About The Peer Collaborative
Connection, clarity, and guided support—rooted in shared human experience.
Our Story
After years of parallel work in therapy, coaching and leadership development, we found ourselves drawn to the same core truth: people grow more powerfully in community than they do alone. Whether someone is navigating personal challenges, professional pressures, major transitions, or the complexity of leading others — the real turning point often comes when they feel understood, supported, and not the only one carrying the weight.
The Peer Collaborative was built from that shared belief.
We saw the need for spaces where people could step out of their day-to-day demands, reflect with clarity, and engage in guided conversations that spark real change — not surface-level fixes or isolated insights.
We created these collaboratives to offer exactly that kind of space: small, thoughtfully facilitated groups where people can make sense of their experiences, understand their patterns, and build steadier internal footing for whatever challenges or responsibilities they’re carrying.
Our partnership formed naturally — grounded in our shared commitment to systemic thinking, relational health, and helping people grow in ways that are sustainable, honest, and aligned with their values. Together, we’ve seen how structured support and authentic community can transform not just individuals, but the systems they live and work within.
Founders, The Peer Collaborative
Ciara Fanlo & Tony Issenmann
Founders & Facilitators
We bring experience, steadiness, and a deep belief that people thrive when they’re not navigating challenges alone.
Meet Ciara Fanlo
Co-Founder & Facilitator
As a former wilderness therapy and therapeutic boarding school student, my path to this work has been deeply personal. I came to it by speaking to parents about the teenager’s point of view, and sharing insights and hope with families who were struggling. Recognizing the need for support from those who have walked this path, I founded Homing Instinct to offer mentorship and coaching for teens.
For the past three years through Homing Instinct, I have been supporting adolescents in tapping into their innate wisdom and gifts — building a strong internal sense of home and compassionate self-awareness, so they can create a life that is fulfilling, authentic, and healthy.
Prior to that, I studied English and psychology at UCSB, and worked in a variety of settings with adolescents, including an organization for children of incarcerated parents, wilderness therapy, and schools. As a treatment graduate, I understand how challenging it is to re-integrate, to nurture the connections you found, to hold on to the momentum you’ve built, and to process and make sense of the experience you’ve had.
These groups are a space to keep growing — with guidance, with connection, and with the kind of support teenagers truly need when they return home.
Meet Dr. Tony Issenmann, LMFT
Co-Founder & Facilitator
With more than 20 years of experience bringing people together to grow through shared experience, I’ve dedicated my career to creating spaces where individuals can reflect, connect, and build clarity through community. Trained as a marriage and family therapist with a Ph.D. in Human Development from Virginia Tech, my work has spanned clinical practice, parent coaching, and leadership development — always grounded in a systemic, relational lens.
Across settings, one truth has remained clear: people make the most meaningful progress when they’re supported by a steady, guided group. The Peer Collaborative was built on that belief — and my role is to help cultivate communities where members feel grounded, understood, and confident as they navigate life’s transitions together.
Ready to Learn More?
A supportive community and skilled facilitation are just a step away.