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Who We Are: Unique Peerspectives The Employees: Everyone who works at Unique Peerspectives has experienced the mental health system sometime in their life. Diane O. Hi, I'm Diane O'Brien and now have had some experience in the role as the new Program Director at Unique Peerspectives. In the months that I have been in the position, our attendance has doubled creating new and ever-increasing challenges to meet the needs of the peer community. The staff and myself have welcomed the opportunity to address and meet the needs of our peers in creating and developing new ways in which to assist an individual in his/her path of recovery. My personal experience in the mental health system has given me insight into the struggles and issues individuals face and I have gotten to meet many wonderful, creative people in my position. I look forward to the future where the stigma of a mental health issue will be no more than any other challenge that an individual faces in one’s life. Debbie P. My name is Debbie Pillsbury: I'm a Licensed Practical Nurse. I have worked in nursing for over (35) years In 1995 I helped to create Unique Peerspectives while serving on the Mental Health Sub-commitee of Onondaga County. In 1999 I became a Peer Specialist for the State, working at Unique Peerspectives where I provide peer support. I have had over (30) experiences providing peer advocacy and peer support for people who are in the mental health system. I'm a Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner. For over (11) years I have experienced different kinds of natural supports. This has been spiritual healing and Therapeutic healing. I live with my cat Peggy who is (13) and I'm a fanatical cat lover. Ben de la Garza Bassett Hello and welcome to my small corner of the Unique Peerspectives web site. I have been a Peer Specialist at Unique Peerspectives for three years now, and I’ve watched the center expand its reach to include more members and services. It truly is a great place to visit, whether you want to do a support group, get some work done on a computer or just relax. We have nice couches and cozy people. I am a professional musician (everything except the paycheck) in addition to being a Peer Specialist at U.P. I have integrated music at the center. Guitar classes have been offered, and we have a new open mike afternoon that happens every other month. There are some talented artists and musicians around here. People support and encourage each other. I have facilitated hundreds of support groups since I started working in Human Services. Most people like the groups. If they don’t, then they don’t have to come (but it hurts my feelings). Please drop by the center some time (but call first if you’ve never been here before!). I look forward to meeting you. Adios Pilot T. I have been a member at Unique Peerspectives since February of 2003, and became a staff person at the end of July 2005. I have been working with and on computers since before the term, Personal Computer. I have also re-discovered photography as an artistic outlet and a way to speed up my own personal recovery. I am very active on line with two support groups, one of which is a private group which I host and maintain, and another public group, for which I act as administrator. I am also the owner and web designer of a spiritual abuse survivor's resource web site. I collect bald eagle figurines, pictures, and books. I enjoy fishing whenever possible and spend much of my personal time working on my photography projects, both at home on my computer for digital work and at the Syracuse Community dark rooms for my 35 mm work. |
