InterNational Association of 

Peer Supporters

Participant Workbook

https://rtp4ps.org/participant-workbook/

Listening to a webinar on Ethics for a Certified Peer Support Specialist today.

It was said that we cannot be their friend, but we can be friendly.

Some of the following are ways we can be friendly or helpful in supporting others we come in contact with:

Support choice
Share hope
Withhold judgement
Listen with emotional sensitivity
Be curious and embrace diversity
Educate and advocate
Address issues with caring and compassion
Encourage to give and receive
Embody equality
Focus on strengths not weaknesses
Set clear expectations
Focus on the person not the problems

 https://www.peerleadershipcenter.org/Document.asp?DocID=6619

Interests-Goals-Skills-Abilities

I took a Youth in Transition class as part of my Certified Peer Support Specialist training.  It was an 8 hour class.  I learned so much.  One of the things we talked about is how people in recovery from either Mental Health issues or Substance Abuse issues need to make goals.  The word "Goals" can sound like work, or sound negative to someone who is trying to improve their life.  We talked about different words we could use.  One brought up in class was "Achievements".  So in other words what would you like to achieve?  This morning to my head came, What "skills and abilities" would you like to gain?  So you could ask them about their:  Interests, Goals, Achievements, Skills, Attributes and Abilities.  These can also be open ended questions, getting them to open up and speak about what is important to them.

Taking Car of Oneself

Do something special for yourself:  I am getting my brows waxed today.

Do something that gives you space from the tensions and chaos of life:  I get in my truck once a week and go for a ride.

Do something that engages your creativity or talents that gives you meaning and purpose:  I play the piano and sew.

Do something that you enjoy or relaxes you:  Meditation with The Honest Guys You Tube.

Do something that takes some of the chaos out of your life and gives you a sense of control:  I have a daily routine, for each day of the week.

Do something that cuts over against old negative self-talk:  I have a vision board with pictures of me on it.

Do something that connects you with other people:  I go to group therapy and I try to call my siblings.

Do something that connects you with your Higher Power:  I attend church, go to the temple, read my scriptures,  and pray.

Do something that symbolizes a new decision you have made about how you are going to live:  I put on make-up, jewelry, and perfume each day.

Do something that enables you to give of yourself to someone else:  I bake and share the good I prepare.

Do something that prevents old patterns from setting in:  I keep my commitments, and go outside my comfort zone.

Do something that challenges your thinking:  I am working on a jigsaw puzzle, I don't like jigsaw puzzles.

Do something that helps you reflect regularly on your life:  I keep a personal journal, study journal, and blog.

Do something that keeps you healthy:  I work out 15 to 20 minutes a day.

Certified Peer Support Specialist

Last week I took a class.  It was a 40 hour class to become a Certified Peer Support Specialist.  I learned so much about myself and my mental illness, and recovery.  The following are some of the Tasks or Duties and Qualifications for a CPSS:

Tasks/duties

The peer will:

·        Work collaboratively with clients, co-workers and the community.

·        Advocate on behalf of clients and help clients to navigate the health and social services systems.

·        Work closely with clients to address problems and answer questions, gather and provide information and advice, and  connect  clients  to  resources  and  to the  community.  

·        Meet clients both in the hospital and in the community.

·        Initiate, establish and maintain relationships with clients while developing trust and rapport.

·        Act as a coach and mentor, and help clients to set goals and work toward developing skills.

·        Share and discuss common experiences with clients.

·        Help to build a collective sense of community for clients, and help clients to create meaningful lives in the community.

·        Be responsible for planning, organizing, developing, leading and facilitating group activities, including education and awareness building efforts.

·        Complete administrative duties, such as sending and receiving email and telephone calls, and completing required documentation. 

·        Communicate and work collaboratively with team members, attend team meetings, and meet with supervisors to discuss performance.

Qualifications

Candidates must have:

·        Experience of mental health and/ or addiction problems.

They should have:

·        Knowledge/familiarity of the mental health and social service systems, and an understanding of client rights.

·        Possess a holistic perspective of “health.”

·        The ability to work effectively in a wide range of settings with people from diverse backgrounds, including clients and co-workers.

·        Be comfortable working either one-on-one or in group settings.

·        Excellent interpersonal skills and should be able to adapt to changing situations.

·        Active involvement in the community and a willingness to collaborate with others. Excellent communication skills.

·        Comfort with public speaking and facilitation of group workshops or activities.

·        Comfort coaching others

·        Negotiation skills.

·        Organizational skills.

·        Some experience planning and designing events and activities.

This job description suggests that candidates for the peer position require more than experience with mental health and/or addiction problems and familiarity with the mental health and social service systems through which clients must navigate. Expectations of the job indicate that strong communication skills are of paramount importance to the position. Because of the collaborative nature of the position, peers must be able to work in changing situations with a diverse group of people, interacting either in groups or individually. They should be actively involved in the community and willing to take on leadership and public speaking activities. Coaching and negotiation skills are assets for this position, as are planning, organization and computer skills. These job requirements describe the high level of skills necessary to be an effective peer support worker.  They also highlight the areas in which there are opportunities for training for peer support workers before they enter their positions as well as ongoing training to help them hone their skills.

It is also important to note that although job descriptions are extremely useful, they should not be considered fixed. Programs must be prepared to assess and reassess their own needs and local context, including the skills and experience of the peer workforce. Peer programming will evolve, as will the individuals employed as peers, and job descriptions should be adjusted to reflect this evolution. The job description in this article may not be appropriate for all settings, but it will contribute to a better understanding of the peer support worker position, the skills required, and the types of expectations that could define successful fulfillment of the role.

The Way Life Is

1.  Everyone has the ability to learn and grow.
Being diagnosed with a mental illness/substance use disorder does not take away the ability to learn and grow;  people can recover and move on with their lives.

2.  People's beliefs determine their behavior.
What a person believes about herself, because she is diagnosed with a mental illness or substance use disorder, is the most important determinant of her success in creating the life he or she wants.

3.  People think their way through life.
Being diagnosed with a mental illness/substance use disorder does not take away the ability to think strategically and creatively.

4.  Whatever people focus on, they give power to.
While symptoms and "disability" bring people in for services, the focus needs to shift to wellness and strengths as soon as possible.

5.  Life's experiences are the best teacher.
Your recovery experience is your greatest gift to your peers.

Recovery is the process of gaining control over one's life - and the direction one wants that life to go - on the other side of a psychiatric or substance use disorder diagnosis and all of the losses usually associated with that diagnosis.

Hope is the belief that one has both the ability and the opportunity to engage in the recovery process.

USU Peer Specialist Certification Training Program