A META-TRAINING WROTE WITH CARE

It was a good chance to work as a facilitator in the P2P piloting course; it has helped me to review the basics of being an "expert by experience" in peer support. It is true that being a social worker in the field of education,

and some training in Gestalt psychology, have given me tools for the development of the sessions. But to have first-hand experience in mental health problems provides a qualitative difference. This course provides confirming evidence that hope is the driving force of change.
Although this experience is a training course, and we are all improving our knowledge and competences, it opened an intimate and common place, which is based in a common knowledge of what we are talking about. We all experienced mental distress; nevertheless, we are all in our own way of recovery.
The manual facilitates this type of meta-training, as it is written from a common experience, you will notice it in how the content was chosen, in its sequence and in the activities to reflect upon them. This manual treats carefully self-analysis tools, given the agent competences on how to overcome the difficulties that may arise. When the roles are structured (the peer and peer support worker) the difficulty of sharing power may appear, and we may address it, to keep the essence of Mutual Support. P2P training materials are focused on promoting horizontality and mutuality in a peer relationship, which is the basis of recovery and empowerment.
Amaya Villalonga,
Trainer. En Primera Persona, Granada (Spain)