USU COUNSELING AND PREVENTION SERVICES

Who are REACH Peers?

• Volunteer (unpaid) undergraduate students seeking experience working in a university counseling center.
• RPs conduct both 1:1 mental health skills coaching sessions and campus outreach events.
• REACH Peers are academically strong, (non-freshman) undergraduate students. Selected Peers must be Logan-campus students available and registered as students for the entire academic year.
• Credit is often available for Psychology, HDFS, Social Work, and related majors/minors.
• CAPS staff value individuals participating in their own therapy; however, a student cannot be both a REACH Peer and a CAPS client in the same semester.
• Peers will have background checks prior to working with clients.

Training Expectations

• Summer: self-directed, 6-part online Stress and Anxiety Management workshop, mental health module training, and monthly Zoom training/organizational meetings.
• Mandatory daylong retreat the week prior to the start of fall classes.
• Mandatory weekly classes will be held throughout the fall and spring semester for 2 hours on Wednesdays 9:30–11:30 AM. Class will cover mental health skill training, outreach prep, and a variety of other related trainings such as suicide prevention, confidential designated resource, ethics, preparing for graduate school, professional development, inclusive excellence, and self-care.
• REACH Peers volunteer an average of 6-8 hours per week, which includes:
  • 2 hours: weekly training/planning class
  • 1 hour: weekly individual supervision with a CAPS staff member
  • 2-3 hours: mental health skills coaching with clients
  • 1 hour: planning and providing outreach to the campus
  • 1.5 hours: homework, practicing skills, doing session notes, preparing for supervision

All applicants must provide: