Your Journey to a Career in Mental Health Begins with Peer Academy
Make a difference as a Mental Health Peer Specialist! Use your story of mental health recovery to inspire and guide others.
With scholarships up to 100% and fully remote training, transform your challenges into your strength and support others on their path to recovery.
Certification Approved By:
Online Training
Peer Academy’s training sessions are conducted entirely online, making them accessible from anywhere with a computer and a reliable internet connection.
Certified Trainers
Our trainers at Peer Academy are certified and experienced peer specialists, dedicated to ensuring your success in the training program.
Flexible Training Dates
We offer multiple training dates, allowing you to pick a time that best suits your convenience and commitments. Ensure your learning aligns with your schedule, without compromise.
Exclusive Financial Aids
As a student enrolled in Peer Academy, you’ll have access to exclusive financial aid, and scholarship opportunities.
ABOUT US
Who We Are
We are a program of form communities, a Texas-based 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to removing barriers to community-based mental health recovery.
HISTORY
Our History
We have been training Mental Health Peer Specialists, primarily in Texas, but also from across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, since 2019.
Approach
Our Approach
Our trainings are focused on the official Texas Mental Health Peer Specialist curriculum, which we bolster with additional classes we’ve created
Becoming a Peer Support Specialists
STEP #1
CORE Training
The CORE training is a 24 hour, facilitated and interactive webinar via Zoom. This training is a prerequisite to the Mental Health Peer Specialist (MHPS) and Recovery Support Peer Specialist training (RSPS).
STEP #2
MHPS Specialty Training
The MHPS Specialty Training is a comprehensive HHSC-approved program. Students that complete the course and successfully complete the knowledge assessment will obtain their 6-month initial certification.
FINANCIAL AID
Peer Academy Scholarships
At Peer Academy, we firmly believe that money should not be a barrier to education. Therefore, we offer scholarships to students in need. Our goal is to find people interested in using their personal lived experience with mental health challenges and turning them into the best possible Peer Specialists.
-
CORE and MHPS Supplemental Training Scholarships
-
Access to our Peer Career Mentors
Professional Educators
At Peer Academy, our certified trainers are also peer specialists, offering a distinctive blend of theoretical expertise and practical experience. This dual qualification equips them to effectively mentor and support you, providing valuable insights and feedback. With their guidance, you’ll not only learn but also prepare for success, gaining confidence and skills for your program and future endeavors.
Flexible Training Dates
At Peer Academy, we prioritize flexibility in training sessions, offering multiple date options to align with your unique schedule and commitments. Our goal is to empower you to seamlessly integrate learning into your daily life, optimizing your time without compromise. With our flexible training dates, you can pursue education without worrying about missing out on work, family, or other obligations, ensuring a comfortable and convenient learning experience.
Learn From The Comfort of Home!
At Peer Academy, we understand the need for flexibility. That’s why we offer our training sessions 100% online, ensuring that wherever you are, as long as you have a computer and a stable internet connection, quality education is within your reach.
We offer multiple training dates, allowing you to select the one that best fits your schedule. No matter when you’re available, there’s a training session waiting for you.
General Questions
Are there any prerequisites to enrolling in Peer Academy training?
- Meet the age requirement of 18 years or older
- Possess a high school diploma or equivalent
- Have personal experience with mental health challenges
- Willing to share one’s recovery story in a suitable manner
- Able to show ongoing self-directed recovery journey
Is there financial Aid available from Peer Academy?
Yes, we offer scholarships for all our training.
What is the difference between Peer Support, Traditional Counseling Therapy, and Coaching?
Peer Support is a form of mutual aid where individuals with similar experiences provide emotional and practical support to each other, promoting self-help, healing, and empowerment. It is based on the idea that people who have experienced similar challenges can offer unique insight, understanding, and support to one another. Peer support is provided by people who have lived experience with mental health or substance use challenges, and the focus is on sharing personal experiences, offering emotional support, and helping the person build a sense of hope and empowerment. It provides a way for people to share their experiences and learn from each other in a safe and supportive environment.
Traditional Counseling Therapy typically involves a licensed mental health professional working with a client to diagnose and treat mental health disorders. The focus is on diagnosing and treating the individual’s symptoms through a combination of talk therapy, medication management, and other treatment modalities.
Coaching, on the other hand, is typically focused on goal-setting, skill-building, and helping clients achieve specific personal or professional objectives. The coach works collaboratively with the client to develop a plan of action, provide guidance and support, and hold the client accountable for taking steps to achieve their goals.
While there is some overlap between these models, the main difference lies in the approach and focus of each. Traditional counseling therapy is typically more clinically focused, coaching is typically more action-oriented, and peer support is typically more experiential and relational. Peer Support, in particular, requires previous lived experience.
About Peer Support
Is Being a Peer Specialist a Good Career Path?
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), certified Peer Support Specialists are part of the growing field of substance abuse, behavioral disorders, mental health counselors or health educators, and community health workers. The BLS predicts significant job growth of 22% and 11% for these fields between 2018 and 2028. This indicates that certified Peer Support Specialists can expect a stable job market and a variety of career opportunities.
Student Story Highlights
★★★★★
“I went through the MHPS program at Peer Academy and I can’t say enough amazing things about it. Working in a healthcare setting with mental health and substance abuse clients, the Peer Academy provided me with multiple new resources and healthy ways of navigating communication with these clients. I have also found new relationships with others in the program as well as a safe space to express myself and ask those uncomfortable questions.
Each individual trainer, group leader, supervisor was always readily available to help and answer any questions I may have had. The most rewarding part of going through the Peer Academy was I was able to learn more about myself and how I can be that vessel of hope for others that may need it.
I am truly honored to have gone through this program and I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to grow within the Peer Specialist program.”
Cassidy Goodrum Lambert
★★★★★
“Joining Peer Academy was a transformative experience in my journey to becoming a great peer and supporter. The comprehensive training and hands-on activities provided me with the essential skills and knowledge to connect deeply with others. The supportive community at Peer Academy fostered a sense of belonging and encouraged continuous learning and personal growth.
Thanks to their guidance, I am now more confident, empathetic, and effective in my role, equipped to make a meaningful impact in my peer interactions. Peer Academy truly set me on the path to success.”
Rodney Brown
ENROLL IN TRAINING
Ready to make an Impact?
Join 100+ successful students on the path to making an impact in a career in peer support