All Comprehensive level elements

Expanded self-guided content, practice sessions, shadowing, exercises, and more

150 supervised practicum hours

Immerse yourself in peer support, with coaching feedback after every shift

Monthly 1:1 coaching meetings

Accelerate your non-carceral peer support practice with personalized care

What people are saying

Wondering if this certificate program is right for you? Hear others' experiences!

”
This program taught me more about the intersections of mental health and multiply marginalized identities than any academic setting. It showed me how support takes shape in real, human ways that work for real people, not just clinical models. I developed practical skills and came to see vulnerability as a strength, ultimately solidifying my goal to pursue a future in community-rooted mental health care.
~K. H.

 

”
Overall I loved this program! I really appreciated the examples. They’re very interactive and realistic. In particular contrasting different examples of suicidal supportees and what they might need based on key words and tone of the message was so helpful. I also appreciated the section on repairing ruptures. And it was placed towards the end so it felt like finetuning the foundations that were laid out in the beginning super well.
~A. A.

 

”
The structure of this program really addresses diff learning styles. I liked how I could read something, then watch a video, reinforce my learning with a quiz, and then practice and get feedback. It felt very full circle. The examples were super helpful along with the charts. And then to have reflection questions for us and further practice in the weekly assignments was sooo helpful.
~G. C.

 

Curriculum

19 Chapters · 139 Lessons

  1. 1
    1. (Included in full purchase)

      1.0: Week 1 Objectives

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      1.1 Course Introduction

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      1.2 Orientation

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      1.3 Non-Carceral Collaborators Coaching Group

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      1.4 Quiz 1

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      1.5 Peer Support Shift Manual

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      1.6 Organizational Policies

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      1.7 Discord Navigation

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      1.8 Video: Discord Navigation

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      1.9 Non-Carceral Support Review

    11. (Included in full purchase)

      1.10 Video: Non-Carceral Support

    12. (Included in full purchase)

      1.11 Quiz 2: Non-Carceral Support

    13. (Included in full purchase)

      1.12: Peer Support Group

    14. (Included in full purchase)

      1.13 Onboarding Questionnaire

    15. (Included in full purchase)

      1.14 Practice Session

    16. Preview Video: Intro to Peer Support Free preview
  2. 2
    1. (Included in full purchase)

      2.0: Week 2 Objectives

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      2.1 What is Peer Support?

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      2.2 Peer Support Scope

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      2.3 Video: Intro to Peer Support

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      2.4 Quiz 1

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      2.5 How to Provide Peer Support

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      2.6 Self-Disclosure and Soft-Sharing

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      2.7 How to Write Peer Supportive Messages

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      2.8 Examples of Peer Supportive Messages

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      2.9 Example 1: Short Message Exchange

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      2.10 Example 2: Singular Response

    12. (Included in full purchase)

      2.11 Example 3: Later Check In

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      2.12 Example 4: Offering Ideas

    14. (Included in full purchase)

      2.13 Video: Peer Support Examples

    15. (Included in full purchase)

      2.14 Quiz 2

    16. (Included in full purchase)

      2.15 Shadowing Session

    17. (Included in full purchase)

      2.16 Exercise Set

    18. (Included in full purchase)

      2.17 Practice Session

  3. 3
    1. (Included in full purchase)

      3.0: Week 3 Objectives

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      3.1 HOLDing Safer Spaces

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      3.2 What Does it Mean to HOLD Space?

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      3.3 Characteristics of HOLDing Space

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      3.4 Video: HOLD Model Part 1

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      3.5 Video: HOLD Model Part 2

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      3.6 Quiz 1

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      3.7 Applying the HOLD Model

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      3.8 Examples: Humanizing Only

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      3.9 Examples: Sharing Ideas, Strategies, and Resources

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      3.10 Example: Relationship Building Over Time

    12. (Included in full purchase)

      3.11 Quiz 2

    13. (Included in full purchase)

      3.12 Shadowing Session

    14. (Included in full purchase)

      3.13 Exercise Set

    15. (Included in full purchase)

      3.14 Practice Session

  4. 4
    1. (Included in full purchase)

      4.0: Week 4 Objectives

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      4.1 Video: Marginalization and Mental Health

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      4.2 "Maladaptive" Coping Strategies

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      4.3 Depathologizing

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      4.4 Video: Depathologizing

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      4.5 Quiz 1

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      4.6 Talking About Suicide

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      4.7 Examples: Suicide and Trauma

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      4.8 Normalizing Stigmatized Experiences

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      4.9 Example of Normalizing Stigmatized Experiences

    11. (Included in full purchase)

      4.10 Video: Talking about Suicide

    12. (Included in full purchase)

      4.11 Quiz 2

    13. (Included in full purchase)

      4.12 Shadowing Session

    14. (Included in full purchase)

      4.13 Exercise Set

    15. (Included in full purchase)

      4.14 Practice Session

  5. 5
    1. (Included in full purchase)

      5.0: Week 5 Objectives

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      5.1 Discord: Building relationships over time

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      5.2 Tips for Building relationships over time

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      5.3 Example of Building Relationships

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      5.4 Unsupportive Example of Building Relationships

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      5.5 Video: Building Relationships Over Time

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      5.6 Quiz 1

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      5.7 Breadcrumbs

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      5.8 Connection and Disconnection

