BACKGROUND
The Wounded Warriors Canada Peer Support Training is designed to help Trauma Exposed Professionals (TExP’s) become confident, capable, well-informed peer supporters, with increased personal resiliency for the rigours of their frontline and peer support roles. The training is intended to benefit both seasoned peer supporters and novices who require a grounding in the fundamentals of peer support. We provide a combination of content-rich education about a variety of relevant topics as well as opportunities for experiential learning. Attendees will learn about concepts that will improve their ability to recognize and respond to signs of stress and trauma in self and others, and to manage the crucial transition between “home mode” and “responder mode.”
Psychologists and peer support consultants collaborated on the development of the program, and work in tandem to conduct the training.
Psychologists involved in the training have extensive experience working with first responders, both as front-line clinicians and as peer support trainers.
Peer Support Consultants are individuals who come from first responder careers, who have an abundance of real-world peer support experience, as well as knowledge and understanding of the unique challenges facing peer support teams for first responder services.
Delivery Model: In-person group-based experiential learning environment – normally procured by organizations for both small and large groups.
PROGRAMS
PEER SUPPORT FUNDAMENTALS PROGRAM (PFP)
The Peer-Support Fundamentals Program (PFP) is designed to help first responders become confident, capable, well-informed peer supporters, with increased personal resiliency for the rigors of their frontline and peer support roles. This three-day program is intended to benefit both seasoned peer supporters and novices who require a grounding in the fundamentals of peer support.
The training model uses an immersive and experiential approach whereby participants engage in personal sharing of thoughts, feelings, and experiences in small and large groups to learn the core peer supporter skill of active listening. The format is not a typical classroom setting; participants and facilitators sit in chairs arranged a circle, without the use of any A/V equipment. All training is delivered through group- discussion and sharing of personal experiences. This training emphasizes how and why peer support can be effective in changing frontline culture and buffering colleagues from some of the lasting effects of exposure to stress and trauma. Attendees are taught concepts and practices designed to enhance their ability to recognize and respond to signs of stress and trauma in self and others.
Respecting the unique role of peer support in OSI prevention is a central theme, reflected in the balanced leadership model of the training team. Psychologists and peer support consultants collaborated on the development of the program, and all programs are co-facilitated by clinicians and peer support consultants. Clinicians providing the training have extensive experience working with first responders. Peer Support Consultants are individuals who come from first responder careers, who have an abundance of real-world peer support experience and know the unique challenges facing first responder peer support teams.
PEER SUPPORT CONSULTATION SERVICES
TRAINING FOR PEER-LED GROUP INTERVENTIONS
The Wounded Warriors Canada Peer-Support Fundamentals traning focuses on one-on-one peer support skills. Many peer support teams also offer peer-led group sessions (e.g., “defusings” and “debriefings”) in the wake of critical incidents. Offering safe and effective peer-led group sessions requires specialized training, which we can provide via two options:
- A one-day Group Facilitation Training
- A two-day standalone Group Facilitation Training program. Please note that the Peer-Support Fundamentals training is a prerequisite for this program.
ANNUAL REFRESHER PEER SUPPORT TRAINING SESSIONS
Annual refresher training sessions address two common challenges facing peer support teams: the need to maintain and enhance peer supporter skills, and the need to maintain engagement, cohesion, and energy within the team.
We offer one-day refresher training sessions to teams that have completed Peer Support Fundamentals.
SELECTION AND SCREENING OF NEW PEER TEAM MEMBERS (FOR NEW OR EXISTING TEAMS)
Includes organization of an arms-length peer nomination process in direct consultation with the service to determine team size requirements. The selection process includes a service-wide call for nominations, confirming interest and background information of those nominated, and the administration and scoring of a standardized psychological questionnaire to all new applicants. The screening tool is followed up with a psychological interview with each candidate to clarify concerns and evaluate fit for the work of peer support. Final costs depend on the size of the team; peer support teams of 12-15 people would typically require a candidate pool of 20-25 individuals.
ANNUAL MENTAL HEALTH CHECK-IN FOR PEER SUPPORT TEAM MEMBERS
Administration and scoring of a mental health questionnaire to existing peer support team members. Includes scoring and interpretation of test results and a 50-minute session with a clinician to discuss recommendations for any emerging concerns.
PEER SUPPORT TEAM CONSULTATION (FACILITATED BY A CLINICIAN AND PEER CONSULTANT)
Team consultation is held virtually, with all members of the team invited to participate. Consultation sessions may include topics such as team logistics, team functioning, debriefing the teams’ response to crisis situations, recruitment of new members, team cohesion, education on specific topics, etc.
LEADERSHIP CONSULTATION (FACILITATED BY A CLINICIAN AND PEER CONSULTANT)
Virtual consultation meetings with leadership (such as team coordinators, wellness specialists, managers supporting the team) on topics such as peer support team formation and structure; logistics, and operational procedures for team activation.
ONGOING PEER SUPPORT TEAM CONSULTATION AND OVERSIGHT
We provide oversight for peer support teams who are looking for a devoted team of clinicians with peer support expertise who can provide consultation throughout the year. This service includes rapid response on weekends and after hours. Peer support team leads are provided with a cell phone contact number for fast and direct access to a clinician. Some examples of consultation topics include: speaking to a peer support team member after a distressing peer support interaction; debriefing the team after a crisis impacting their service (e.g., death of a coworker, traumatic incident at the workplace, etc.); providing recommendations/resources; supporting the team when an employee is experiencing a mental health crisis; addressing confidentiality breaches.
LEADERSHIP TEAM
DR. NICOLE ETHIER, CLINICAL DIRECTOR
DR. SHANNON GIFFORD, CLINICAL DIRECTOR
Dr. Nicole Ethier and Dr. Shannon Gifford are two of the co-founders of Breakwater Institute for Occupational Stress and Trauma, a multidisciplinary clinic providing specialized mental health services to first responders and military members/ veterans.
In addition to providing frontline clinical support, Breakwater clinicians are involved in peer support training, personnel selection initiatives, clinical training for graduate students, consultation services with first responder agencies, and synergistic psychobiological treatment approaches for chronic operational stress and trauma (e.g., rTMS).
Drs. Ethier and Gifford both earned their Ph.D.s in clinical psychology from the University of Waterloo (UW), and are both long-serving clinical adjunct faculty members with the UW clinical psychology program.