What is a Peer Support Specialist?
A Peer Support Specialist is a professional with lived experience in overcoming challenges who has been trained and certified to help others as they move forward in their own journey. As someone who has traveled a similar path, a Peer Support Specialist fosters hope and serves as a valuable role model and peer counselor for those who are walking the road to well-being.
Engaging, interactive e-learning.
LaBarbera Learning Solutions offers a 15-module digital learning solution to equip you with the specialized skills you need to transform your experiences into practical, supportive services that help others forge their own to path well-being.
Affordable solutions.
At just $549 for the complete course, you can
start anytime and
learn at your own pace
on
any device (desktop, laptop, tablet, or phone).
Overview
Have you overcome a behavioral or mental/emotional challenge or lived through an adverse experience? When you understand first-hand how important it is to have a good support system, it's natural to want to help others facing the same problems. The course will equip you to become a role model for others and show them that it is possible to achieve recovery, build resilience, and thrive!
What you'll learn:
Notes:
Level 1: Fundamentals
This five-module course:
Level 2: Intermediate Skills - Intro to Peer2Peer Counseling Model
This five-module course:
Level 3: Advanced Peer Counseling Skills
This five-module course:
Dr. LaBarbera
Curricululm developed by an expert:
Our training and development curriculum was developed by an expert educator and instructional designer, Dr. Robin LaBarbera, who blends her educational psychology and social work backgrounds to create engaging learning experiences that help you build an impactful team of Peer Counselors.
Someone with lived experience:
Dr. LaBarbera's childhood experiences include exposure to extreme domestic violence, divorce, frequent moves, involvement with child protective services, and foster care. She understands the effects of trauma exposure and what it takes to achieve well-being despite difficult circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questions
We equip you to serve current and formerly incarcerated individuals to promote wellbeing and flourishing in the community. Individuals completing their sentences and transitioning to the community are often facing significant challenges, and peer support provides assistance in navigating the system.
Become equipped to meet the needs of transition age youth and adults on the journey toward permanent housing. Become equipped in motivational interviewing, problem solving, and principals of cognitive behavioral therapy to promote recovery and wellness.
Use your experience in successful recovery to help others experiencing similar situations. Through shared understanding, respect, and mutual empowerment, help people become and stay engaged in the recovery process and reduce the likelihood of relapse.
Peer support is a safe, confidential space to support mutual growth as you serve others with mental health challenges. Bring your own personal knowledge of what it is like to live and recover from mental health challenges. Share stories of hope and empowerment and promote wellbeing.
Who better knows the issues of parenting children with disabilities than someone who has been there? Peer supporters provide role modeling, share experiences, understand disability issues, and they provide mutual understanding of the stress of raising children with physical or learning challenges.
Support current and former foster youth who may be homeless or at risk of homelessness, who seek assistance enrolling and completing their education, or who lack support and resources in any area.
OUR PARTNERS IN PEER SUPPORT SPECIALIST TRAINING
Testimony Ministries advocates for gospel-centered justice by providing reentry services, housing, and job readiness to help end mass incarceration.
LBRM provides food, clothing, shelter and spiritual guidance to the homeless and less fortunate people of the Long Beach community.
“The content was very engaging. I learned a lot of things I did not know. I especially enjoyed the “effective questioning for peer supporters” content. I would definitely recommend this course to others – I’m telling the peers I work with about this.”
“Right now, I'm actually working at a homeless shelter with people in active addiction. This training has helped me understand stigma and respect others as they struggle with their illness. I've become a comfort to many as they struggle."
“This is the best training I have ever been a part of. I especially enjoyed the case studies that helped me apply my learning to real-world situations.”
This PDF workbook is a helpful tool for anyone using the Peer2Peer Counseling Model to improve the mental health and wellbeing of their peers. It is designed to accompany the three levels of peer counselor training, and it is also a valuable resource separate from the training.