Certified Peer Specialist Practice Exam

What are "peer-run services"?

1. Services operated by licensed professionals only.

2. Support services run by individuals with personal recovery experience.

3. Community programs with no personal expertise involved.

4. Services that exclude peer participation in operations.

The correct answer is: Support services run by individuals with personal recovery experience.

Peer-run services are defined as support services that are operated by individuals who have personal experience with recovery from mental health or substance use challenges. This model emphasizes the importance of lived experience in providing assistance, fostering empathy, and creating a supportive environment for others undergoing similar struggles. By leveraging their own recovery journeys, individuals who run these services can offer insights, support, and guidance that are not merely theoretical but grounded in real-life experience. This approach enhances the relatability of the services provided and builds trust within the community, as participants often feel understood by those who have faced similar challenges. In contrast, services that are operated solely by licensed professionals or exclude peer involvement lack this unique perspective that peer-run services provide. This can lead to a disconnect between service providers and participants, as the professional experience does not encompass the same lived realities that peers bring to the table.