All Peer Support Specialists must adhere to the Code of Ethics in their work. This document provides the ethical guidelines and standards of conduct for Certified Peer Support Specialists, including both Mental Health Peer Specialists (MHPS) and Recovery Support Peer Specialists (RSPS).
Review the Code of Ethics below:
Peer Specialist Code of Ethics
The principles in the following Code of Ethics guide Texas Certified Peer Specialists in their roles, relationships,
and levels of responsibility in which they function professionally.
1. The primary responsibility of Certified Peer Specialists is to help individuals achieve their own needs,
wants, and goals. Certified Peer Specialists will be guided by the principle of self-determination for all.
2. Certified Peer Specialists will maintain high standards of personal conduct. Certified Peer Specialists will
also conduct themselves in a manner that fosters their own recovery.
3. Certified Peer Specialists will openly share their recovery stories, and will likewise be able to identify and
describe the supports that promote their recovery.
4. Certified Peer Specialists will, at all times, respect the rights and dignity of those they serve.
5. Certified Peer Specialists will never intimidate, threaten, harass, use undue influence, physical force or
verbal abuse, or make unwarranted promises of benefits to the individuals they serve.
6. Certified Peer Specialists will not practice, condone, facilitate or collaborate in any form of discrimination
on the basis of ethnicity, race, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, religion,
national origin, marital status, political belief, mental or physical disability, military status, or any other
preference or personal characteristic, condition or state.
7. Certified Peer Specialists will advocate for those they serve that they may make their own decisions in all
matters when dealing with other professionals.
8. Certified Peer Specialists will respect the privacy and confidentiality of those they serve.
9. Certified Peer Specialists will advocate for the full integration of individuals into the communities of their
choice and will promote the inherent value of these individuals to those communities. Certified Peer
Specialists will be directed by the knowledge that all individuals have the right to live in the least restrictive
and least intrusive environment.
10. Certified Peer Specialists will not enter into dual relationships or commitments that conflict with the
interests of those they support.
11. Certified Peer Specialists will not engage in sexual/intimate activities with those to whom they are
currently providing support, or have worked with in a professional role in the past two years.
12. Certified Peer Specialists will not provide services to another when under the influence of alcohol or
when impaired by any substance, whether or not it is prescribed.
13. Certified Peers Providers will keep current with emerging knowledge relevant to recovery, and openly
share this knowledge with their colleagues.
14. Certified Peer Specialists will not accept gifts of significant value from those they serve.
A peer specialist may not:
a) practice psychotherapy, make clinical or diagnostic assessments, or dispense expert opinions;
b) engage in any service that requires a license;
c) falsify any documentation related to application, training, testing, certification, or services provided
under thissubchapter;
d) retaliate against any person who, in good faith, makes a complaint or files a grievance against the peer
specialist regarding services provided under this subchapter;
e) engage in conduct that is prohibited by state, federal, or local law, including those laws prohibiting the
use, possession, or distribution of drugs or alcohol;
f) participate in, condone, or promote discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin,
gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, physical disability, or economic statusin the performance of
peer specialist services or training;
g) delay or fail to report suspicion of abuse or neglect to the proper authority;
h) violate law, rule, or policy related to a recipient’s privacy and confidentiality;
i) violate professional and personal boundaries, including having sexual contact with a recipient;
or
j) have a dual relationship with a recipient
Source: Texas Certification Board – Peer Specialist Code of Ethics
