Adrienne Siu gives an insight into the role of college peer supporter

Peer support is a crucial part of welfare, both in college and at the wider university. Green Templeton College Student Peer Supporters are trained by the Oxford University Counselling Service, and are available to talk with you informally and confidentially about anything that is concerning you.

We spoke to Adrienne Siu, a fourth year DPhil student in Cardiovascular Medicine, to hear more about the role of Peer Supporters and what it entails.

What made you want to become a Peer Supporter?

I wanted to figure out if I wanted to train as a counsellor eventually, so to start with it was more of a testing of how it went. But you don’t have to have a particular interest in counselling. I think a lot of people do it because they realise their friends or peers may have issues and they want to be able to better deal with that.

What is involved in the training?

I trained about two years ago, so it’s probably changed a bit now, but basically it’s a structured programme and very experiential and hands-on. For example, there’s a session on how to ask open-ended questions. You get workbooks and practise with other trainees and peers. Whatever you say stays in the room, so you get to really experience what it’s like for yourself. I made some really good friends through the training.

What about supervision for Peer Supporters?

So during the term we have fortnightly supervision basically made up of peer supporters from different colleges who meet to discuss issues that have come up, and there’s a trained counsellor who moderates. It’s nice, it’s like support for people giving support.

The size varies but generally the expectation after training is that peer supporters have to go to supervision for two terms and then when they have more experience it can be more intermittent. I still try to go regularly but recently with completing my thesis I haven’t been going so often.

Do you get training from the University counselling service?

Yes, it’s delivered by the head of the programme and other counsellors. Departments as well as colleges are now getting involved, for example the Dept of Population Health and medical students.

And there are also Peer Supporters for specific groups, eg Rainbow, Peers of Colour?

Yes, we have this as well. They get the same training but they get separate supervision.

What’s the biggest challenge in being a Peer Supporter?

The training is maybe more emotionally challenging than you might expect. It’s very different using your feeling brain to your thinking brain. It’s a different way of processing I guess. It’s nice to be in a safe environment with other Peer Supporters in training. It might not be what you expect.

The most enjoyable part is getting to know other trainees, knowing I now have these skills I can tap into if I find myself with a person in a difficult situation. It’s given me confidence.

What are the most important skills in being a Peer supporter?

I’d say openness, self-awareness, having a non-judgmental attitude, being approachable.

Anything else it would be important to know?

I guess you don’t need an interest in counselling to do it. (I’m still figuring out if that’s something I’d like to do in the future). But there are benefits for myself I didn’t anticipate, for example new friendships, and the training.

Adrienne is available by email for peer support. You can also find out more information about the Green Templeton Peer Supporters and more information on college health and welfare resources.