As a CPSS, it is OK to use 12-step phrases and jargon when talking with someone seeking sobriety.

As a CPSS, it is OK to use 12-step phrases and jargon when talking with someone seeking sobriety.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Sometimes
• D. Not sure

Answer: (B)

Language used by a CPSS should be plain, person-centered, and supportive of the individual’s own recovery path. Relying on 12-step phrases and program-specific jargon as the default way of speaking can feel prescriptive, may carry stigma from past experiences with certain programs, and can imply that there is only one correct path to sobriety. That shift can hinder trust and open communication, which are essential in peer support. The goal is to empower the person, respect their choices, and use terms they understand and prefer, while staying flexible to adapt if they identify with a particular approach and request that language. If a client explicitly uses 12-step language or identifies with that community, you can acknowledge their terminology and incorporate it in a way that supports their autonomy. But in general, avoid defaulting to that jargon; focus on the person’s goals, preferences, and lived experience, and use language that invites collaboration and self-directed recovery.

Language used by a CPSS should be plain, person-centered, and supportive of the individual’s own recovery path. Relying on 12-step phrases and program-specific jargon as the default way of speaking can feel prescriptive, may carry stigma from past experiences with certain programs, and can imply that there is only one correct path to sobriety. That shift can hinder trust and open communication, which are essential in peer support. The goal is to empower the person, respect their choices, and use terms they understand and prefer, while staying flexible to adapt if they identify with a particular approach and request that language.

If a client explicitly uses 12-step language or identifies with that community, you can acknowledge their terminology and incorporate it in a way that supports their autonomy. But in general, avoid defaulting to that jargon; focus on the person’s goals, preferences, and lived experience, and use language that invites collaboration and self-directed recovery.