by Deacon Eric Gurash
This article is part of an ongoing series discussing the core values of peer support within a faith-based framework. In the journey of mental health and addiction recovery, core values play a pivotal role in fostering healing and resilience. One such core value is being strength-based, which focuses on recognizing and building upon individuals’ inherent strengths, abilities, and potential.
In the spiritual peer support model used in Emmaus groups and other mental health ministries throughout North America, there is a deep appreciation for how this approach aligns with the teachings of Jesus Christ and sacred scripture. By exploring this synergy, the hope is to encourage Catholic and Christian dioceses, parishes, and communities to develop much-needed mental health ministries, enriching the practice of spiritual peer support and increasing our capacity to accompany others amid the challenges they face.
Taking a strength-based approach in spiritual peer support means emphasizing the empowerment of others by highlighting individuals’ strengths and capabilities. This helps people see themselves as resourceful and resilient, which boosts their confidence and self-efficacy. It fosters positive relationships where strengths are recognized and affirmed, building trust and mutual respect.
This holistic perspective, which considers the whole person and their potential, is a beacon of hope. It encourages setting and working towards personal goals, identifying and leveraging strengths to achieve them. By focusing on what is working well and what can be built upon, it instills hope and optimism. This approach empowers each person to tailor their responses and support needs to their own particular strengths, making it more relevant and effective.
By fostering the development of supportive relationships within faith communities, where strengths are recognized and affirmed, we can build trust and mutual respect, enhancing the overall sense of community.
A few biblical stories come to mind in reflecting on this strength-based approach, demonstrating a foundation in Christian values. While emphasizing that all strengths and gifts come from God, the Parable of the Talents in Matthew twenty-five dramatically encourages using and multiplying one’s abilities and strengths to achieve growth and success. When Jesus called brothers Simon and Andrew, as described in Matthew four, he declared that they would grow to be “fishers of men” seeing potential and strengths they did not see in themselves. In spiritual peer support, other members often see and point out the strengths that individuals are unaware of.
The healing of the paralytic in Mark chapter two highlights the strength found in supportive relationships through the faith and determination of the paralytic’s friends, helping us to appreciate the strength found in keeping good, supportive people around us and knowing to turn to them in times of need. Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well in John four demonstrates His recognition of her potential to influence her community despite her past. In this encounter, she discovers a capacity for transforming the lives of others that she had not considered before. After Peter’s denial, Jesus reinstates him in John chapter twenty-one, focusing on Peter’s strengths and potential for leadership. Paul’s teaching on spiritual gifts in First Corinthians chapter twelve highlights the variety of spiritual gifts, emphasizing each person’s unique strengths and that each gift has a vital place in our lives and the life of the community.
By intentionally incorporating the core values of peer support, such as focusing on strengths, into spiritual peer support practices, we can significantly enrich the experience of mutual care and recovery. Dioceses, parishes, and communities can create dedicated mental health ministries that integrate strength-based peer support with Christian teachings, providing a safe space for individuals to share their struggles and strengths and fostering a supportive and empowering environment.
Integrating spiritual care with mental health support acknowledges the whole person, addressing both spiritual and psychological needs. This holistic approach results in more comprehensive and effective support. By fostering the development of supportive relationships within faith communities, where strengths are recognized and affirmed, we can build trust and mutual respect, enhancing the overall sense of community. In addition, when individuals set personal goals and recognize their strengths in achieving these goals, they feel empowered and their self-efficacy increases, leading to more significant progress in their recovery.
Integrating the core values of peer support, especially this strength-based approach, with the teachings of Jesus Christ and the wisdom found in the Bible can greatly enrich the practice of spiritual peer support. By developing mental health ministries with this kind of focus within our faith communities, we can create a space of hope, faith, and mutual care, reflecting the love and compassion at the heart of our Christian faith.
Emmaus Support Mental Health Ministries 