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      5.9 Repairing Ruptures

    11. (Included in full purchase)

      5.10 Quiz 2

    12. (Included in full purchase)

      5.11 Video: Relationship-Building Skills

    13. (Included in full purchase)

      5.12 Mirroring Language

    14. (Included in full purchase)

      5.13 Self-Disclosure and Soft-Sharing

    15. (Included in full purchase)

      5.14 Instead of Saying...

    16. (Included in full purchase)

      5.15 Quiz 3

    17. (Included in full purchase)

      5.16 Shadowing Session

    18. (Included in full purchase)

      5.17 Exercise Set

    19. (Included in full purchase)

      5.18 Practice Session

  6. 6
    1. (Included in full purchase)

      6.0 Shadowing Session

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      6.1 1:1 Coaching Meeting

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      6.2 Summit Registration Information

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      6.3 Video: Getting Started with Peer Support Shifts

  7. 7
    1. (Included in full purchase)

      M1: Shift Reminders

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      M1: Peer Support Group

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      M1: Non-Carceral Coaching Group

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      M1: 1:1 Coaching Meeting

  8. 8
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      M2: Shift Reminders

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      M2: Peer Support Group

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      M2: Non-Carceral Coaching Group

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      M2: 1:1 Coaching Meeting

  9. 9
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      M3: Shift Reminders

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      M3: Peer Support Group

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      M3: Non-Carceral Coaching Group

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      M3: 1:1 Coaching Meeting

  10. 10
    1. (Included in full purchase)

      M4: Shift Reminders

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      M4: Peer Support Group

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      M4: Non-Carceral Coaching Group

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      M4: 1:1 Coaching Meeting

  11. 11
    1. (Included in full purchase)

      M5: Shift Reminders

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      M5: Peer Support Group

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      M5: Non-Carceral Coaching Group

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      M5: 1:1 Coaching Meeting

  12. 12
    1. (Included in full purchase)

      M6: Shift Reminders

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      M6: Peer Support Group

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      M6: Non-Carceral Coaching Group

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      M6: 1:1 Coaching Meeting

  13. 13
    1. (Included in full purchase)

      M7: Shift Reminders

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      M7: Peer Support Group

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      M7: Non-Carceral Coaching Group

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      M7: 1:1 Coaching Meeting

  14. 14
    1. (Included in full purchase)

      M8: Shift Reminders

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      M8: Peer Support Group

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      M8: Non-Carceral Coaching Group

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      M8: 1:1 Coaching Meeting

  15. 15
    1. (Included in full purchase)

      M9: Shift Reminders

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      M9: Peer Support Group

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      M9: Non-Carceral Coaching Group

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      M9: 1:1 Coaching Meeting

  16. 16
    1. (Included in full purchase)

      M10: Shift Reminders

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      M10: Peer Support Group

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      M10: Non-Carceral Coaching Group

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      M10: 1:1 Coaching Meeting

  17. 17
    1. (Included in full purchase)

      M11: Shift Reminders

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      M11: Peer Support Group

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      M11: Non-Carceral Coaching Group

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      M11: 1:1 Coaching Meeting

  18. 18
    1. (Included in full purchase)

      M12: Shift Reminders

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      M12: Peer Support Group

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      M12: Non-Carceral Coaching Group

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      M12: 1:1 Coaching Meeting

  19. 19
    1. (Included in full purchase)

      CA Module Objectives

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      CA Reflection Questions

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      CA Next Steps

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      CA Testimonial

Master your peer support skills this year!

With access to one-on-one coaching, mentorship, a community-based practicum, and real-time feedback, you’ll step into your full capacity as a non-carceral peer support leader — grounded, skilled, and ready to guide others.

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Instructor: Ryder Fox

Ryder Fox is the Founder and CEO of Stronger U and the Founder and President of THRIVE Lifeline. They are a trauma-informed wellness coach, educator, systems strategist, and curriculum developer with nearly 30 years of experience supporting people navigating chronic illness, disability, trauma, and other complex life experiences. Over the course of their career, Ryder has logged more than 60,000 coaching hours, mentored hundreds of practitioners, and educated thousands of professionals internationally through courses, conferences, and organizational partnerships. They specialize in helping practitioners develop sustainable, relationship-centered approaches that support clients through chronic health conditions, trauma histories, periods of crisis, and the realities of long-term care. Since founding Stronger U in 2007, Ryder has had the privilege of supporting some clients continuously for nearly two decades—walking alongside them through flare cycles, evolving diagnoses, disability progression, grief, recovery, and life's many uncertainties. Their work emphasizes client autonomy, trauma-informed care, ethical practice, and building helping relationships that remain effective over time. In 2020, Ryder founded THRIVE Lifeline, a nonprofit dedicated to identity-affirming, non-carceral crisis intervention and peer support for multiply marginalized communities. Through THRIVE, they have helped develop innovative educational programs that train practitioners to engage in more humane, autonomy-supportive conversations around suicide, crisis, and complex mental health experiences. Ryder also brings lived experience as a neurodivergent, nonbinary person living with chronic physical and mental health conditions. Their teaching is grounded in the belief that professional expertise and lived experience can work together to create more compassionate, ethical, and effective care. Across every course they teach, Ryder's goal is to help professionals become more thoughtful, confident, and deeply human in the relationships they build with those they serve.