Free Daily Peer Support Groups — Frederick, MD | On Our Own
On Our Own of Frederick County is a peer-led wellness and recovery center in downtown Frederick, Maryland, that has been offering free peer support for mental health and substance use recovery since 1997. Every service is run by people with lived experience, many of them Certified Peer Recovery Specialists (CPRS), and everything is free. The center runs daily peer support groups both in person at 121 South Market Street and over Zoom, so you can drop in whether you live in the city or out in the county.
What to Expect
General peer support groups meet Monday through Friday at 1:00 PM on Zoom, and the center hosts additional in-person groups and activities throughout the week. Groups are facilitated by peers, not clinicians, which means the tone is conversational and grounded in real experience rather than treatment plans. People share what is working, what is hard, and what they are trying next. Beyond the groups, the center offers one-on-one peer support, life and recovery coaching, help navigating community resources, health education, and sober social outings. A peer-staffed warm line (301-620-0555) is available on weekdays during the day and on weekends into the evening for non-emergency support when you just need to talk to someone who gets it.
Who This Group Is For
Adults in Frederick County and nearby who are living with mental health challenges, substance use disorder, or both. On Our Own is explicit about believing in multiple pathways to recovery, so you are welcome whether you follow a 12-step program, use medication-assisted treatment, practice harm reduction, or are still figuring out what recovery means to you. Family members are welcome too. You do not need a diagnosis, a referral, or insurance.
Why Peer Support Works
Peer recovery support is one of the better-studied additions to behavioral health care. When support comes from someone who has walked a similar road, people tend to feel less shame, stay engaged longer, and are more likely to follow through on treatment and community connections. Peer-run wellness centers also fill the gaps that clinical care leaves open: the hours between appointments, the loneliness of early recovery, and the practical problems like housing and transportation that can derail progress. Being part of a community that expects you to show up tomorrow is its own kind of medicine.
How to Join
Just show up. The center is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. To join the Zoom peer support group, use the link on the On Our Own of Frederick County website (Zoom ID 620 895 0648, password 1357) any weekday at 1:00 PM. For questions, call 240-629-8015 or email support@onourownfrederick.org. All services are free.