The Power of Peer Recovery: A Case Study with PerCilla Zeno
The goal of Wendie Veloz Enterprises is to empower change-makers to build sustainable social impact. One of our most inspiring collaborations has been with PerCilla Zeno, founder of Zeno Wellness Group and That Zen Life Wellness Foundation. In a recent episode of our podcast, PerCilla shared her transformative journey in peer recovery and how our coaching partnership helped amplify her impact.
Meet PerCilla Zeno: Championing Wellness Through Peer Recovery
PerCilla Zeno is a visionary leader dedicated to holistic healing, peer recovery, and mental wellness. Through Zeno Wellness Group (ZWG), she provides critical support to individuals navigating mental health challenges and substance use recovery. With a deep passion for community-based solutions, PerCilla bridges the gap between lived experience and professional expertise, ensuring that healing is accessible, compassionate, and culturally relevant.
As founder of That Zen Life Wellness Foundation (TZLWF), she empowered the board of directors to continue the organizations mission as a beacon of hope and a source of strength for those who are on their path toward recovery. The TZLWF model extends far beyond traditional recovery services. By integrating mindfulness, self-care practices, and peer recovery supports. TZLWF founded in memory of PerCilla’s son focuses on fostering a sense of community and providing resources that promote whole health wellness. Read more about TZLWF here.
How Coaching with Wendie Veloz Enterprises Supported Growth
When PerCilla joined my coaching program, she was already a powerhouse in peer recovery. However, like many visionary leaders, she faced challenges in scaling her impact, structuring her programs, and securing funding for long-term sustainability. Her original goal was to apply for and win a $75,000 grant for peer recovery supports and training for service members, veterans, and their families.
Through our strategic coaching sessions, we worked on:
- Clarifying Her Vision: Using the Idea Surgery Session, we mapped out PerCilla’s goals and identified key priorities for growth.
- Strategic Funding & Grants: We explored sustainable funding models, helping her navigate opportunities that aligned with her mission.
- Operational Expansion: From structuring her offerings to creating replicable frameworks, we built systems that could support long-term impact.
We continue to work on improving the continuum of care and services provided by Zeno Wellness Group. Our goals are to continue serving the service members, veterans and their families with high-quality peer recovery supports and mental health services.
Through monthly coaching we focus on creating actionable strategies to reach the ZWG’s goals. Beyond
PerCilla’s Testimonial: The Transformation in Her Own Words
“Wendie, you have a way of seeing far beyond what’s immediately in front of us. When we work together, there’s no ego, no stifling—just openness and collaboration. You truly listen, embrace new ideas, and create space for possibilities that I couldn’t have explored with anyone else.”
Lessons for Social Entrepreneurs and Nonprofits
PerCilla’s journey is a testament to the power of strategic coaching and aligned action. If you’re a social entrepreneur, nonprofit leader, or wellness advocate looking to scale your impact, here are three key takeaways:
- Invest in Strategic Coaching – A clear roadmap is essential for sustainable growth.
- Embrace the Power of Peer Support – Community-driven solutions create lasting impact.
- Prioritize Wellness in Leadership – Sustainable change starts with personal alignment.
Are You Ready to Elevate Your Impact?
If you’re inspired by PerCilla’s journey and looking for expert guidance in scaling your social enterprise or nonprofit, let’s connect! Book a discovery call today and take the next step toward sustainable growth.
🔗 Apply for Coaching with Wendie Veloz
The Power of Peer Recovery
Peer recovery is more than just support—it’s a movement of lived experience transforming lives. In this episode, PerCilla Zeno shares how peer recovery specialists bring hope, healing, and real-time resources to communities in need. From her own powerful journey through grief to becoming a state-approved trainer, PerCilla highlights the crucial role of peer recovery in mental health, addiction services, and community wellness. We also dive into how embedding peer support in clinical and nonprofit spaces can break cycles of trauma and create sustainable change.
Key Takeaways:
What is Peer Recovery? Learn how lived experience can create trust and healing in ways that clinical interventions alone cannot.
Bridging the Gap in Services: Discover how placing peer recovery specialists in hospitals, clinics, and nonprofits ensures people receive support when they need it most.
Overcoming Grief & Trauma: PerCilla shares her personal journey of resilience and how she turned pain into purpose.
Expanding Peer Recovery’s Reach: The importance of making peer support available in every household and underserved community.
Sustainability in Service: How PerCilla successfully integrates peer recovery into clinical and nonprofit models to ensure long-term impact.
Inspirational Moments:
[00:00] – Meet PerCilla Zeno: A leader in peer recovery training and advocacy.
[04:02] – The personal loss that fueled her mission to help others heal.
[07:11] – The role of peer support in breaking cycles of trauma and isolation.
[14:33] – Making peer recovery accessible in rural and under-resourced areas.
[20:44] – Resilience in action: Turning adversity into sustainable impact.
[26:13] – Redefining success: Helping others as the greatest reward.
Meet Our Guest – PerCilla Zeno
PerCilla Zeno is a state-approved peer recovery trainer, entrepreneur, and advocate for trauma-informed care. She has built a career dedicated to expanding access to peer recovery specialists, ensuring that no one has to navigate life’s toughest moments alone. As the founder of Zeno Wellness Group and Zen Life Wellness Foundation, she integrates mental health services and peer support to bridge the gap for those who need it most. Her book, I Am Healing: The 7 Secrets to Wellness and Self-Care, offers a transformative approach to self-awareness and emotional well-being.
Website: The Healing Partner
Clinical Services: Zeno Wellness Group
Nonprofit Work:That Zen Life Wellness Foundation
Inside Scoop:
Peer recovery is about meeting people where they are—literally. PerCilla and her team work in communities where access to mental health care is nearly nonexistent. From rural Virginia to underserved urban neighborhoods, she’s breaking barriers by embedding support in places where people already seek help. Her vision? A world where every home has access to peer recovery, so no one has to face their struggles alone.Important Links: