Counseling & Psychological Services

Counseling & Psychological Services

Peer Education Program

What is it?

Application Materials

• Application (MS Word file)
• Letters of Recommendation (MS Word file)
  
  All the application materials (the peer education application form, essays, and two letters of recommendation) should be returned by email to CPSpeers@mail.sdsu.edu by Friday April 4, 2008. Applications will be reviewed, interviews will be conducted and selections will be made, usually by early May, 2008.

Calendar of Events

Photo Gallery

What is it?

The Peer Education program offers students the opportunity to gain first-hand experience working in the mental health field with an emphasis on valuing and respecting diversity among individuals. The primary focus of their work is on outreach and educational activities that will provide programmatic support for our center. Peer educators are also given training in general counseling skills and ethical issues that are used in their interactions with student groups. Their work will be supervised by our professional staff.

Students earn three units of Psychology 491 credit for each semester. Some of the requirements are as follows. Peer educator orientation and training is generally held the week before fall semester classes begin (e.g., generally the third week in August), lasting approximately 6 hours per day. Other time commitments include Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:30 to 1:30 each day, and one additional hour to be determined. Peer Educators participate in class time, outreach activities, involvement in the C&PS Student Advisory Board, and Bounce Back Peer Coaching.

Although we greatly value a commitment to one’s own personal growth, it can sometimes be problematic for a student if they have been seen as a client prior to becoming a peer educator. Working in the same environment with a previous counselor may prove to be awkward, and this possibility should be thoroughly considered by the applicant. As a peer educator, you would not be eligible to receive services at the center for the very same reasons. If these situations might apply to you as a former client or as someone who thinks they may need to utilize our services in the future, please seriously consider this information.

Questions? Please email us at: CPSpeers@mail.sdsu.edu

Counseling Skills
Many students look toward the peer education program for exposure to the profession of counseling. They are typically interested in discovering more about the skills needed to be a good therapist. Furthermore, they have questions about the various paths one might take to become a professional counselor. Toward this end, peer educators receive training in basic counseling skills and exposure to the field through their integration into C&PS. They learn about such things as listening skills, facilitating groups discussions, and the principles underlying behavior change. Although peer educators are not able to "see clients," they use their developing counseling skills in their outreach and prevention efforts and typically find that their skills improve throughout the year. The year spent as a peer educator often serves as a hands on introduction to the helping professions and the skills needed for one’s future careers.

Annual Events

SDSU Health Expo (All SDSU)
Safe Spring Fling (All SDSU)
Alcohol Screening Day (All SDSU)
SDSU Open House (All SDSU & community)
Relaxation Station (All SDSU)