Rachel Bonnichsen, Outreach Specialist
Hi, my name is Rachel Bonnichsen. I am a peer support specialist, as well as the outreach specialist for Iowa Peer Network. I love my job!
I do what I do for a myriad of reasons. The main reason is to be the person I wish I had when I was struggling. At my lowest point, feeling so completely helpless and hopeless, to have had someone who had been there before offering support would have changed my life.
What do I love about Peer Support?
I am a firm believer that everyone gets to make choices for themselves, so I would say my point of view as a peer support specialist is one that advocates for everyone’s independence. I want to be there for people the way I wish someone would have been there for me.