Diana Wesley Earns Her CPRS Certification — A Story of Recovery Turned Into Purpose

Voices of Hope Maryland is proud to celebrate Diana Wesley, who has officially earned her Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) certification. This isn’t just another credential—this is a hard-won milestone built on courage, consistency, and a real commitment to serving people who are fighting for their lives and their futures.

Before Diana ever stepped into our CPRS program, she had just completed treatment and was working in Baltimore at One More Chance. She stayed focused, saved her money, and worked her way back home to Cecil County—with a clear mission in her heart: to stay in the recovery field because she felt called to help others walking the same road she once walked. She wanted people to see, through a living example, that change is possible.

Diana’s connection to Voices of Hope started as a participant. She describes being welcomed and supported in a way that made her feel seen and understood—something that mattered deeply during a vulnerable season of rebuilding. And because that support helped ignite hope in her, she made a decision: “I want to be that person for somebody else.” That desire is what led her to volunteer, enroll, and fully lean into the CPRS journey.

While completing the program, Diana didn’t just sit in class and take notes—she put the work into motion. For months, she balanced coursework with volunteering, serving as an intern and gaining hands-on experience alongside structured learning. She sharpened core peer support skills like meeting people where they are, staying person-centered, and showing up with integrity. She also strengthened her understanding of boundaries, ethics, and what it really means to represent peer recovery with professionalism and care.

Diana came into the program already carrying strengths—she knew she could listen, and she had patience. But through training, practice, and real-world application, those strengths leveled up. She developed skills in motivational interviewing, improved her communication, and learned how to ask open-ended questions, reflect effectively, and empower participants to define their own goals and next steps. That’s the kind of growth that doesn’t just make someone “certified”—it makes them ready.

And then came one of the best parts: Diana applied for a position and was hired. The program didn’t just educate her—it helped shape her professional identity and deepened her commitment to the work. That’s what we love about this path: when people heal, they don’t just survive—they build something meaningful out of it.

Diana captured the heart of peer recovery beautifully in her own words:

“You give hope to people standing where you once stood… that’s transformation.”

Diana, congratulations. Your story is powerful because it’s real—and your presence in this field is going to keep opening doors for others. We’re honored to celebrate you, grateful to work alongside you, and excited to see all the lives you’ll impact as a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist.

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