Tennessee Department of Mental Health and
Substance Abuse Services
Certified Peer Recovery Specialist Training
Overview
Vik Moore, MS, CPRS
CPRS
TRAINING
OVERVIEW
Meet the Trainers
Mark Bresee, Ph.D., CPRS
Aim Center, My Health
My Choice My Life
Karen Dennis, LADAC,
NCAC II, QCS, CCJS
Karen Consultants
Ron Hanaver, LADAC,
NCAC, QCS, ADS
Knox County
Drug Court
Jennifer Jones, LMSW,
CPRS
Tennessee Mental
Health Consumers’
Association
Meet the Trainers
Sheryl McCormick, CPRS
Peninsula a Division of
Parkwest Medical Center
Stephanie Wallingford, BS,
CPRS
Frontier Health
Michelle Webster, CPRS
Tennessee Association
of Alcohol, Drug,
& other Addiction
Services
Certified Peer Recovery Specialist Training
 The training lasts for five days,
Monday through Friday, from 8 to
5.
 The training itself is offered at no
cost to qualified applicants.
 however, travel, lodging, and meals
(including lunch and snacks) are
your responsibility.
Certified Peer Recovery Specialist Training
40 intensive hours of interactive
class participation, role-play, selfexamination, and testing.
The tests average about five
multiple-choice questions each.
75% must be answered correctly
(62/83).
Certified Peer Recovery Specialist Training
Homework
Each night you will be given
reading assignments and
exercises to complete on
your own.
Certified Peer Recovery Specialist Training
Section 1: Welcome
Training Agreement
Section 2: History
A Brief History of Mental Illness &
Substance Use Disorder Treatment
Self-determination & Legal Rights
Certified Peer Recovery Specialist Training
Section 3: Peer Recovery Specialists
 What Is a Peer Recovery Specialist?
 Peer Recovery Specialist Roles &
Definitions
 What Do Peer Recovery Specialists Do?
 Why do Peer Recovery Specialists Do
What They Do?
Certified Peer Recovery Specialist Training
Section 4: Recovery
A Consensus Statement
Defining Recovery
The Importance of Hope
Recovery & the Strengths
Perspective
Recovery Langauge
Certified Peer Recovery Specialist Training
Section 5: Values
Values Clarification Exercise
Section 6: Communication
Active Listening
The Three Main Components of
Active Listening
Reflecting Feelings
Certified Peer Recovery Specialist Training
Section 6: Communication,
continued
Awareness of Nonverbal Messages
Paraverbal Messages
Paraphrasing
Using Open-Ended Questions
Helpful Phrases
Listening Blocks
Certified Peer Recovery Specialist Training
Section 7: Problem Solving
Decision-Making &
Problem Solving
Conflict Resolution
Certified Peer Recovery Specialist Training
Section 8: Stigma
Stigma: Labels & Types
Recognizing &
Responding to Stigma
Strategies & Examples
Certified Peer Recovery Specialist Training
Section 9: Cultural
Competency
Basic Definitions
Communication is Key
Dynamics of Difference
Cultural Group Prevalence
Certified Peer Recovery Specialist Training
Section 10: Ethics &
Boundaries
Confidentiality
Making Ethical Decisions
Roles
Peer Recovery Specialists & Lived
Experience
Certified Peer Recovery Specialist Training
Section 10: Ethics & Boundaries,
continued
Core Peer Support Values &
Ethical Conduct
Self-Disclosure
Boundaries
Codependency
Certified Peer Recovery Specialist Training
Section 11: Trauma-informed
Care
Adverse Childhood Experiences
Study
Coping with Triggers
Section 12: Co-occurring
Disorders
Treatments and Types
Certified Peer Recovery Specialist Training
Section 13: Motivation & Readiness
What Is Motivation?
Readiness to Change
Stages of Change
Talking about Change
Pitfalls to Avoid
Certified Peer Recovery Specialist Training
Section 14: Wellness
Health & Wellness
Contributing factors for
preventable & premature
death
Eight Dimensions of
Certified Peer Recovery Specialist Training
Section 14: Wellness,
continued
Habits to Support Physical
Wellness
Healthy Eating
Sleep
Certified Peer Recovery Specialist Training
Section 15: Self-care & Stress
Management
What is Stress?
Self-care techniques
An Individualized Approach
Certified Peer Recovery Specialist Training
Section 16: Documentation
What to document
Things to remember when
documenting services
Ethical & Legal Issues
Certified Peer Recovery Specialist Training
Section 17: Supervision
Requirements of Supervisors
Working with Supervisors
Make Opportunities for People to
Shine
Take Time to Speak Out
Guidelines I Use to Manage My
Supervisor
Contact Info
Certified Peer Recovery Specialist Program
Vik Moore, MS, CPRS
Peer Recovery Coordinator
Office of Consumer Affairs & Peer Recovery Services
Vik.Moore@tn.gov
(615) 741-7693
http://www.recoverywithinreach.org
5th Floor Andrew Jackson Building
500 Deaderick Nashville, TN 37243