This exercise explores support relationships.
“Reflect upon various support relationships in which you have participated, and consider how they were established, maintained, and concluded. Delve into your thoughts, emotions, and the insights gained from your experiences during today’s session, and contemplate how this understanding will influence your role as a peer.”
When receiving support from the PIER team, I appreciated the informal and welcoming atmosphere. The absence of excessive formalities was quite appealing. During the session, we were prompted to ponder how we might introduce ourselves as peer support workers. Many of us tended to overanalyze this introduction, attempting to explain our role in detail to the peer. However, a more effective and straightforward approach is to initiate a typical conversation, relieving pressure on both parties.
At the commencement of the support relationship, I would engage in negotiations to establish a ‘Let’s Be’ agreement, defining boundaries and recovery objectives within the relationship. It would be explicitly communicated that this is a professional association, not a friendship. Therefore, certain expectations would be set, such as restricting contact to working hours and sharing information only when it contributes to the recovery process. Throughout the relationship, I would stress the importance of communication to foster mutual understanding and make adjustments if necessary to facilitate recovery, which may require modifications to established boundaries.
As the relationship approaches its conclusion, I would engage in reflection to evaluate the progress made by the peer since the beginning of our association. We would review the goals established to measure the extent of progress in the journey to recovery. I would also offer them the necessary resources for the future, such as contact information for additional support or information about support groups that can aid in their recovery process.