How do I become certified as a Peer Support Specialist?
This is a 40-hour training, after which individuals are eligible for a certification from the Oregon Health Authority Traditional Health Worker program as a Peer Support Specialist.
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Some topics we cover:
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Vicarious trauma
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Facilitating social justice
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Trauma Informed Approach
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Wellness Recovery Action Plan
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Mental Health and the law
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Narrative Approach
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and more...
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The next training session will be in May 2026. This will be a general adult mental health training, open to anyone who identifies as a peer in mental health recovery.
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Dates: May 1, 2, 3, 9, and 10
Times: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM PST
Location: Online via Zoom
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(Participation is open regardless of location in the United States — all sessions are held online.)
Cost: $600 (includes course and certification)
This training will have a cap of 15 students, and spots are filling up fast. Apply today to secure your spot.
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Click the button below to complete the application form. Applications are accepted now through April 17, or until the class is full.
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For more information email psst.cultivatinganewlife@gmail.com
Fumiyo Nishimoto MSW, LCSW
Canada Taylor, PSS
Ian Michael, PSS
Mark Thomas Freeman, PSS
Ree McSween, PSS
Emory Gray, PSST Coordinator
"I am passionate about the transformative power of peer support. As a facilitator, I cherish the connections formed during training, where strangers become a close-knit community. I believe these shared experiences leave a lasting impact on everyone involved, creating bonds that extend far beyond the classroom. Kindness and gratitude are at the heart of my work, and I’m deeply committed to carrying forward the values and principles of peer support in all aspects of my life."
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- Mark, Peer Support Specialist Facilitator
What is Peer Support?
The Peer Support movement started in Paris in the 1770s, by a physician and a patient-turned-hospital-worker with the goal of humanizing care. This approach was based on recovered patients working with their peers, using their lived experiences to connect compassionately.
Peer Support also grew out of the Mental Health Consumer Movement and Civil Rights Movement of the 1970s. Mental health has shifted towards de-institutionalization, government recognition and funding, and community initiatives such as drop-in centers and self help, with a focus on individual dignity and the right to choose.
Peer Support is similar to programs such as AA (Alcoholics Anonymous), where care is fostered in a group setting. Peer Support Specialists are equipped with skills and resources to support themselves and each other in their recoveries and beyond.
Our mission at Cultivating a New Life is to facilitate therapeutic conversations for all. Fumiyo Nishimoto, the practice owner and training author, has dedicated over 20 years to mental healthcare, social work, and Peer Support, with a focus on social justice and culturally-specific care for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities.