Resources

By: Matt P – Peer Support Volunteer in Hand in Hand Program

I’ve witnessed people close to me struggle with eating disorders and find recovery. I feel a deep awe for those that recover, those who are recovering, and those who have taken their first steps in recovery. I am in awe of those who are uncertain about the prospect of recovery and those still facing their struggles but are here. Suffering alone is profoundly difficult, and I am in awe of the strength it takes to confront the complex emotions of an eating disorder. I have a profound belief that recovery is possible for everyone.

Discovering Hand in Hand

I wanted to find a way to help others in their recovery journey. That’s when I discovered the Looking Glass and their Hand in Hand program. After researching their work, I applied, completed the interview process, and finished my training. Each new session feels like a fresh start. When I think about who I was before volunteering with Hand in Hand and who I am now, I see two different people.

We live in an age where more and more, people are questioning “do we matter?” For an hour I can guarantee someone that they matter, their words matter, their feelings matter, their dreams matter. This gift from Looking Glass – the ability to show someone their worth – fills me with gratitude.

The Power of Connection

The power of genuine human connection cannot be overstated. We don’t aim for perfection, which is both attractive but impossible. Instead, we learn from our mistakes. We all have limitations, and yet it is also true that the limits we believe we have can melt away when given the right kind of space — a space free of shame that allows us to thrive, to play, to love. Hand in Hand offers such a space. Here, I work to provide support while helping the person I’m matched with discover their inner resources.

Hand in Hand builds real connections between people. We maintain clear boundaries while exploring possibilities for the future. These conversations can bring up anxiety, but they’re usually filled with hope. Meeting face-to-face helps us move beyond the limits of text messages. Speaking our thoughts to someone who truly listens helps us understand ourselves better. The program gives us time to work at our own pace, without rushing. We simply show up each week, moving steadily toward better health.

A Journey of Mutual Growth

The long-term nature of Hand in Hand allows for deep growth. I’ve watched people find their strength by opening up about their struggles. This often helps reduce the shame of facing challenges alone. I’ve seen people overcome their eating disorders and build healthier relationships with themselves. It’s an honour to be part of their journey. Since there’s no age limit, people can take the time they need to recover, with support through both progress and setbacks.

Food should nourish us, but it can become tangled with our self-worth. Society’s messages about bodies and eating make this even harder. In our sessions, we work to untangle these knots. We help reveal the true self that exists beyond the eating disorder and past trauma. We make space for taking full, deep breaths again.

The program changes me too. I’ve become better at listening and responding to others. I’m more aware of my own presence and reactions. Spending time with people week after week, sharing their challenges and victories, has taught me much about our relationships with our bodies and ourselves. We provide a space to choose a new way of living in the world, one that is possible but not yet realized. Even when change feels far away, we help make it feel more possible.

Moving Forward Together

My initial awe for people in recovery has grown into something deeper. What started as admiration has become a more grounded understanding: everyone involved in these genuine human connections grows and changes. Each session reminds me that we bridge the gap between suffering and healing not through expertise, but through presence. Not through perfection, but through being real. Not through having all the answers, but by staying present with the questions. In this space, we all matter – our struggles, our hopes, our humanity – and in this mattering, we find our way forward together.

Join Us in Making a Difference

If Matt’s story resonated with or inspired you, we invite you to consider joining the Looking Glass community as a volunteer with one of our three Peer Support programs. By offering your time and presence, you can help create a space for healing and connection for those on their recovery journey.

To learn more about how to get involved as a Peer Support volunteer, visit our Volunteer Page.