While thousands of Americans face lengthy wait times for therapy, Liz Friedman has demonstrated that healing can occur outside traditional one-on-one clinical appointments.
Friedman leads GPS Group Peer Support, an organization founded on a strength-based, trauma-informed approach to group therapeutic care that provides consistent mental health support through the integration of evidence-based modalities, including mindfulness-based stress reduction, cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and peer-to-peer support. GPS trains both professionals and peers with lived experience to guide trauma-informed group support sessions. Research has shown that these support groups are as effective as individual therapy and serve a larger community at a lower cost. GPS Group Peer Support, which received a 2025 Global Recognition Award, has provided training to thousands of facilitators since 2018, and continues to expand its reach and support across the United States.
In these support groups, participants, who might include healthcare workers, those in recovery, women in menopause, people experiencing grief, or mothers navigating perinatal health, find support and understanding. Friedman’s work also extends to policy, influencing how mental health services might be delivered and financed at the state and national levels.
Building Practical Collaboration For Community Health
GPS Group Peer Support collaborates with organizations such as the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the MA Association for Behavioral Health Systems, among others, to make evidence-based care accessible throughout the state. The MASStrong program offers free mental health groups to healthcare workers throughout the Commonwealth, and has been used as a reference by other states addressing similar challenges. Friedman maintains partnerships with the American Psychological Foundation and Perinatal Support International, among other organizations. These connections allow GPS Group Peer Support to reach individuals in recovery, perinatal care, refugee communities, and the healthcare sector nationwide.
One of the main benefits of GPS is the fact that it’s an innovative and scalable model that is easy to learn, rapidly replicable, and fosters resilience, healing, and connection in a range of communities. GPS support groups are designed to be accessible while also maintaining clinical standards. Facilitators utilize evidence-based approaches and tailor programs to meet the diverse needs of various communities. Research on peer-led interventions has shown improvements in reducing stigma and better outcomes for participants. These studies highlight the value of group models for mental health support.
The organization’s partnership with the American Psychological Foundation supports the expansion of its model to individuals who have historically been unable to access care. This approach enables GPS Group Peer Support to serve those experiencing trauma, substance use disorder, and challenges in perinatal mental health. Friedman’s process ensures facilitators bring personal experience and professional skills to their work.
Impact Beyond The United States
One of the most powerful aspects of the GPS model is its flexibility: It can be used in virtually any setting, with any population, anywhere in the world. Because GPS is highly structured and deeply trauma-informed, it translates across cultures, environments, and systems—from hospitals in Massachusetts to perinatal programs, refugee communities, faith-based organizations, and behavioral health settings worldwide. Its emphasis on human connection, careful facilitation, and evidence-based practices makes it universally applicable, whether a group is meeting in a clinical setting, a community hall, a workplace, or even a small gathering space in Scotland. Wherever people come together seeking support, healing, and a sense of belonging, GPS provides a model that is adaptable, scalable, and capable of fostering meaningful change.
Expanding Access Through Partnership
The reach of GPS Group Peer Support results from collaboration with government agencies, professional groups, and grassroots organizations. These partnerships integrate support group models into established systems, making broader access possible. This approach allows communities to use the program without significant new investments, making use of existing relationships and infrastructure. The National Association of Social Workers Massachusetts Chapter, a professional association, recognized Friedman’s approach to trauma-informed group care as a valid peer-led model within mainstream settings, offering GPS webinars and support groups to its members.
Friedman received recognition for her work on maternal mental health, including a TED Women’s Award. She also contributed to documentaries that examined perinatal mental health. By sharing these stories, she has helped reduce stigma and encouraged more open conversation about mental health. With significant experience, Friedman continues to blend expertise and objectivity to meet the needs of every community she serves.
GPS Group Peer Support’s model addresses workforce shortages and the barriers many face in accessing mental health services. Facilitators with lived experience help bridge gaps in support and highlight the value of peer connection alongside clinical practices. This approach shows that support can be strengthened in shared settings, where understanding and best practices are central.
