For Peer Support Specialists ·
What you'll accomplish
Instead of re-explaining your context every session, you'll have Claude configured as a persistent practice assistant that already knows your role, location, documentation standards, and the population you serve. Claude's Projects feature keeps it loaded so you can jump straight to drafting a note, planning a group session, or researching a resource without setup overhead.
What you'll need
Go to claude.ai and click Sign up. Create an account with your work email. Verify your email. You'll land on the Claude conversation interface with a text input box at the bottom.
What you should see: A clean interface. The free tier gives you access to Claude {{tool:Claude.model:general}} with daily usage limits.
If you're using the free tier, start each conversation with a brief context message. Save this in a notes app to paste at the start of each session:
"I'm a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist in [city, state] working with adults in recovery from [substance/s]. I work at a [type of organization]. My typical documentation includes: phone check-ins, field visits, group session notes, and recovery plan updates. Please help me with documentation, group session planning, resource research, and client communications. Always remind me to add client-specific details. Don't include any placeholder PHI in your outputs."
This takes 20 seconds to paste and gives Claude your full context for the session.
If you have Claude Pro, click Projects in the left sidebar → New Project. Name it "Peer Support Practice."
Click Edit instructions and paste this customized template:
I am a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) in [City, State] working with adults
in recovery from [substances, e.g., opioids and alcohol]. I work at [agency type,
e.g., a community behavioral health agency].
My caseload: approximately [number] active clients in various stages of recovery.
My typical contacts: individual phone check-ins, field visits, appointment accompaniment,
and [number] peer support groups per week.
Documentation I need help with:
- Progress notes (phone check-in, field visit, group session, appointment accomp.)
- Recovery plan goals (SMART format)
- Referral letters to [common referral types in your area]
- Incident reports
- Medicaid billing documentation for [your state]'s peer support services
My geographic area: [city/county, state] — I know these local resources well and can
add specifics; help me structure the search when I don't know where to start.
IMPORTANT: Never include patient names, dates of birth, or specific identifying
information in any documentation templates. Always use [Client Name] and [Date] as
placeholders. I will add real client information after reviewing your output.
Start a new conversation (in your Project if using Pro, or with your context message pasted if free tier). Try this first task:
"Create a progress note template for a 20-minute phone check-in with a client in early recovery who is working on housing stability. Include a section for Medicaid billing documentation."
What you should see: A structured, comprehensive progress note template tailored to peer support documentation, without any actual PHI.
Over the next two weeks, save the prompts that work best for you. Keep a simple list in a notes app:
These become your reusable prompt templates.
Progress note: "Create a [type] progress note template. Service code: [blank for me to fill in]. All client-specific fields as [brackets]."
Recovery plan goals: "Write 3 SMART goals for a person at [stage] of recovery working on [focus area]. Use peer support language."
Group session plan: "Create a [length]-minute group session plan on [topic] for [population] in recovery."
Re-engagement message: "Write a warm re-engagement voicemail for a client who hasn't responded in [time]. Situation: [brief context]."
Referral letter: "Write a strengths-based referral letter to a [program type] for a client who [key strengths]. Use [Client Name] as placeholder."
Resource research: "I'm looking for [type of resource] in [city, state] for someone who [key constraints]. What types of programs should I search for?"