Happy to report that I have completed my Peer Support Training with FVA (Fife Voluntary Action) and LA Co-reflection.

A big thank you to Lisa Archibald (LA) and Trish O’Brien (FVA).

Outline

We learned about and discussed the following:

• Session 01, Introduction:
  • History of peer support and where it came from.
  • Peer support values.
• Session 02, Relationships:
  • Relational dynamics, and how we might get stuck.
  • What do positive relationships feel like?
• Session 03, What Do We Fell and Need:
  • Mutuality in relationships.
  • Having intentional conversations.
  • What parts of my life story do I want to share.
• Session 04, Connections and Endings:
  • Forming connections and commonalities.
  • How do you move forwards from a disconnection?
  • Reconnection.
  • Endings in relationships.

Duration

The course was delivered over a total of 10 hours (4 x 2.5 hours sessions on separate days).

Delivery

The course was delivered via zoom with tutor-led theory and discussions, as well as group-led small group work (2-3 persons).

What Did I Learn

Things I learned during the course include:

• The importance of building a connection within a peer support relationship, and understanding how commonalities can aid this.
• Understand and appreciate that some relationships are not meant to be, and how to communicate this.
• Peer support is a negotiation and two-way process, both the helper and helpee get something out of the relationship.
• How to reconnect if there is disconnect.
• Ensuring that the helpee has the opportunity to expression what they hope to achieve from peer support.
• Periodic review of the peer support relationship – to ensure it is progressing towards its stated aims (see point above).
• Peer support should be honest and open.
• Discuss boundaries and limits at the start of the relationship.
• Negotiate what is comfortable and why (e.g. comfortable with a hand shake but not a hug) (see point above).
• How to reframe questions or statements, and why we do this.