USU Counseling and Psychological Services

REACH Peer Program

Who are REACH Peers?

  • Volunteer undergraduate students seeking experience working in a counseling center.
  • We consider work with individuals and outreach to be equally important in this position.
  • Peers may also have the opportunity to co-lead psychoeducational workshops.
  • REACH Peer positions are available to individuals who will be sophomores, juniors, or seniors next year. Selected peers must be available andregistered as students for the entire academic year to work under the direction of USU CAPS.
  • Credit may be available for Psychology, FCHD, and related majors/minors for the REACH Peer experience. Peers must talk with department advisors and complete paperwork PRIOR to the start of the Fall Semester.
  • Note: CAPS staff value individuals participating in their own therapy; however, a student cannot be both a REACH Peer and a CAPS client in the same semester.

Expectations:

  • Peers will attend a half day afternoon retreat on Friday August 24th from 12:00 – 5:00to facilitate teambuilding. Lunch will be provided.
  • Weeklyclasses will be held throughout the Fall semester for twohours on Mondays beginning on August 27thfrom 10:30 – 12:30 and will cover professional ethics as well as basic counseling skills. Weekly classes in the Spring will be held on Mondays for one hour from 11:30 – 12:30.
  • REACH Peers volunteer an average of 6-8 hours per week, which includes:
  • 2 hours in a weekly training/planning meeting
  • 1 hour for weekly individual supervision (with a CAPS staff member)
  • 2-3 hours spent with individual clients on skills training
  • 1 hour planning and providing outreach to the campus
  • 1 hour reading/practicing skills and/or doing session notes

All applicants must provide:

  • The completed application with typed answers
  • One letter of reference from a qualified individual who knows you well enough to comment on work habits, dependability, teamwork, and interpersonal skills. This letter should include the writer’s contact information and arrive in sealed/signed envelope.

Applications via mail should be sent to:

Cameron Staley, Ph.D.

USU CAPS

0115 Old Main Hill

Logan, UT 84322-0115

  • We will invite select applicants for interviews. Of those, 10-12 will be selected for the REACH Peer positions.
  • Applicants will be evaluated on their aptitude for: listening and teaching clinical skills to clients, planning and presenting programs, working as a team member with the other Peers/CAPS professional staff, a willingness to reach out to various parts of the campus community, and commitment to fulfilling the role the entire academic year.
  • You are welcome to visit with this year's REACH Peer Coordinator, Cameron Staley, Ph.D., by calling CAPS at 435-797-1012 or visiting TSC 306 to schedule an appointment.

Completed Applications and Letter due Friday, March 30, 2018by 4:30pm in TSC 306

REACH PEER – APPLICATION

Name: / Email:
A# / Phone:
Local Address:
Permanent Address:
Next Year’s
Student Status: / ____ Sophomore
____ Junior
____ Senior / Major:
Anticipated Graduation Date:

Please type answers to the following questions. Attach typed responses and letter of reference to this cover sheet.

  1. We want to know who you are; please provide a brief personal and professional autobiographical statement (less than 500 words).
  1. Describe your interest in working with individual clients. Describe the skills you possess that will most help you to work effectively with clients.
  1. Describe your interest in organizing and providing presentations/campus outreach events. Describe what personal skills may assist you in leading an outreach event.
  1. Describe any ideas you have to increase participation, engagement, and/or advertisement in our outreach events next year.
  1. List the name and contact information for an additional professional reference (different from the person who wrote your letter of reference) who can be contacted for further information about your qualifications as a REACH Peer.

Please turn in all materials to the REACH Peer coordinator,

Cameron Staley, Ph.D.,

in TSC 306, by Friday, March 30 at 4:30 pm