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Surviving Your Shift, Building Peer Support

Surviving Your Shift, Building Peer Support

By: Dr. Bart J. Leger
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About this listen

Struggling to support your peers after a tough call, or unsure how to even start a peer support team? You’re not alone. Surviving Your Shift is the podcast for first responders, healthcare workers, and frontline professionals who want to build effective peer support programs, learn peer counseling skills, and bring training to their organizations. I’m Dr. Bart Leger, a retired first responder and board-certified traumatic stress expert with 25+ years of experience training peer supporters. Whether you’re starting a peer support program from scratch or want to be a stronger peer supporter, you’ll learn how to build trust, navigate tough conversations, and bring training to your organization. This is your go-to podcast for peer support training, first responder wellness, and frontline mental health. Hit play, and let’s equip you for success.

© 2025 Surviving Your Shift, Building Peer Support
Hygiene & Healthy Living Psychology Psychology & Mental Health
Episodes
  • How to Train Your Peer Support Team
    Sep 18 2025

    Send me a text

    You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Just train it right. In this episode, I’ll show you exactly what kind of training your peer support team needs to be equipped and ready when it matters most.

    Does your peer support team actually have the training they need, or are they just winging it?

    Caring isn’t enough. Without the right training, peer supporters may overstep, or God forbid, do harm. And that can be disastrous for your team’s effectiveness.

    In this episode, I’ll walk you through the essential types of training every peer support team needs, especially in emergency services and high-stress professions.

    Whether you’re just getting started or realizing your current team needs more support, this episode gives you a clear and practical training roadmap to build confidence, competence, and care into every conversation.

    BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL LEARN:

    • The three core areas every team must be trained in
    • Why suicide intervention training is non-negotiable
    • How to keep your team sharp with ongoing education and support

    Don’t guess. Train your team well, and build a culture where people know where to turn when life gets heavy.

    OTHER LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

    Schedule a Discovery Call

    https://calendly.com/stresscaredoc/consultation

    Share this Episode:

    https://survivingyourshift.com/38

    QPR Suicide Training:

    https://stresscaredoc.com/suicide-intervention-training

    ASIST Suicide Training

    https://livingworks.net/training/livingworks-asist/

    If you're receiving value from this podcast, consider becoming a monthly supporter—your gift helps me keep producing these practical episodes. Become a supporter today.

    Connect with Bart

    LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bartleger

    Facebook Page: facebook.com/survivingyourshift

    Website: survivingyourshift.com

    Want to find out how I can help you build a peer support program in your organization or provide training? Schedule a no-obligation call or Zoom meeting with me here.

    Show More Show Less
    18 mins
  • What Peer Supporters Actually Do (And Don’t Do)
    Sep 11 2025

    Confused about what a peer supporter is actually supposed to do? This episode breaks down the real role of peer support and what not to do, to keep the team trusted, safe, and effective.

    What’s the real role of a peer supporter, and where’s the line between helping and overreaching?

    Too many programs launch without clearly defining the role of a peer supporter. That leaves team members unsure of what to say, when to refer, or how much to carry. Some burn out trying to do too much. Others do too little, afraid of crossing a line. The result? Confusion and programs that quietly fall apart.

    In this episode, I walk you through what peer supporters actually do, and just as importantly, what they don’t do.

    BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL LEARN:

    • The core responsibilities of a peer supporter
    • Clear boundaries to protect the role (and yourself)
    • Why therapy and peer support are not the same—and how to explain the difference

    Whether you’re serving on a team or building one from the ground up, this episode will help you define the role so your program stays trusted, effective, and safe.

    OTHER LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

    The International Critical Incident Stress Foundation

    Schedule a free discovery call with Bart

    Share This Episode

    https://survivingyourshift.com/37

    If you're receiving value from this podcast, consider becoming a monthly supporter—your gift helps me keep producing these practical episodes. Become a supporter today.

    Connect with Bart

    LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bartleger

    Facebook Page: facebook.com/survivingyourshift

    Website: survivingyourshift.com

    Want to find out how I can help you build a peer support program in your organization or provide training? Schedule a no-obligation call or Zoom meeting with me here.

    Show More Show Less
    15 mins
  • Choosing the Right People for Peer Support
    Sep 4 2025

    Not everyone is wired for peer support—and choosing the wrong people can do more harm than good. In this episode, I’ll show you how to choose the right team members your people can actually trust.

    How do you know if someone’s the right fit for your peer support team?

    Let’s be honest—just because someone wants to be on the team doesn’t mean they should be. In fact, putting the wrong people in peer support roles can do real damage. Trust gets broken. Teams disengage. And the program quietly falls apart.

    In this episode, I walk you through the traits of a strong peer supporter—and the red flags to watch out for.

    Whether you’re building your first team or cleaning up one that’s not working, this episode gives you the clarity you need to choose team members who are grounded, trustworthy, and emotionally ready for the job.

    BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL LEARN:

    • The six traits every peer supporter must have
    • How to spot red flags before they create problems
    • Why trust matters more than rank, credentials, or popularity

    Peer support only works when your people trust the team. This episode shows you how to build that trust from the start.

    Links Mentioned in This Episode

    https://survivingyourshift.com/36

    https://survivingyourshift.com/questions

    If you're receiving value from this podcast, consider becoming a monthly supporter—your gift helps me keep producing these practical episodes. Become a supporter today.

    Connect with Bart

    LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bartleger

    Facebook Page: facebook.com/survivingyourshift

    Website: survivingyourshift.com

    Want to find out how I can help you build a peer support program in your organization or provide training? Schedule a no-obligation call or Zoom meeting with me here.

    Show More Show Less
    15 mins
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