Elizabeth Childress is a peer recovery specialist for the Virginia Partnership for Gaming and Health. She has seven years of experience living with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, however, she also has over seven years of experience in recovery and four years as a certified peer recovery support specialist with numerous trainings and certifications.

From Elizabeth’s extensive lived experience, she shares her personal journey to inspire and give hope to others in need of recovery through her work and volunteerism, and inform professionals who seek first-hand experience in their work. Her unwavering dedication to promoting recovery in others not only fuels her own path to recovery and professional growth, but also drives her active participation in every opportunity for improvement.
 
Elizabeth holds professional certifications as a qualified mental health professional (QMHP), registered peer support specialist (RPRS), and certified peer recovery support specialist (CPRS) in Virginia with a problem gambling endorsement, as well as a peer recovery support specialist (PRSS) in Tennessee.

She received her B.S in psychology from the University of Virginia’s College at Wise (UVA-Wise) in July 2013 and her clinical addiction counseling graduate certificate from East Tennessee State University (ETSU) in July 2022. She currently is a student in the Masters of Social Work (MSW) program at ETSU and will continue as a student at VCU in Spring 2024.
 
She currently works at the VCU Virginia Partnership for Gaming and Health, aiding those suffering from problem gambling, providing one-on-one CPRS services, leading group, referring for all aspects of treatment and doing outreach. She advocates for recovery at various levels, including community, state, and national affiliations, advocacy boards, councils, and partnerships. Elizabeth is committed to staying updated on innovative research and engaging in community services that contribute to the advancement of recovery initiatives.