming for over 10 years, and it's become a real tool for me, something I use for grounding and connection. People who know me tend to say I stay steady and empathetic even in hard interpersonal moments, and that's what I want to bring here. My own recovery is a big part of why I'm doing this work. I'm a Texas-certified Recovery Support Peer Specialist (RSPS) and Mental Health Peer Specialist (MHPS), and I bring in HealthRhythms group and individual drumming when it fits. Over the past year I've also trained through Crisis Text Line to build on that. At the end of the day, I believe in walking alongside people, not directing from above. I'm here to listen first.
My Recovery Story
I've been in recovery for a year. DBT group therapy and other therapy has been a part of my recovery. I have completed the AA steps and continue to work the program while also offering myself as a sponsor. I have a strong community at my local Puerto Rican Cultural Center and my "day job" is stable and fulfilling as a software engineer for a platform dedicated to helping others (findhelp).
My Motivation To Help
My own recovery work showed me how much it matters to be heard by someone who is personally invested in the nuances of recovery. That experience led me to get certified as a Recovery Support Peer Specialist and Mental Health Peer Specialist. Alongside that training, I've also developed my own personal practice using rhythm and drumming as a grounding tool — though that's simply one part of how I personally cope, not something I expect or require from anyone I support. What matters most to me is being present with someone in their hard moments without trying to fix them. I want to be that person for someone else.
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