Next Training: Virtual-March 27th-April 1st
Using nationally recognized best practices for Peer Support, participants learn to facilitate healthy conversations and outcomes, reduce peer isolation and develop tools to create a network of peer support.
2025 Upcoming Training Dates:
Virtual Training: March 27th-April 1st
Each training is 22 hours and split up over multiple days. For each session mentioned above, attendance to all dates is required for course completion and a certificate at the end. Each virtual training is four days and each in-person session is three days.
Starting in 2025, we are excited to announce that Growing Veterans will be waiving the fee for our certification without CEUs.
For those interested in certification with CEUs, the cost has been reduced from $500 to only $150.
We now offer two options for you to take the training:
- Tier 1: Certification without CEUs - FREE (donation requested after training).
- Tier 2: Certification with 20.5 CEUs - now only $150 (credits valid only in Washington State).
To make your payment to receive 20.5 CEUs, please visit the shop section of our website here!
Upcoming Virtual Training: March 27th-April 1st.
Time: 8am-3pm
Admissions: Everyone!; veterans, civilians, students, teachers, and counselors, are welcome.
When: Thursday; March 27th, Friday; March 28th, Monday; March 31st, & Tuesday; April 1st from 8am to 3pm.
Where: This training will be hosted online via Zoom.
Preparation: To ensure a smooth and productive experience, we recommend that you have a quiet and comfortable environment to participate and that your technical setup (internet connection, microphone, camera) is ready before the session starts. Have a notebook and pen to take notes.
An introductory email with the information needed for the class will be sent out the Monday prior to the start of training.
Cost For Both In-Person + Virtual Training Sessions:
The training is offered at no cost for certification without CEUs. While donations are not required, we encourage you to consider making a donation after the training if you are able. All donations will help us cover the costs of this training for future sessions.
For those interested in certification with CEUs, the cost is a flat rate of $150 for 20.5 CEUs. To make your payment, click here. Please have your payment in no later than two weeks prior to the training.
To sign up, please fill out the following form.
Peer Support Training Program
-
Peer Support Training is the framework to support and connect to one another through the lens of humanity versus judgement. To hold space for one another and our experiences in authentic ways.
Developed by veterans and mental health care professionals - for veterans, civilians, mental health providers, businesses, and organizations committed to the wellness of veterans and each other.
Research conducted by the Veterans Health Administration “revealed that participants described the PST in largely positive ways and reported using learned skills with both veterans and nonveterans across their personal and professional lives. Specifically, participants reported learning tools through the PST that increased their patience, mindfulness, awareness, empathy, and confidence, resulting in improved interpersonal relationships and communications across multiple domains.”
-
While geared to develop your role as a Peer Supporter to veterans, this training will benefit anyone. You will improve your interpersonal communication skills in both a personal and professional capacity.
Common professions that take this training are: Mental Health Professionals, HR Managers, Those who work closely with veterans in their daily work, Leadership Roles, Management Roles, and anyone seeking to increase their communication and support skills.
Past participants have cited many reasons for wanting to take the PST, including being a veteran, working with veterans, wanting to help veteran families, working with teens who have attempted suicide, wanting to serve the community, wanting to address their own personal issues, wanting to build communication skills, wanting to build/improve peer support programs or collaborate with other programs, and wanting to get more involved in GV.
-
Recognizing & understanding the symptoms of PTSD
Identifying causes & cycles of PTSD and Transition Stress
Utilizing the skillset of a Peer Supporter (Presence, Empathy, and Curiosity)
How to create a Culture of Peer Support in your workplace
Supporting those in crisis, whether veteran or civilian
Holding space for others stories and experiences
PST Alumni have noted that this training improved their knowledge of peer support and peer support skills as well as their confidence and willingness to use these skills. As one participant said, "You can apply these skills to just about any conversation. Peer support is not unique for just veterans. This is a life skill:'
-
The training has been developed into a five-day online format that spans 21 hours of training and a 3-day intensive in-person training held throughout various locations throughout WA.
-
Our training is incredibly interactive with participants interacting with one another in small cohorts to practice the Peer Support skillset. You will be engaged the entire time - no sitting at the computer with your camera off for this one!
-
This training has been approved for 20.5 CEs in the State of Washington for the following professions:
Licensed Mental Health Counselors
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists
Licensed Social Workers
All respective associate licenses.
WMHCA Provider #1804
-
We are excited to announce that Growing Veterans will be waiving the fee for our certification without CEUs.
We now offer two options for you to take the training:
- Tier 1: Certification without CEUs - FREE (donation requested after training).
- Tier 2: Certification with 20.5 CEUs - now only $150 (credits valid only in Washington State).
For those interested in certification with CEUs, please make your payment by visiting the shop section here.
Please have your payment submitted no less than two weeks prior to the start of training.
“During both my military and civilian careers, I experienced and participated in a myriad seminars, institutes, classes, etc., covering many subjects ranging from organizational leadership to complex systems operations and many more. Growing Veterans’ Peer Training program is among the best I have ever attended. Immediately impactful, it provided tools and techniques to enhance the value and effectiveness of mentoring opportunities.”
If you are interested in Peer Support Training in general or want to know more about a session coming up, please fill out the form below.
An 18-month study conducted by Veterans Administration's Center of Innovation on Disability & Rehab Research (CINDRR) of our peer support training program sponsored by the Bob Woodruff Foundation concluded:
Growing Veterans' Peer Support Training is an evidence-based program that uses best practices as identified by DCOE as essential to successful military/veteran peer support programs. The evaluation indicates overwhelmingly, attendees reported the GV PST to be a powerful, transformative and positive experience.
Researchers from the Rehabilitation Outcomes Research Section of James A. Haley VA Medical Center in Florida also praised GV’s PST program and acknowledged several “unintended consequences of note”:
Participants reported using their peer support skills with all different populations, veterans and non-veterans;
Many even say that they have been able to use the peer support skills with their families to improve relationships;
Several non-veteran participants noted a benefit of the PST as heightening their awareness of Veteran struggles.
We’re Research backed! Read more using the links below
What are other people saying?
Along with research conducted by CINDRR finding "Growing Veterans' Peer Support Training to be a powerful, transformative and positive experience," here are some first-hand recollections from past participants;
