• Peers often begin services with a certified peer specialist during periods of increased struggle and stress. Here are some open questions to consider when supporting someone experiencing struggle and stress. o What areas of your life are particularly stressful right now? [Exploring] o What might be some of the causes or sources of the stress? [Exploring] o What sorts of supports might be useful for addressing the stress? [Supporting] o What is needed to get through this and how can I support you? [Supporting] • Strengths have been noticed and affirmed since the initial meeting, through the connecting and exploring processes, and now this will continue into the supporting process. Specifically affirming the peer’s strengths while acknowledging the impacts of social injustice creates a foundation of recovery and resilience. Noticing and affirming a peer’s strength is a powerful form of support. • When exploring ways to support the peer, a certified peer specialist may have a strong tendency to want to fix the situation, problem solve, or jump to an action step. Recall that these are listening to roadblocks. Roadblocks can limit the ability of the certified peer specialist to provide effective support because the peer may not be ready for action. It is best practice to make the decision to listen. Listen carefully to understand the peer’s lived experience. • Offer many reflective listening statements during the supporting process. Advanced certified peer specialist practice is this: for every question asked, there are two reflective listening statements offered. This ratio is a powerful marker of effective support because it indicates that the certified peer specialist is doing more listening than asking. It is listening with accurate empathy where powerful healing occurs. In other words, healing happens when people feel heard, understood, and accepted. • Periodically offer a summary to consolidate understanding and reinforce the peer’s ideas. • Sharing an aspect of the recovery story is another powerful skill for supporting.
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