Hi Tom and welcome to our Keats community--It's always neat to meet another Keatsian

You have a great question and definitely one worth exploring. I think the answer depends on the period of Keats's life at which you're looking. I'd say that early on--in his school days and during his time with Hammond and at Guy's--he was encouraged and mentored by Charles Cowden Clarke--especially when it came to appreciating and understanding poetry. He was absolutely encouraged by both his brothers, especially up through the point when George immigrates and Tom dies. It is at about that time that Brown takes over encouraging Keats (with ideas and emotion as well as money). Others of his friends also influenced and encouraged him, I'm sure--and provided him with advice. Those I listed would be my choice for his primary living "encouragers," though.
I don't know if there has been a book or article written about this particular aspect of Keats's development--though it would be an awesome topic! I suggest simply reading the great biographies about Keats; they would give you an idea about how everyone in his life "fit together" and impacted his life. I recommend the Gittings biography and the Ward biography to start. After that, Andrew Motion and Walter Jackson' Bate's biographies would be good follow-up.
Great to see you on the message board, Tom, and I hope to see you around again soon
