Peer Coaching
Program Overview
The Peer Coaching program is a research-informed, comprehensive academic peer coaching program for college students with mental health conditions. Peer Coaching is designed to help students thrive by providing health-based, strengths-focused, and supportive academic peer coaching. Peer Coaching offers additional support to mitigate student challenges and promote persistence in college, ensuring they stay on track toward their goals.
Why Peer Coaching?
A Peer Support Approach
We believe in the power of peer support. This evidence-based practice is grounded in self-direction, choice, and empowerment, helping students navigate challenges and achieve success in college.
What is Peer Support? Peer support involves people with shared experiences who use their knowledge and personal insights to provide guidance, connection, and encouragement.
- Research shows that students often turn to their peers first in times of difficulty because they value and trust shared experiences and perspectives.
- Peer support plays a critical role in helping students live, learn, and work well in academic settings.
How Peer Coaching Uses Peer Support
PASS helps students with mental health conditions build connections with their peers—including their peer coaches—and discover resources and strategies for success on campus.
Being a peer coach is extremely fulfilling and flexible. You engage in very hands-on, communication-driven activities and learn how to be a more active and empathetic listener. The one-on-one time you build over the course of the semester with your coachee is second to none, and the relationship that you create makes the experience that much more enjoyable. I am very grateful for having the platform as a coach to assist my coachees as they navigate their time at BU.
Peer Coaching Structure
Peer Coaching is a highly structured, peer-based mentoring program that provides transitional support and fosters growth in five key competency areas:
- Structure – Developing organization, time management, and self-discipline skills.
- Technology – Utilizing digital tools and resources for academic success.
- Advocacy – Learning to communicate needs effectively and seek support.
- Campus Culture – Navigating social and academic life on campus.
- Commitment – Building motivation, resilience, and long-term academic goals.
Role of Peer Coaches:
- Peer coaches undergo specialized training and receive close supervision by a Peer Coach Supervisor, a professional on campus who serves as both a mentor and role model.
- The Peer Coach Supervisor acts as a liaison between the Peer Coaching program, university faculty, campus staff, and family members to ensure a supportive and collaborative environment.
Through Peer Coaching, students gain the tools, guidance, and confidence needed to succeed in college and beyond.
Working with a peer coach has been extremely helpful in my journey to navigate BU. I enjoyed our one-on-one meetings where we create the agenda and where my coach supports me in any goals that I want to accomplish. It is good having somebody on my side, listening to me and checking in with me on how I am doing, and I learned the importance of checking in with those around you and being there to support them.
Program Dissemination
The CMHEP Technical Assistance Team has partnered with colleges and universities across the United States in the successful adaptation and adoption of our PASS program to meet the ever-increasing needs of young adults with mental health conditions on college campuses.
We work closely with your team to ensure you are optimally prepared to recruit coaches, supervise coaches, and implement the PASS program to help the students of your university, college, or program. We help your team with all aspects of program implementation, including supporting your familiarity with the manuals, as well as proven key peer coaching strategies.
For more information on bringing PASS to your school please contact Paul Cherchia, M.A., LMHC. cherchia@bu.edu or 617.353.6628.