Wellness Peer Education at CAPS
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) recognizes the value
of peer support in helping students address personal concerns. Students
eager to contribute time and energy to assisting their peers, and wishing
to gain experience in a counseling environment are encouraged to apply
to become peer educators. Since 2004, CAPS has offered the Wellness Peer Education Program. Wellness Peer Educators are selected
in the Spring of each year for an appointment term that runs throughout
the next academic year.
Peer education involves UCSD students providing education and outreach to other students. We believe that student peer education is a strong and important avenue to provide information on topics important and applicable to UCSD students: mental health wellness and women's issues. Peer education provides unique experiences for students to receive training in teaching, presentation, and basic counseling skills. In addition, these students then provide valuable resources and information to the UCSD community through workshop/outreach presentations, group forums, and individual meetings with students.
Many of our past Peer Educators have attended or gone to graduate school in areas of Counseling and Clinical Psychology, Medicine, Social Work, and even Engineering. There's something for everyone!
What types of programs are available to join?
CAPS offers the following peer education program:
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Wellness Peer Education Program - Tiffany O'Meara, Ph.D., Coordinator
The Wellness Peer Education Program offers unique programming and training experiences. These groups typically meet weekly to discuss training, program development, and program planning. In addition, the peer educators meet for an "all-peer training," in which the peers are provided extensive training in basic counseling skills, group facilitation, crisis management and ethics, and how to construct and implement outreach/workshops presentations. For a link to the Peer Education Program section, click here.
What is the time commitment to be a Wellness Peer Educator?
Wellness Peer Educators typically devote from 3-6 hours per week throughout the academic year. During the start of the Fall quarter, there are two extensive "all-peer training" sessions that require approximately 6 total hours.
What types of programs or presentations do Wellness Peer Educators provide?
The Wellness Peer Education Program provides outreach presentations for a wide variety of issues (related to the program's theme). Listed is a sample of recent programs and trainings provided with the peer education program:
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National Depression Screening Day (Wellness Program)
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Stress Management Workshops (Wellness Program)
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National Sleep Awareness Week "Sweet Dreams" Event (Wellness Program)
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Biofeedback and Relaxation Training Workshops (Wellness Program)
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Celebrating Every Body Event (Wellness Program)
How do I become a peer educator?
You can apply to be a peer educator the the next academic year online, usually from early-April, and ending in mid-April! For the 2013-14 year, the deadline is Friday, 4/19/13 at 12pm (NOON). To apply online, click here. NOTE: THE ONLINE APPLICATION WILL BE DEACTIVATED AFTER THE DEADLINE.
You can also find out more about each program by attending our Peer Info Session on Monday, April 15, 2013, from 6-7pm at the Revelle College Formal Lounge (next to Plaza Cafe dining hall)! Representatives from the Wellness Peer Education Program will be present!
Thank you for your interest in our Wellness Peer Education Program.