Power Statements: A Peer Specialists Best Friend ;-)

In my opinion, all too commonly peer specialists get assimilated into working and talking just like traditional mental health clinicians. Peer specialists get assimilated through a slow process of drifting away from what is unique about the peer specialist role. Particularly if we work in settings such as state hospitals or ACT teams, it's easy to get assimilated into the dominant clinical culture. And the danger is that if we drift away from what is unique about being peer, our work will become indistinguishable from the work of the clinical staff. 

Power Statements are a method I developed to help our peers become self-advocates with psychiatrists and other clinicians. Peer Specialists can be sure they are remaining true to the role, by helping peers develop Power Statements to advocate for the care that is right for them.