Matthew Evangelisti

Peer Support Coach
Connecticut
USA

Language Spoken:

Fluent in English. 

 

Bio and RelevantTraining

My educational pursuits have led me out of the traditional education setting.

During the late 80’s I found recovery from what we now refer to as “substance use disorder.” I have been an active member of the largest peer support recovery program since that time. The concepts of connectedness, or “You are not alone” are foundational to my perception of life. I have not as yet “graduated.”

This profound experience began to teach me of the value of peer support and the gift of service, along with a knowing of how I am connected to, The Greater.

In 2009 I fulfilled the requirements to become a Certified Nurse’s Aide (CNA), and have been doing that work privately, primarily in a hospice care capacity.

In 2013 I completed the UMass Medical School course, Mindful Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and chose to study Buddhism with The Empty Sky Sangha in Sharon, CT and then to sit in meditation with a local group from Thich Nhat Han’s Order of Interbeing. I have attended numerous silent retreats (up to 7day) with Empty Sky Sangha, Insight Meditation Society and Barre Center for Buddhist Studies.

In 2016 I became ordained as a Minister of the UniversalLife Church.

In 2023 I participated in and completed training in The Grief Recovery Method, received certification from the University of Vermont as an End-of-Life Doula and completed the Hartford HealthCare Hospice Volunteering training.

My curiosity and desire to more deeply understand interconnectedness led me to attend trainings with Gender Equity and Reconciliation International (2022/23), which in turn led me to Grof LegacyTraining (2023) and Dreamshadow Group, Inc. (2024)/25). All which use Stan Grof’s “holotropic” process for “moving to wholeness.” These groups have the commonality of supporting personal growth/helping others and use peer support as the basis of their work.

In 2026, I have been using my trainings with Intentional Peer Support, Wildflower Alliance, Roots Up and Advocacy Unlimited(2024-26) assisting folks having more  varied non-ordinary experiences. I have been predominantly employed as a certified peer support group facilitator with the Hearing Voices Network (HVN) and also have been participant in the Alternatives to Suicide (Alt2Su) peer support network.

This has been followed up with my certification as aSpiritual Emergence Coach from the Integrative Mental Health University.

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Academic Qualifications

I hold a General Equivalency Degree, though I enteredOnondaga Community College when my peers entered their senior year in highschool. I have also taken courses Laney College in Oakland, CA along withcourses at Waterbury State Technical/Naugatuck Valley Community College inWaterbury, CT.

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Offering1-1 support

No 1:1 coaching about Spiritual emergence/y.

 

Offering support groups

I facilitate Spiritual Emergence Support Groups via zoom. Please contact me for schedule.

 

‍Fee

I offer a sliding scale fee.

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SupportGroup Plan

Please contact me for the schedule.

 

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Please contact me via my email if you'd like to connect for acomplimentary 15-20-minute phone or Zoom consultation, to see if we're theright fit!

 

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