Who We Are

How We Got Here

GreenTree Peer Support Program, commonly called GreenTree Peer Center, began with a handful of folks in July 2012. We had no money, and only one person, Laurie Coker (GreenTree’s Founder) facilitated the day to day hosting of what was first just a safe social space for connecting with others who had similar experiences.

The GreenTree Church allowed us to use its wonderful space at no cost because, while we were not actually affiliated with the church, GreenTree’s Pastor, Tim Gross, believed in what we wanted to do because he was already serving many such individuals spiritually.  Without the graciousness of Pastor Tim and his church, we would simply not have had a Peer Center!

Through time, we were able to hire more peer staff and to introduce self-help and wellness education groups. As we learned more about our peer participants, we found ourselves expanding our ability to link people to the many valuable resources available but which individuals are not likely to seek on their own. Our community people-serving systems are complicated!  

We realized from our Peer Center visitors that many had experienced going to local hospitals in distress, yet would often be released within a few hours with no real direction of how to be helped. (They do not know where else to go–so go to our Emergency Departments!) After conversations with clinicians at our hospitals, we piloted our Refuge Crisis Support program, which we are soon expanding to more beds.

We have also developed a community space where people considering substance use recovery can come for support or direct linkage to clinical resources if they choose this. We are the only facilitator of regular public Smart Recovery groups in our community.

You can look at our website to learn about other initiatives developing now. We hope you will agree that GreenTree is definitely focused on individual growth, resiliency, and recovery, but we are also focused on collaborating to develop community solutions! 

Peer to peer support is so important to individual growth and well-being. It is not magic–it is very sensible!  Our Peer Team at GreenTree serve as group teachers and facilitators and assist others to connect with necessary resources. But mainly, they “hold space” for others who are struggling–just calmly being with them. They are amazing listeners, and people often think through critical moments aloud in the safe presence of a peer supporter, which is both calming and empowering! We also value self-directed living and do not force people to participate or to take steps they have not expressed their own desire to do.

So welcome to our website. Come visit us at GreenTree. We are a community-supported organization and we are gradually accomplishing our vision, which is to help our local community become one that supports the soul validation, recovery, and health for the people of Forsyth County.

Our Guiding Principles