Topic 3: Setting Boundaries to Protect Well-Being
Ethical peer support requires healthy boundaries to ensure that specialists remain effective, professional, and emotionally well. Without clear boundaries, peer specialists may overextend themselves, leading to burnout, compassion fatigue or ethical missteps.
Key Boundary-Setting Strategies:
- Define work-life separation: Avoid taking work-related stress home.
- Set emotional limits: Provide support without internalizing a peer’s struggles.
- Recognize your role: Peer specialists are supporters, not saviors or therapists.
- Practice assertiveness: Learn to say no when necessary.
Example:
A peer specialist notices that a peer is frequently calling them late at night with urgent requests. To maintain professional balance, the specialist reinforces clear availability hours and encourages the peer to use crisis resources when needed.
Best Practice: Establishing and maintaining professional boundaries is essential to ethical self-care.