University Expert in Peer Support

Expert Universitari en Suport entre iguals

University Expert in Peer Support

Mode On-site	Edition 1st
Schedule Starting January 2026 and ending June 2026	Location Camí del Mig, 22, 08401 Granollers, Barcelona
Duration 15 ECTS – 160 hours	Academic Director Gemma Prat i Vigue
Language Spanish	Fee 60 €

Objectives:

Provide tools to offer peer support to people with mental health challenges, drawing on lived experience.
Understand the recovery model and its practical application. Gain insight into the historical perspectives of mental health care and the emerging role of the peer support worker.
Develop communication skills and accompaniment strategies.
Identify facilitating factors and barriers in the organization of mental health services.
Describe strategies for addressing ethical dilemmas in therapeutic practice.
Analyze power dynamics in support relationships.
Understand the socio-emotional impact of stigma in mental health.

Target audience

People with lived experience in mental health who wish to train as peer support workers and actively participate in supporting other service users within the mental health network.

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General information

Target audience

People with lived experience in mental health who wish to train to become peer support workers, actively participating in supporting other service users within the mental health network.

Duration

15 ECTS – 160 hours

Mode

On-site

Schedule

Starting January 2026 and ending June 2026.

Classes will be on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., except for the May sessions when classes will last 3 hours (from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.).

Venue for on-site sessions

Camí del Mig, 22, 08401 Granollers, Barcelona

Accreditation

University Expert in Peer Support, awarded by the University of Vic – Central University of Catalonia

Fee

60 €

Syllabus

Module 1: Historical perspectives on mental health and addiction care

Identify the different models of mental health care throughout history and understand the current mental health network, its services and professionals, as well as the role of the peer support worker in mutual support.

Module 2: Recovery model – Using lived experience

Understand the paradigm of personal recovery and its core principles in mental health, while acquiring conceptual and practical tools to develop a personalized recovery and self-management plan for well-being.

Module 3: Skills and strategies for the role of peer support worker

Identify concepts, strategies, and methods related to performing the role of a peer support worker, including tools for risk and boundary management.

Module 4: The psychosocial impact of the peer support role – ethics and rights

Understand theoretical and practical concepts of professional ethics and care based on the biopsychosocial model and WHO’s QualityRights, incorporating life stories as part of the recovery process.

Module 5: Practical training in mental health and addiction services

Apply theoretical content in clinical and community settings, promoting the integration of peer support workers within teams and contributing to the recovery process of service users.

Job possibilities

Peer support workers who can be integrated into therapeutic teams in mental health care.

Calendar and timetables

Sessions	Date	Duration
1. Course Introduction. Values and Methodology.	14/01/26	4h
2. History of Mental Health and Care Models.	21/01/26	4h
3. Mental Health System and Resources in Catalonia.	28/01/26	4h
4. Recovery and the Recovery Model.	04/02/26	4h
5. Mutual Support and Peer Support.	11/02/26	4h
6. Empowerment and Use of Personal Experience.	18/02/26	4h
7. Recovery and Self-Management of Well-being.	25/02/26	4h
8. Stigma in Mental Health and Gender Perspective.	04/03/26	4h
9. Rights.	11/03/26	4h
10. Rights.	18/03/26	4h
11. Participation and Citizenship.	25/03/26	4h
12. Use of Language and Communication.	08/04/26	4h
13. Mediation and Support in Conflict Resolution.	15/04/26	4h
14. Risks and Limits.	22/04/26	4h
15. Personal Growth Plan and Tools for Maintaining Well-being.	29/04/26	4h
16. Ending the Peer Relationship.	04/05/26	3h
17. Life Story Workshop I.	06/05/26	3h
18. Life Story Workshop II.	11/05/26	3h
19. Ethics Applied to the Peer Support Role.	13/05/26	3h
20. Practice Seminar I.	18/05/26	3h
21. Practice Seminar II.	20/05/26	3h
22. Course Closing. Final Evaluation.	25/05/26	3h
Total		82h

University Expert in Peer Support