Ali Young
Why are you nominating this individual?
"This nomination recognizes a Peer Recovery Support Worker at Greater Nashua Mental Health who consistently demonstrates the transformative impact of lived experience in recovery support. Her work reflects the core values of peer services—building trust through authenticity, reducing stigma through presence, and helping individuals believe that recovery is possible and sustainable.
She is regularly present with Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) groups, where her participation goes beyond attendance. She engages in a way that normalizes vulnerability and strengthens hope in the room. Clients often respond to her presence as someone who “gets it,” which helps reduce shame and increases openness to treatment.
Drawing on her own recovery experience, Ali offers perspective that resonates deeply with clients. When individuals express frustration about setbacks or triggers, she responds with empathy and practical reflection from her own journey, helping shift conversations from discouragement to renewed motivation. Her ability to translate lived experience into encouragement creates a powerful sense of connection and trust.
Her approach is highly person-centered. She meets clients where they are and helps them identify meaningful, achievable recovery goals—whether that involves reconnecting with family, stabilizing housing, maintaining treatment engagement, or building daily structure. She supports individuals in recognizing their recovery capital, including strengths, supports, and community resources they may not initially see in themselves.
She also plays a key role in linking clients to community-based supports such as peer groups, recovery activities, and recovery-friendly services. In some cases, she provides outreach beyond the clinical setting to ensure individuals remain connected during periods of disengagement or instability.
In collaboration with clinicians and care teams, she contributes valuable insight that enhances treatment planning. She helps bridge clinical perspectives with real-world lived experience, ensuring that care remains grounded, practical, and responsive to client needs. Her input strengthens communication and coordination across disciplines.
What distinguishes her most is the way she models recovery through consistent presence and authenticity. She does not position herself as above the individuals she supports, but alongside them. Clients frequently describe her as someone who restores hope simply by showing up and listening without judgment.
Through compassion, honesty, and steady engagement, she strengthens both individual recovery journeys and the broader culture of care. Her work embodies the essence of peer support—reducing isolation, restoring belief in change, and helping individuals build meaningful lives in recovery."
Biography:
A Peer Recovery Support Worker at Greater Nashua Mental Health provides recovery-focused support to individuals experiencing mental health and/or substance use disorders by using their own lived recovery experience to inspire hope, engagement, and connection to services.
This role is part of a multidisciplinary clinical team and is grounded in the belief that recovery is possible for everyone.
Key Responsibilities
Provide peer-to-peer coaching, encouragement, and recovery support to individuals in treatment or recovery
Use lived experience to build trust, engagement, and hope for clients
Support clients in developing personal recovery goals and recovery capital (skills, supports, community connections)
Assist clients in accessing community resources, support groups, and recovery activities
Provide support in individual and group settings, including outreach in community or home environments
Help clients strengthen self-advocacy, self-management, and coping skills
Serve as a role model of recovery, demonstrating that change and wellness are possible
Collaborate with therapists, case managers, nurses, and other clinical staff to support treatment goals
Participate in team meetings, documentation, and care coordination
Core Purpose of the Role
Promote hope, recovery, and empowerment
Help individuals transition from crisis or treatment into sustainable recovery
Reduce isolation and increase connection to supportive community systems