Certified Peer Support Specialists (CPSSs) are expected to get people to do what we want them to do because we know better.

• A. TRUE
• B. CPSSs should encourage autonomy and support decision-making
• C. CPSSs should coerce people into action
• D. FALSE

Answer: (D)

Empowerment and self-determination guide how CPSSs work. A peer specialist supports autonomy by recognizing that the person is the expert on their own life and by offering information and options without trying to push them to act just because the worker believes it’s best. The goal is to help individuals make informed choices and build their decision-making capacity, while collaborating as equals. Coercion—trying to force someone to take action or comply—undermines trust, can derail recovery, and clashes with recovery-focused, peer-supported practice. So, the idea that CPSSs should get people to do what we want because we know better isn’t consistent with how CPSSs should operate. The right approach is to encourage autonomy and support decision-making.