On the week of January 14th, P.E.E.R.S. (People who are Empowering Empathic Reliable Supports)–formally known as “Peer Chaplains”–gathered and completed their 45 hours of intensive training. P.E.E.R.S. are students who care about the well-being of other students, no matter who you are, what your background is, or what you believe. During the training, P.E.E.R.S. learned about subjects including anxiety, depression, grief, substance abuse, suicide prevention, rape crisis, healthy relationship, eating disorders, identity development, and spiritual care, with supervision through Spiritual Life.

Peer supports are neither counselors nor spiritual/religious mentors. They are your peers who are trained to provide a “confidential ministry of presence” and to hold space where you can experience radical acceptance through nonjudgmental active listening. Our goals are to cultivate a mutual sense of well-being, to help reduce feelings of alienation, and to offer love and compassion to anyone in need.

                     P.E.E.R.S. Availability

This semester, there will be nine certified peer supports, who will be available to you from Sunday through Thursday in two different locations. One location will be on the second floor of the Wellness Center, and the other will be at the Spiritual Life Office in the Dakin J basement.

If you’d like to talk to one of our peer supports, please make an appointment by emailing peerchaplains@hampshire.edu, or simply drop in at one of the P.E.E.R.S. offices.

Drop-in Hours for the Wellness Center P.E.E.R.S. office

Sunday-Thursday, 6-8 p.m.
Peer Supports: Zoe Marr, Brandon Allen, Benjamin Rubin, Cleo Roback, & Sophia Wells

Drop-in Hours for the Dakin P.E.E.R.S. office

Sunday-Thursday, 4-6 p.m.
Peer Supports: Cristina Culler, Jaydon Diamond, Mallory Staub, & Nicole Tyler

Many thanks to the Health & Counseling Center, Wellness Center, Queer Community Alliance, Accessibility Resources and Services, Survivor Supports, and Title IX for leading sessions during the training.