John Furbee

(Peer Specialist In Training)

pronouns: please use name

Currently Accepting Waitlist

“Healing is not a straight line to a destination, but an ongoing, transformative process.”

I believe everyone has the capacity to grow and find meaning, no matter the challenges they've faced. By meeting you where you are, we can uncover your unique strengths and use them as a foundation to transform struggle into a more hopeful, fulfilling life.

Together, we will create a safe space where you are seen and heard. We'll walk side by side at a pace that feels right for you, setting meaningful goals and finding practical ways to weave recovery into your daily life.

I am here to remind you that recovery is not linear. Healing can be messy but is always meaningful. Rest is a vital part of the process, and every step matters—even those that feel like a step back.

• My goal is to: 1) Walk alongside you, so you never feel alone on your journey, 2) Challenge the stigma around mental health by promoting empathy and awareness, 3) Inspire hope by showing that recovery is always possible, and 4) Bridge the gap between lived experience and professional systems to foster more compassionate care.

You don’t have to do this alone. Being human isn’t about being perfect; it’s about embracing our struggles as part of the journey and allowing them to shape us for the better.

Currently Accepting Wait List

    1. Exploring philosophy and spirituality as ways to better understand life and personal growth.

    2. Immersing myself in roleplaying games, TTRPGs, and Dungeons & Dragons as a form of creativity and connection.

    3. Writing and poetry as outlets for reflection, expression, and healing.

    4. Studying and playing strategy board games such as Chess, Shogi, and Go to sharpen focus and strengthen problem-solving skills.

    5. Embracing lifelong learning, as I consider the opportunity to learn something new each day to be a blessing.

  • My path has been shaped by navigating anxiety, depression, addiction, and the weight of suicidal thoughts. I have fought through court battles, divorce, and discrimination to remain a present father. This journey has been a challenge of overcoming isolation, advocating for myself against stigma, and learning to tend the garden of who I am. Every lesson was hard-earned, and every act of letting go has made me more resilient. My greatest challenge remains learning to grow through wisdom and compassion, not only through pain.

    Through that process, I discovered my struggles were not a source of shame, but a foundation for purpose. What once held me down is a reminder that survival itself is strength, and every hard-won lesson serves as a guidepost for others. This is why I can sit with people in their struggles—not as an expert, but as someone who has been there and continues to show up, reminding them that recovery is real, messy, and always possible.

    1. Develop resilience—not by avoiding struggle, but by learning how to move through it.

    2. Help turn struggles into self-led lessons that can push you forward instead of hold you back.

    3. Keep recovery real—it is not a perfect picture, but something honest, messy, and meaningful

    4. Remind you that it’s okay to take things one step at a time—healing doesn’t have to be rushed.

  • Strength Based and Humanistic Support

Accepted Insurances/Self-Pay

Greene County Medicaid (UPMC for You, Highmark Wholecare, Amerihealth Caritas) and Other Greene County CCBH Plans

*Please contact to me to learn more about self-pay rates. This option is only available for individuals with commercial (non-medicaid) insurance

My Approach to Peer Support

I believe that support is about showing up with authenticity, being real, and reminding one another that no one has to walk this journey alone. It is the culmination of lived experience, shared openly to foster connection and strengthen the hope, resilience, and sense of belonging we all deserve.

  I utilize my life experience to assist others by transforming my struggles into stepping stones, creating a path of hope and connection for those still finding their way. 

 

I view mental health recovery as something that never truly ends, but instead evolves with us as we face life’s challenges and continue moving forward. 

 

Our time together will involve listening, learning, and growing side by side as we explore what recovery looks like for you, as you learn to meet yourself where you’re at. 

Supportive Quote

"From 'I have lost,' everything begins."—Manabu Senzaki, Shogi Professional