RSV 2025: Breakout Session 3D - Walking the Talk: Ethical Peer Support Across Varied Recovery Pathways

Description: 

Peer Recovery Support Specialists (PRSS) play a crucial role in helping individuals achieve their unique recovery goals by fostering self-determination, personal responsibility, and self-directed recovery empowerment, as outlined in the National Certified PRSS Code of Ethics. As recovery researcher, Bill White, famously stated, "There are many pathways to addiction recovery, and all are cause for celebration." But what does that look like in professional peer support practice? Peers bring lived experience and cultural affiliations to their work—whether through 12-step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous (AA and NA), faith-based approaches like Celebrate Recovery, or other traditionally abstinence-based pathways. However, ethical peer support requires professionals to honor and uphold all pathways, even those that differ from their own. This interactive session examined the disparate recovery landscape, explore ethical considerations in peer support, introduce a practical tool for examining personal beliefs, and offer strategies for best practice. Participants gained insights to ensure their support respects autonomy, remains client-centered, and aligns with best practices in the field.

Presenter: 

Donald McDonald, MSW, RCP, TEL, JBS International, Inc.

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