Training Curriculum

Peers and Clinicians Collaborative Training Curriculum

The lack of understanding and support between peers and clinicians in the field of behavioral and mental health treatment creates a significant gap that hinders a holistic approach to recovery. As a result, clients do not receive comprehensive care, leading to confusion and discouragement. Service providers recognize this issue and are advocating for a formalized training curriculum to bridge the gap, promoting mutual respect and enhancing their ability to support the community effectively. This curriculum aims to provide new insights, awareness, skills, and tools for both peers and clinicians to value each other’s contributions and work together more cohesively.

Solution

Peers and Clinicians Collaborative Training; a 12 week training program led by both peers and clinicians and developed for students inclusive of both peers and clinicians. This multidisciplinary, multimodal approach will help peers and clinicians address a systematically overlooked area of their daily work: interactions with diametrically trained service providers (peers vs. clinicians). This training is designed to help both groups of service providers bridge the gap between their contradictory methods of helping consumers of mental and behavioral health.

Schedule

Week 1

Introduction & Overview Of Pcc Training Program Core Competencies and History

Crossing/Swapping/Overlapping Roles

Week 2

Addressing The Problem, Challenges, And Discovering Solutions

Open Discussion, Brainstorming, “Storming” (from Group Formation perspective)

Week 3

Deeper Understanding: Factors Leading To Better Solutions

Performing” collaboratively on coming up with options Delve into Roles, Value of Lived Experience

Week 4

Laws & Regulations (Restrictions & New Opportunities)

Week 5

Experiential Integration

Collaborative Problem Solving – Chaos to Harmony

Week 6

Training Models

Performing” collaboratively on coming up with options Delve into Roles, Value of Lived Experience

Week 7

Experiential Integration

Collaborative Problem Solving – Chaos to Harmony

Week 8

National Trends & Data; Delivery Of Services

The overlap between clinicians and peers (consumers)

Week 9

Train The Trainer Practice (Peers Support Group Facilitation)

Week 10

Train The Trainer Practice (Clinical Support Group Facilitation)

Week 11

Combined, Integrated Peers & Clinician Facilitated Support Group

Week 12

Wrap Up: Assessments & Evaluations

Application & Delivery Of Services

Specific Topics

De-escalation of clients, increasing motivation for treatment compliance, boundaries, medication compliance, dual relationships, religious practices, countertransference, tolerance/respect/dignity, self disclosure, agendas and influence & alliance

Training & Education

The Importance of the Courses

Therapists and psychologists may also be required to complete continuing education courses on an ongoing basis in order to maintain their licenses.

Value Of Experience

Lived experience and peers support work can be extremely important in the field of mental and behavioral health. Lived experience refers to the personal experience of living with or overcoming mental health or substance abuse issues. Peers support workers are individuals who have personally experienced these issues and use their lived experience to provide support and guidance to others who are struggling with similar issues.

Lived experience can be valuable in several ways. It can provide a unique perspective and understanding of what it is like to live with a mental health or substance abuse condition. It can also provide hope and encouragement, as peers support workers can share their own stories of recovery and resilience with those they are helping. In addition, research has shown that peers support can be an effective component of treatment, leading to improved outcomes and greater satisfaction with care.

Overall, lived experience and peers support work can be an important resource for individuals who are struggling with mental health or substance abuse issues, and can play a vital role in helping them to achieve recovery and improve their overall well-being.