Recovery
In August 2010, leaders in the behavioral health field, including people with lived experience in recovery from mental illness and substance use disorders, met with the national agency called the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Together they developed a working definition of recovery that would apply to both mental health and substance use populations.
Recovery is defined as: A process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential.
According to SAMHSA's definition via their website, “the process of recovery is highly personal and occurs via many pathways. It may include clinical treatment, medications, faith-based approaches, peer support, family support, self-care, and other approaches." Four Major Dimensions of Recovery and 10 Principles of Recovery have been identified.
Four Dimensions of Recovery:
- Health
- Home
- Purpose
- Community
10 Principles of Recovery:
- Recovery emerges from hope.
- Recovery is person-driven.
- Recovery occurs via many pathways.
- Recovery is holistic.
- Recovery is supported by peers and allies.
- Recovery is supported through relationships and social networks.
- Recovery is culturally-based and influenced.
- Recovery is supported by addressing trauma.
- Recovery involves individual, family, and community strengths and responsibility.
- Recovery is based on respect.
For a visual of this information, visit SAMHSA's infographic.
Peer Support
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration (SAMHSA) defines peer recovery support services, or peer support,
as “a supportive activity and interaction between people who share similar
experiences of mental health conditions, substance use disorders, or both, also
known as co-occurring disorders. Peer support involves “shared understanding,
respect, and mutual empowerment” for individuals seeking behavioral health
services by trained individuals with lived experience.
Find more information on peer support workers at SAMHSA's website and view an infographic on the Value of Peers at their website.
Peer support services in Kentucky are designed to assist individuals with mental health conditions, substance use disorders, or co-occurring disorders in a recovery-oriented, non-judgmental way that complement clinical treatment services. Through connection-based support, Peer Support Specialists (PSS) model recovery, share practical knowledge, and assist in navigating systems. PSS helps individuals build hope, access community resources, engage with services in community settings, and encourage and strengthen recovery goals.
Peer support services are structured and scheduled therapeutic activities with an individual client or group, provided by a trained, self-identified consumer of behavioral health services. A PSS guides clients toward the identification and achievement of specific goals defined by the client and specified in the Treatment Plan.
How to Become a Peer Support Specialist
The job of a Peer Support Specialist is not to replace current clinical behavioral health staff, but to offer additional and/or alternative options to help people in their efforts to recover. To become qualified, a PSS completes 30 hours of training and passes both a written and oral test.
DBHDID maintains a list of approved trainers for Adult, Family and Youth Peer Support. Each training provider has their own training schedules and associated costs. To find an approved peer support trainer, use the search tool through TRIS. Training providers may be searched according to type (Adult, Family, and Youth), agency name, and/or location.
How to Become a Trainer for Peer Support Curricula
The Department for Behavioral Health,
Developmental & Intellectual Disabilities (DBHDID) supports consumer-driven
recovery-oriented services. DBHDID approves training curricula for providers
who request to become trainers for Adult, Family, and Youth Peer
Support Specialists listed above. For more information on how to become a
trainer, see the Peer Support Specialist Curriculum Approval Process | CHFS DBHDID.
Regular supervision is required (see
908
KAR 2:220 Section 6), and each qualified Peer Support Specialist must earn at least 6 hours of continuing education each year.
Motivational Inteviewing
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is an evidence-based, person-centered, goal-directed method for engagement and enhancing intrinsic motivation to change behavior by exploring and resolving hesitation and uncertainty.
How Motivational Interviewing Helps
Many people seeking behavioral health services feel uncertain or conflicted about making changes. This is a normal part of the recovery process. Motivational Interviewing helps individuals:
- Increase confidence in their ability to make positive changes.
- Explore their goals, values, and priorities.
- Resolve uncertainty about treatment or recovery.
- Strengthen commitment to healthy behaviors.
- Build a trusting relationship with providers and support professionals.
- Motivational Interviewing is not a technique or a set of techniques that is applied to people; rather, it is an interpersonal style, not at all restricted to formal counseling settings.
Key Principles
The clinician practices motivational interviewing with five general principles in mind:
- Express Empathy- Listen with respect and without judgement to understand the individual’s perspective.
- Develop Discrepancy- Help the individual recognize the difference between personal goals or values and their current behavior.
- Avoid Argument- Do not argue, confront, or try to force change. Direct confrontation can increase resistance.
- Roll with Resistance- Respond to hesitation or resistance with curiosity and reflection rather than pressure.
- Support self-efficacy and optimism- Reinforce the individual’s confidence, strengths, and belief that change is possible.