What can I Expect from a Session with a Lived Experience Peer Worker at Q Psychology?

What can I Expect from a Session with a Lived Experience Peer Worker at Q Psychology?

This is broad question, because before anything else, peer work is person-centered, and the incredible, wonderful (and perhaps frustrating for the purposes of answering this question) thing about people is that every single person is different, which means that every peer work session will look a little bit different. However, there are a few things you should always be able to expect in a lived experience peer work session:

Respect: A lived experience peer worker will always respect your experiences, identity, and autonomy. You may have different opinions to your peer worker, or may choose to handle things differently from them, and that's perfectly okay! Everyone is different, and what is right for one person doesn't necessarily make it right for someone else – even in your differences, you will be respected.

Empathy: The 'lived experience' part of the lived experience peer work title means that very often (although not always!) you will be working with someone who has been through something very similar (if not exactly the same) as you, and likely understands a lot of what you are experiencing. However, not everyone will experience every situation the same way, and sometimes your peer worker may not have a similar experience to you at all – even in these situations, you can still expect empathy, it just may not be possible for it to come from a place of lived experience.

Collaboration: A lived experience peer work session is built on a collaborative effort between the peer worker and the person they are working with. You peer worker will collaborate with you on how you would like the session to run, including what you would like to cover and the approach you would like your peer worker to take. Taking a collaborative approach means that if you're just looking to vent, you can let your peer worker know and they won't jump in with problem-solving suggestions, or if you're looking for some strategies or trying to make a decision, your peer worker will be able to offer you examples and support you to explore your options.

Consent: Consent is a dynamic, on-going conversation between two people. Within the context of a session with a lived experience peer worker, some of the ways this can look is the peer worker checking in with you before they share their own lived experience, respecting your decision not to share something you are uncomfortable with, or asking if there's a particular approach you'd like them to take if they are unsure what you would find most helpful in that moment. Sometimes things change, or feel different day-to-day, session-to-session, or even moment-to-moment – consent means that just because you were comfortable talking about something or using a certain approach in a previous session, or even earlier in a session, doesn't mean your peer worker will assume you will remain comfortable with that thing – you are always allowed to change your mind, and are encouraged to let your peer worker know if something no longer feels right for you, or if you are uncomfortable.

What does an initial session with a lived experience peer worker look like?

Your first session with a lived experience peer worker is likely to be the most structured session due to the some of the logistical and legal information your peer worker has to check in with you about. At the beginning of a session, your peer worker will introduce themselves with their name and pronouns, and will confirm your name and pronouns with you too. Your peer worker will then run through the logistical and legal information they need to have on file (such as payment information and an emergency/next of kin contact name and number) and support you to understand consent, privacy and confidentiality and how those apply within a peer work context. Depending on your prior knowledge of or experience with peer work, your peer worker may also help you to gain a better understanding of what peer work is, what kind of things they can support you in, and the kinds of things that might fall outside of the scope of peer work. They'll also make sure to flag any of their own boundaries about what they are or aren't comfortable sharing as part of their work. Your peer worker may also ask some brief questions about your general wellbeing to start to get a sense of how you're doing.

From there, your peer worker will give you the opportunity to ask any questions you might have, and to tell them a bit about yourself and what you're looking for from peer work sessions. It's okay if you're not quite sure what you're looking for when you walk through the door! Part of a first session will be your peer worker collaborating with you to figure out the best ways of supporting you, and helping you to explore what you might like to work on with them if you're feeling unsure. Some people like to come to peer work sessions with a clear challenge, decision, or situation they'd like support with, while others find it easier to start talking about what's going on for them more generally and then work out where to go from there! There's no right or wrong way to approach your sessions - you're allowed to take your time and figure out what's right for you (or dive straight in if that's more your style!).

What if I find it difficult to talk about myself or my experiences the first time I meet someone?

That is perfectly alright! Peer work sessions are designed around you, and they move at your pace – you never have to talk about something you aren't ready to share yet. If there are things you find helpful when building trust with someone, your peer worker can work with you to try some of those out in session. If you're not sure what you find helpful, your peer worker can support you to explore some options, or you might prefer to work on something a bit less intense/more comfortable for the first couple of sessions.

Do I have to tell my lived experience peer worker everything?

Absolutely not! You never have to tell your peer worker anything you don't want to. While a peer worker can only support you based on what you do tell them, there is never any obligation for you to share more than you are comfortable with. Your boundaries are always important, and just because you're comfortable talking about something once doesn't mean you have to keep talking about it in future sessions (or even in the same session).

Will my lived experience peer worker tell me what to do?

No they won't. While a peer worker might offer you suggestions if you ask for them, or support you to explore your options, the decisions you make are ultimately up to you. Peer work specifically aims to promote your right to self-determination and to uphold your autonomy, recognising that you are the expert when it comes to yourself and your life and supporting you to make the best decisions for you and your unique situation.

Do lived experience peer workers have to keep notes about my sessions?

Legally, lived experience peer workers are required to keep a written record of all sessions. Given its historical roots in protests against institutionalisation in mental healthcare, peer work recognises the role that documentation, including session note-taking, has played in the institutional trauma experienced by many people who have accessed mental healthcare services. While session notes do have to be written, your peer worker can work with you to explore options that might help you feel more comfortable with your session notes, including using the end of each session to collaboratively write the notes with you.