A consumer wants to share their recovery journey but recognizes self-stigma is holding them back. How would the Peer Support Specialist support the consumer?

• A. Redirect the conversation to a topic that is more comfortable for the consumer.
• B. Share openly about their own lived experience with the consumer's permission.
• C. Encourage the consumer to share their lived experience despite their concerns.
• D. Provide a reading list.

Answer: (B)

When someone is held back by self-stigma, modeling recovery through personal lived experience—shared with the consumer’s consent—can be a powerful way to shift their perspective. By gently and authentically describing how recovery has existed in your life, you show that stigma doesn’t have to define them and that hopeful, practical steps are possible. This approach validates their feelings, reduces isolation, and offers a tangible example of how others have navigated similar challenges.

To use this effectively, obtain explicit consent before sharing, keep the disclosure relevant to the consumer’s situation, and be brief. The focus should stay on the consumer’s goals and what helped you, not on your story alone. After sharing, invite the consumer to reflect or share at their own pace, and be ready to switch back to their priorities if they’re not ready to talk more.

Redirecting the conversation away from the stigma, pressuring the person to disclose, or simply providing a reading list wouldn’t address the emotional barrier. The goal is to empower and connect, using respectful self-disclosure as a tool when it will meaningfully support the consumer.