Sharing Mental Health, Substance Use, and Recovery Challenges with Others (Core Competencies: 1.2; 2.10; 3.5; 3.6; 4.3; 4.4; 4.8) A certified peer specialist can explore with the peer whether to share mental health, substance use, and recovery challenges with others. To share or not to share is a highly personal decision. There may be times when the peer wants to tell others their story and there may be times when the peer does not want to tell their story. At other times, the peer may be unsure what to do. The key concept here is ambivalence. Ambivalence is feeling two ways about something. On one hand, there may be reasons to share their mental health, substance use, and recovery challenges with others. On the other hand, there may be reasons to not share. When reasons for and against are held at the same time, this is the experience of ambivalence. Ambivalence is a normal experience, particularly, in the process of coming to a decision. A certified peer specialist can non-judgmentally explore with the peer both sides of ambivalence for the peer to make an informed decision. This exploration process empowers the peer to decide what makes the most sense for sharing (or not sharing) their story. The Advantages and Disadvantages Worksheet is a useful tool for exploring ambivalence. The advantages are the reasons for making the decision. For example, deciding to share one’s story could offer the benefit of having others in the peer’s life better understand their challenges and what might be helpful. The disadvantages are the reasons against making the decision. For example, deciding to share one’s story could result in people responding negatively after the peer has disclosed their struggles. Consider this procedure for using the worksheet: 1. Briefly introduce the concept of ambivalence as part of a decision-making process. 2. Explore with the peer if there is a particular person, group of people, or situation for considering sharing their story. 3. Use the worksheet to guide exploration and take notes: a. Explore the peer's perspective on ADVANTAGES – What are the advantages or positives for sharing your story? Ask for elaboration on reasons, if useful. Offer reflections to demonstrate listening. b. Explore the peer's perspective on DISADVANTAGES – What are the disadvantages or the negatives for sharing your story? Ask for elaboration on reasons, if useful. Offer reflections to demonstrate listening. c. Summarize advantages and disadvantages and draw out the peer's perspective with final open question: "So where does this leave you?"
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