Table 2.

Certification curriculum for VA Peer Support Technicians

DOMAIN	SKILLS & COMPETENCIES
Personal Self-Development	Development of personal story.
	Personal Strengths
	Managing Personal Recovery
	Facing One’s Personal Fears
	Managing One’s Own Self-talk and Combating Negative Self-talk.
Recovery	Components of Recovery
	Stages of Recovery
	Peer Support Role in PSR
Peer Support Principles	Being a role model
	Instilling hope
	Being an Advocate
	Principal Duties of Peer Support Staff
Cultural Competence	Understanding how roles of ethnicity, race, spirituality, gender, sexual orientation, local community and other sub-cultures may influence recovery.
Communications Skills	Effective Listening & Asking Questions Skills
	Communication styles (pass/agg/assert.), and Verbal and Nonverbal communication
	Conflict resolution skills
Group Facilitation Skills	Basic Understanding of Group Dynamics and interactions
	How to Use Support Groups
Addressing Stigma	Managing Internalized Stigma
Understanding Illness	Major Psychiatric Conditions in DSM IV
Recovery Tools	Using recovery workbooks and other self help instruments
	Problem solving, using solution focused strategies
	Telling your personal recovery story, being mindful of who you’re addressing
	Knowing community resources
	Self-help Groups
	Writing Recovery Goals & Plans
	Motivating people to use their dissatisfaction with their lives as an opportunity to create the one they’d like.
	Teaching how to manage self-talk and combating negative self-talk
	Facing One’s Fears
Professional Development & Workplace Skills	Ethics
	Boundary Issues and Dual Relationships
	Working effectively with professionals on an interdisciplinary team.
	Working with your supervisor
Managing Crisis and Emergency Situations	Early Warning Signs of Illness’ Symptoms Worsening
	Crisis Prevention, Using Resources Early