Empowerment & Choice in Peer Support Services

Guest Blogger: Michael Crouch, Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist

Target Audience: PSS, Recovery Community, Service Providers, General Public

Over the last 10 years, peer support specialists (PSS) have become more visible throughout the field of human services. A PSS is a person in long-term recovery from substance use disorders or mental health challenges that are trained to use their lived experience in a professional manner. PSS can be very passionate about their personal pathways of recovery as well as helping others find and sustain recovery. This passion can be a gift, but also a barrier to helping others develop their own pathways of recovery at times. Empowerment & choice are tenants of trauma-informed care and can be difficult when the PSS struggles to separate their personal recovery from their role as professionals.

One of the ways in which PSS can embrace the tenant of empowerment and choice is to practice in a manner that supports the concept of multiple pathways of recovery. Multiple pathways of recovery are rooted in the idea that the person with SUD has the right to self-determine their own pathway and the answer to long-term recovery lies within them. The PSS does not have to completely let go of their personal recovery beliefs or experience. They simply need to put their beliefs to the side or use them to connect with the person and develop rapport. For example, if they have experience in a 12-step program and the person they are working with is interested in that pathway, they can share their personal experience and knowledge. With that said, if the person has had a negative experience attending 12-step groups, the PSS should focus more on finding other alternatives.

One of the key components of embracing the concept of multiple pathways of recovery is having information and knowledge about many different pathways. Some of these pathways are SMART Recovery, Celebrate Recovery, Recovery Dharma, Recovery 2.0, Refuge Recovery, Natural Recovery, Women for Sobriety, and more. Allowing the person the freedom to develop their own pathways is a person-centered and trauma-informed approach to treating addiction and supporting recovery. PSS should strive to practice in a manner that not only embraces multiple pathways of recovery but also promotes that concept to others.

Michael W Crouch NCPRSS, CPSS, BS

Preferred Pronouns (Him,His,He) Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist (864)-280-5579 mcrouch7818@gmail.com Michael Crouch, NCPRSS, CPSS, BSMichael is certified as a Peer Recovery Support Specialist through NAADAC, a Peer Support Specialist through APSC and has a Bachelor’s in Human Services-Behavioral Health. He has a vast knowledge of peer recovery services and uses life experience and evidence-based practices to help individuals and families affected by substance use disorders. He is a person in long-term recovery who has overcome problematic substance use and maintained a lifestyle of health and wellness since 2013. He is a strong believer in strength-based, person-centered, and trauma-informed approaches to treating substance use disorders and other mental health conditions