Peer Support Within Clubhouse: A Grounded Theory Study

Peer support facilitates recovery. However, little is known about the role of peer support within the Clubhouse model. This article reports on Clubhouse members’ experiences of peer support and the outcomes they identify from engaging in this phenomenon. Grounded theory guided the study design involving 17 semi-structured interviews conducted with 10 Clubhouse members. Constant comparison and open coding were undertaken to identify underlying concepts within transcripts. A conceptual model of peer support was derived from Clubhouse members’ experience. Four levels of peer support emerged: Social inclusion and belonging; shared achievement through doing; interdependency; and at the deepest level, intimacy. Peer support within Clubhouse is a multi-layered construct in terms of depth and nature of relationships. Clubhouse appears to contribute a unique tier within the layered construct of peer support. This tier is based on the sharing of achievement through working together on shared tasks within the work-ordered day Clubhouse structure.