Advocacy
A participant wants to speak with their landlord about avoiding eviction but lacks confidence. Instead of speaking for them, you help them prepare what they want to say.
What is self-advocacy?
A participant begins texting you every night asking for advice about personal relationships. The professional concept that should guide your response is this.
What are healthy boundaries?
Instead of giving advice, you ask thoughtful questions that help a participant discover their own solutions.
What is empowerment?
A participant has started attending recovery meetings and reconnecting with supportive family members. These new supports build this.
What is Recovery Capital?
A participant says they are not ready to stop using substances but wants to avoid overdose. Your support is guided by this approach.
What is harm reduction?
A participant asks whether SMART Recovery, Celebrate Recovery, and AA are all acceptable recovery options. Your response should emphasize this recovery principle.
What are multiple pathways of recovery?
A participant tells you they intend to overdose later that evening. Your first ethical responsibility is this.
What is ensuring safety?
You briefly share part of your recovery story because it helps the participant feel hopeful and understood.
What is strategic self-disclosure?
A participant says, "I know my drinking is becoming a problem, but I'm not ready to change." They are most likely in this stage.
What is Contemplation?
You teach a participant how to recognize an opioid overdose and where to obtain naloxone.
What is overdose prevention education?
While meeting with a participant, you notice they qualify for housing assistance that they unaware existed. Your role is to provide this.
What is a resource linkage (or referral)?
During supervision, you recognize that stress from your personal life is affecting your work with participants. Ethical practice requires this.
What is self-awareness?
While speaking with a participant, you avoid interrupting, maintain eye contact, and reflect back what you hear.
What is active listening?
Instead of focusing on everything that is wrong, you help a participant identify their abilities, successes, and personal strengths.
What is a strength-based approach?
A participant continues using substances while improving housing, employment, and family relationships. Harm reduction recognizes success through increased safety and this.
What is stability?
A participant feels discriminated against because of their recovery history. You explain their rights while encouraging them to speak for themselves whenever possible. This demonstrates this type of advocacy.
What is person-centered advocacy?
A participant asks you to keep suspected child abuse a secret. Your professional responsibility requires this action.
What is reporting suspected abuse to the appropriate authority?
A participant asks what they should do about a difficult family situation. Rather than telling them what to do, you explore possible options together.
What is collaborative problem solving?
A participant develops both short-term objectives and long-term recovery goals. This is an important part of this recovery process.
What is goal setting?
A peer avoids judgment, respects informed choice, and continues supporting someone regardless of where they are in recovery.
What is meeting people where they are?
Rather than making decisions for a participant, you provide information, explain available options, and support the participant's right to choose their own recovery path.
What is self-determination?
You accidentally receive confidential medical information about someone who is not your participant. Ethical practice requires you to protect this.
What is confidentiality?
A peer relationship is successful because both individuals share mutual respect while minimizing this difference often found in professional helping relationships.
What is the power differential?
A participant relapses after eight months in recovery. Rather than viewing recovery as a failure, you recognize that change often follows this pattern.
What is a non-linear (or cyclical) recovery process?
A participant chooses not to pursue abstinence at this time. Rather than withdrawing support, you continue helping reduce risks while respecting their decisions. This reflects this core harm reduction principle.
What is respect for autonomy and informed choice?