Assessed the usefulness of a microtraining package for developing empathic communication skills of peer counselors (N=16) in a therapeutic community of forensic psychiatric patients. Patients were assigned to the skills (empathy training) group, or the attention group, where they viewed counseling films. The skills group gained greater counseling…

This paper describes a self help telephone service for women. The primary focus was the woman within the traditional nuclear family with peer counseling provided by volunteers. The service sees itself as a self help association of women banding together and pooling resources. It has been successful in reaching many women. (NG)

Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine began a new advising program called Professional Development Advising Teams (PDAT) in 1996. A small number of students (6 to 8) was grouped with 2 faculty members (medical school based and clinic based) and 1 peer mentor (an advanced year medical student) to make up 1 of 18 advising teams. This…

The implementation of peer counseling programs can increase the overall effectiveness of counseling services, but no single program is right for all settings. Each staff needs to consider the particular setting. Careful consideration of the elements discussed in this article should benefit trainees and students. (Author)

Teachers are leaving the profession in increasing numbers for a variety of personal and financial reasons. Teachers may have a better attitude toward their jobs, and therefore remain longer, by focusing on the emotional rewards of teaching. (RJG)

In peer-helping programs, a professional counselor or teacher trains a group of students who then help other students by listening, providing information, and referring them to others with the necessary expertise. Peer helpers can help improve the school climate by contributing to its health and security. Since 1979, Seattle's Natural Helpers…

Peer advising is one model for delivering advising services. This article describes peer advising in the Human Service Program at the University of Tennessee. Students who serve as peer advisors provide a needed service, contribute to the human service program through their leadership, and benefit from developing competence consistent within the…

Presents examination of peer helping in 19 colleges and universities. Summarizes research associated with peer helping. Notes educational institutions concerned about meeting the needs of their students, creating positive influences in their development and helping them to be productive in their academic lives can rely on peer programs to achieve…

Explores the role of the college student peer counselor as a complement to the student affairs support services in the area of alcohol and substance abuse. The author discusses a viable student peer counseling model which integrates readily available assistance from college student affairs services and the skills of a trained student peer…

Examined usage patterns (i.e., caller and telephone call characteristics) from 1985 through 1989 at a university-based, peer-operated hotline. Collected data on calls to the hotline for the years under examination. Data analysis revealed the importance of examining both sex differences and differences between repeat and nonrepeat callers.…

During first year of operation, Teen Line (peer telephone listening service) received 2,270 calls, two-thirds of which were from females. Four percent of topics discussed dealt with crisis situations (suicide, physical abuse); 96 percent were concerned with issues such as peer relationships, family dynamics, and need to have someone "to talk to."…

Notes that since 1970, Volunteer Counseling Service of Rockland County, New York, has pioneered innovative use of community laypeople to do high-level counseling for clients with wide range of serious social problems. Gives the history and an overview of the mechanics and model of work that have made this agency feasible. (Author/NB)

Describes various health care initiatives at British Columbia secondary school, including substance-abuse-prevention program staffed by prevention counselor who "hangs out" with 25-75 adolescents daily; a peer counseling program called SHOUT (Students Helping Others Understand Troubles), an alternative education approach for students…

A comparison was made of accelerated professional development (APD) for nurses (n=64), involving peer consultation and reflective practice, and peer consultation alone (n=30). Although APD participants had a higher completion rate, improvements in caregiver behaviors and work environment were not significantly different. (SK)

Finnish seventh and eighth graders (n=196) were surveyed about an antibullying campaign involving peer counseling. Among girls self- and peer-reported bullying decreased and power attitudes increased. Boys showed a slight decrease in self-reported bullying but pro-bullying attitudes increased. (SK)