Shanti Project materials for new volunteers
“What is peer counseling? Peer counseling is both a method and a philosophy. The basic premise behind peer counseling is that most people are capable of solving their own problems if given a chance. The role of the counselor in peer counseling is not to solve people’s problems for them, but rather to assist them in finding their own solutions.”
-“Introduction to Peer Counseling” from training manual 1982.
“Try to recognize that the point of power is always within the person you are working with, not within you. There is actually a comfort when you realize you don’t need to have the answers. You will be in situations where there are no answers.”
-From The Emotional Support Volunteer Manual, 1991.
The Shanti model of peer support centers on these core principles between their counselors and clients: mutual respect, positive regard, empowerment of the client, genuineness, acceptance of differences, empathy, and an intention to be of service.
In order for volunteers to successfully engage with these facets of the model, Shanti volunteer coordinators would have potential volunteers fill out applications and then interview them. If they felt that they were a good fit for Shanti, the potential volunteer would be required to attend the Shanti training. After completing the volunteer training, the volunteer coordinators would go over Shanti client’s needs and pair them with a volunteer. The time commitment for Shanti volunteers has ranged from being six months to a yearlong commitment. The trainings themselves have gone as long and thorough as 72 hours of training to the current four days total.
