It's Like Adding a Drop of Ink to Milk and Shaking It: Newly Certified Peer Specialist Reflections on Lived Recovery Expertise and Professional Identity.

Abstract

Introduction: Self-disclosure of lived recovery experiences is a cornerstone of peer support work. However, few studies have explored how early career certified peer specialists (CPSs) integrate or plan to integrate their own lived recovery experiences into their CPS work, or the challenges they expect to experience when doing so. In this qualitative study, we explore how early career CPSs use their lived recovery experience and challenges that accompany self-disclosure.

Methods: Qualitative data were collected as part of multistate, 3-year observational prospective cohort study of CPS graduate employment trajectories. We conducted in-depth, semi-structured interviews with a subsample of early-career CPSs about their transition to the workforce; this study reports on interview material focused on how participants use and expect to use their recovery experiences. Data were analyzed using thematic and content analysis informed by constant comparative methods.

Results: N = 25 individuals participated in an interview. While participants generally felt positive about sharing their personal recovery stories in their CPS role, some reported potential challenges they expect to experience, such as misalignment of recovery experiences or being re-traumatized when sharing their recovery stories with clients and coworkers.

Conclusion: That study participants held mixed feelings about sharing lived experience suggests that the peer support workforce needs early career professional support, such as peer-to-peer supervision models that focus on CPS wellbeing, in addition to job performance.