Real Peer Support exercises
Name of the exercice: Real Peer Support exercises
What is the method to be used? :
Use any popular tv ‘soap opera’ drama and show selected situations where a character is
looking for support or would do better with support. Pause to discuss how the participants might
support this situation. Where possible show the decision the character(s) make and discuss this
also. Did they follow any of the options suggested by the peer supporters?
Select episodes of Friends, EastEnders, River City, Neighbours, appropriate television
programmes where people are offering peer support.
Show each segment or episode separately one at a time at different times
Based on the episode ask the participants to discuss what they thought was good about the
type of support they saw offered?
Discuss what would have happened if the approach had been different? How would you as a
peer have offered support?
Describe the qualities required when offering peer support?
Respect, trust, openness, confidentiality, not taking control, good advice, helpfulness. How
getting support feels etc..
What are the materials needed?:
Video clips from tv dramas.
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Real Peer Support exercises
Tips for the trainers/additional information:
Begin with simpler situations and increase complexity in line with the group and how they are
finding the exercise.
I found that these exercises can be very useful indeed in supporting participants to ‘safely’ offer
peer support in a variety of ‘real-life’ situations. Regular use of clips will allow a lot of practice of
almost all peer to peer skills if this is carefully facilitated.
Time frame: 30mins – 1hour sessions but these can be repeated with different clips.
copyright: Topside 2013
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