Ben Medeiros Assistant Director, Living-learning Communities

 Peer Helping Skills  Advice vs. Communication  Having Effective Conversations  Making Resource Referrals  Identifying Resources  Campus Resource Guidebook Project

Advice Interpersonal Communication

 Collaborative vs. Authoritarian  Exploration vs. Solution  Facts vs. Opinion  Self Authorship – we each are the expert of our own experience.

 The helping relationship is MEANINGFUL.  The helping relationship involves FEELINGS.  The helping relationship demonstrates RESPECT for individual self-worth.  The helping relationship takes place by MUTUAL CONSENT.  The helping relationship involved COMMUNICATION and INTERACTION.  The helping relationship shows a clear STRUCTURE.  The helping relationship is a COLLABORATIVE effort.  The helping relationship is designed to produce CHANGE.  The individual seeks UNDERSTANDING and INVOLVEMENT.  The peer educator is APPROACHABLE and SECURE.

PreparednessAttendingUnderstandingRespondingResolution

 Own your messages by saying “I” and “my.”  Make your messages complete and specific.  Make your verbal and non-verbal messages congruent.  Use redundancy.  Ask for feedback.  Make the message appropriate to the receiver’s frame of reference.  Describe your feelings by name, action, or figure of speech.  Describe behavior without evaluating or interpreting.

 Know Your Limits  Your Personal Values  Your Personal Problems  Complex Issues

Campus Resources

 Small Sections – split into small groups of 2-3  3 Campus Resources  1 Community Resource  Compiled into a “Guidebook”  Due: May 22