1. What is peer support?

In both formal (as a part of projects, in organisations, at events) and informal settings (within their personal peer groups), peer supporters are generally expected to be skilled in communication, have the ability to listen actively and show empathy in relation to the peer. Acting as a peer supporter will increase these skills and many others, as the person encounters various situations and issues and gets to practice their competencies.

Here is a set of basic skills that a peer supporter should have:

1. Building Interpersonal Relations

   They interact in a manner that honours the dignity of others and strives to create positive respectful relationships. They show genuine interest in their peers. Even in a difficult or tense situation they strive to maintain a level of respect and consideration for the other.

2. Demeanour

   They are sensitive to what the other person might be feeling, show non-judgmental empathy, and respond in a manner that is equal, genuine, and personal. They self-disclose their own experience selectively and in a manner that ensures the relationship remains peer focused. 

3. Communication

   They listen with empathy and without judgement, holding their peers in unconditional high regard. They use different communication styles and skills to improve their understanding and adapt the style and tone of communication to suit the peer and the situation. They communicate using recovery language (using the words a person uses to describe themselves, their experience and what has helped) and emphasise the strengths of their peers. 

4. Critical Thinking

   They engage in empathic listening (definition and explanation can be found under the topic Communication Skills, section 6.3 – Empathic Listening) to better understand a situation and recognize that there is more than one way to look at an issue. They consider the possible implications or outcomes of their actions and, when asked, will help peers to explore the outcome or possible consequences of various options. They demonstrate good judgement in respecting the limits and boundaries of their role. 

5. Inspiring Hope

   They operate from a sense of hope, expressing confidence that others will be successful in their own personal journeys of recovery. They strive to model realistic optimism and a belief that even in difficult situations positive choices can be made. 

6. Self-Management & Resiliency

   They understand the importance of self-care and stress management and use the practices that work best for them to remain healthy while supporting others. They strive to maintain calm and diffuse stressful or challenging situations. 

7. Flexibility & Adaptability

   They are open to new ideas, deal comfortably with ambiguity, and adjust plans or behaviours to better suit the given situation. They are willing to be open-minded and compromise when needed. 

8. Self-Awareness & Confidence

   They interact in a manner that demonstrates a balance of self-confidence with openness to the thoughts and opinions of others. They self-reflect and understand that personal thoughts and attitudes can influence their behaviour and actions. 

9. Taking Initiative & Committing

   They are dependable and carry tasks out to completion. They demonstrate good judgement, knowing when insight or assistance should be requested from another and are trustworthy when working independently. 

10. Teamwork

    They share knowledge, ideas and resources with team members in a cooperative and collaborative manner. They strive to fulfil their role and responsibility within the team while respecting the roles and responsibilities of the other team members. 

11. Continuous Learning & Development

    They strive to approach life and work with curiosity, identify areas where personal growth may be helpful, and take advantage of opportunities to learn and develop. They recognize the value of on-going personal growth and skill development and maintain a connection with a peer support community as a resource to stay ‘grounded’ in the work of authentic peer support.

Source: Peer Support Canada  

It is important to note that while these are all useful skills to develop and use in peer support, we all have our strengths and weaknesses and there is no perfect peer supporter. Rather than attempting to be great at everything, it is best to apply the capabilities you already have and keep an open mind towards learning other skills that would be helpful. Aside from offering support to those that need it, peer supporters are usually also there for each other and help other peer supporters to manage their shortcomings.