Core domain principles and terminology
Core domain principles and terminology
This domain checks whether you use recovery-oriented language precisely and can distinguish peer support from clinical case management.
Key concepts
- Recovery is a personal process of improving health, wellness, and quality of life, not a cure.
- Peer support is mutual, experiential, and hope-based; the peer role models recovery and supports self-determination.
- Person-centered means the client sets goals; the worker offers options and information.
- Trauma-informed practice assumes widespread trauma and prioritizes safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration, and empowerment.
- Cultural humility is ongoing self-reflection and responsiveness to identity, not a cultural-competence checklist.
- Harm reduction accepts incremental change and reduces risk without requiring abstinence.
- Stages of change-precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance-guide intervention matching.
Worked example
A client says, “I need you to call the clinic and get my appointment moved.” A case manager might do it; a peer supporter coaches. Reasoning: the peer role builds self-efficacy and preserves client autonomy. Response: “Let’s look at the number together. What would you like to say? We can rehearse it.” If the client lacks capacity or access, the peer documents the barrier and advocates without taking over.
Traps that cost marks
Calling someone “noncompliant” blames the person and misses barriers. “Resistant” often means the intervention is mismatched. Do not confuse peer support with therapy. Do not promise confidentiality in a group. Avoid rescuing; it undermines empowerment.