A peer asks their Peer Support Specialist whether a particular treatment program worked for the specialist. Which response is most appropriate?

• A. Share what worked for the Peer Support Specialist while mentioning there are multiple pathways to recovery.
• B. Tell the peer about Narcotics Anonymous as it is the only way to stay sober in their wellness journey.
• C. Ask what their substance of choice is so the Peer Support Specialist can decide what facility would be best.
• D. Refer the peer to a clinician.

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is using a recovery-focused, person-centered approach in peer support. The best reply honors the peer’s autonomy and dignity by sharing what has helped you personally while explicitly recognizing that there isn’t one path to recovery. This shows that recovery is personal, that different people benefit from different approaches, and that the peer is the expert on their own journey. It also models humility and non-judgment, avoiding pressure to endorse a single program as “the only way.”

Why this works best: it provides relatable, lived-experience insight without claiming universal applicability, supports the peer’s ability to explore options, and keeps boundaries intact by not directing clinical decisions or promoting a specific treatment as the sole solution. If clinical input becomes relevant, you can guide the peer to a clinician, but the initial response should center on their own preferences and experiences.

Why the other responses fit less well: promoting a single program overlooks individual differences and can feel coercive or biased; trying to choose a facility based on the peer’s substance of choice blurs boundaries and shifts clinical decision-making away from appropriate channels; and directing the peer straight to a clinician without first engaging in supportive, experiential sharing can sidestep the peer-support relationship and its emphasis on empowerment.