Peer Counseling and Independent Living Skills Training, Mental Illness

Valley Associates for Independent Living, Inc. offers peer "counselors" to assist individuals with mental illness to develop and achieve independence and self-reliance. Through counseling, sharing of experiences in coping with the effects of disability, participants learn about the needs and resources to achieve their goals. Peer counseling can be on an individual basis, as well as group support. Also provides encouragement and information about community resources, sharing insights and perspectives from personal experience; consumers learn how to be self-advocate.



Independent Living Skills: Persons with mental illness wanting to live independently can access training in any skill necessary to live in the community. Individual and group training is provided in several categories including: personal assistant management, building self-esteem, money management, navigating ones environment, meal preparation and grocery shopping, household maintenance, leisure and recreation. All programs are designed to meet individual needs.