Effective Peer Support Effective Peer Support Volunteer MethodsVolunteer Methods

Your State AgrAbility Project Peer Support TrainingDate

Promoting Success in Agriculture for People with Disabilities and their Families

Learning ObjectivesLearning Objectives• To learn ways to connect well with

people; to build rapport

• To understand and develop active listening skills

• To develop and practice problem solving skills

• To recognize warning signs

• To learn how to manage uncomfortable situations

An Effective Peer Supporter:An Effective Peer Supporter:

• Maintains perspective and objectivity

• Empathizes with compassion

• Helps empower person to make their own decisions

Connecting Well and Connecting Well and Building RapportBuilding Rapport

RapportRapport

Definition: a noun meaning:Definition: a noun meaning:

1: relation of mutual understanding or trust and 1: relation of mutual understanding or trust and agreement between people agreement between people

2: a feeling of sympathetic understanding2: a feeling of sympathetic understanding

Rapport refers to the feelings of interest and Rapport refers to the feelings of interest and understanding that develop when genuine concern is understanding that develop when genuine concern is shown.shown.

Establishing RapportEstablishing RapportExerciseExercise

Core Ingredients for Building Core Ingredients for Building Rapport in a Helping RelationshipRapport in a Helping Relationship

• Active listening

• Eye contact

• Calm presence

• Respect

• A nonjudgmental attitude

Active listening…Active listening…

…is listening with a purpose.…is listening with a purpose.

A Purpose to Find OutA Purpose to Find Out

• What is being said……content

• What is being felt……..emotions

• What is wanted……outcome

Determine what they are Determine what they are saying….Contentsaying….Content

• Use open ended questions to clarify content…the “how” and “what”

• Summarize what you think you are hearing and don’t be afraid to be wrong

Pay Attention to FeelingsPay Attention to Feelings

• Feelings are neither good nor bad, they just are!

• Denying feelings does not make them disappear

• What a person does with their feelings could be harmful

Words that Suggest FeelingsWords that Suggest Feelings

• HandoutHandout

What are they saying they want to happen…the outcome?

Listen for the meaning or perception the person places on

their situation

positive ------------ negative

Active ListeningActive Listening

• People speak at 100 to 175 words per People speak at 100 to 175 words per minute, but can listen intelligently at 600 to minute, but can listen intelligently at 600 to 800 words per minute. 800 words per minute.

• This time difference allows the mind to drift to This time difference allows the mind to drift to other thingsother things

In active listening,In active listening, your focus is on your focus is on

the person you are withthe person you are with

FocusFocus

• Try to put yourself in the other person’s situation

• Avoid placing focus on your feelings or problems

• Only interrupt for clarification or summarizing what they’ve said

Show You Are ListeningShow You Are Listening

• Re-state what you understand them to be thinking or feeling

• Convey understanding through non verbal means…eye contact, posture, voice, expressions, nods, smiles, etc.

• Avoid offering advice, suggestions or making judgments

Maintain a Supportive Maintain a Supportive DemeanorDemeanor

• Calm Calm

• RespectfulRespectful

• HopefulHopeful

• Honest and sincereHonest and sincere

• NonjudgmentalNonjudgmental

RememberRemember

• Their problem is not your responsibility or problem

• You are only there to be supportive and caring

Active ListeningExercise

Empower the person toEmpower the person tomake their own decisions, make their own decisions,

to problem-solve.to problem-solve.

10 Ways to Help with 10 Ways to Help with Problem SolvingProblem Solving

• Handout

1. Clarify Feelings1. Clarify Feelings

• Ask questions to sort out feelingsAsk questions to sort out feelings

““Are you saying you’re worried that you Are you saying you’re worried that you might have to quit farming if you can’t might have to quit farming if you can’t figure out how to harvest the corn?”figure out how to harvest the corn?”

2. Gather Information2. Gather Information

• Find out as much as you can

“What do you think are barriers to harvesting the corn?”

3. Define the Problem3. Define the Problem

• Look for what the person perceives as their problem(s)

Example: A perceived problem is having the strength and endurance to work long hours in the future.

4. Identify the Desired 4. Identify the Desired OutcomeOutcome

• What is it that the person wants to change so they can continue farming as they had been?

5. Brainstorm Alternatives5. Brainstorm Alternatives

• Using open-ended, feeling-level questions explore the real problems

“How would you feel about doing things differently?”

• List alternative solutions

6. Evaluate the Alternatives6. Evaluate the Alternatives

• Prioritize solutions by importance

• Explore pros and cons of each

7. Predict Consequences7. Predict Consequences

• Encourage person to discuss the Encourage person to discuss the outcome for each possible decisionoutcome for each possible decision

““What effect would hiring a person What effect would hiring a person seasonally have on you and the seasonally have on you and the operation?”operation?”

8. Clarify Values8. Clarify Values

• Will certain decisions violate a personal Will certain decisions violate a personal valuevalue

““How will you feel if you have to rely on How will you feel if you have to rely on hired help to get the harvest in?”hired help to get the harvest in?”

9. Make Action Plan9. Make Action Plan

• Guide the person to decide what to do Guide the person to decide what to do first, second etcfirst, second etc

• Identify the “who, what, when, where, Identify the “who, what, when, where, and how”and how”

10. Follow-up10. Follow-up

• Plan another time to talk in person or by phone

What if you notice problems?What if you notice problems?

Signals of Distress or Signals of Distress or TroubleTrouble

• Anger

• Elevated stress

• Depression

• Suicidal thinking

Anger is a ProblemAnger is a Problem

If it is ….If it is ….

• aggressive and uncontrolled oraggressive and uncontrolled or

• results in intimidating, violent or bullying results in intimidating, violent or bullying behavior,behavior,

• that persists over several visits with that persists over several visits with farmerfarmer

Resources for Managing AngerResources for Managing Anger

Elevated StressElevated Stress

Farm StressFarm Stress

• Stresses related to weather, machinery, farm financial uncertainties, seasonal demands and long work hours

• Geographic isolation

• Reduced access to services for self or family

• Impact of disability on farm

Managing StressManaging Stress• Identify source of stress

• Eliminate stress sources you can

• Break the problem down into smaller pieces and work on one at a time

• Prioritize most immediate concern

• Develop a support system

• Use “Stress Busters”

Major DepressionMajor Depression

• Is serious,

• Can almost always be successfully treated, and

• Should never be considered a personal weakness.

Prolonged stress or untreated Prolonged stress or untreated depression could lead todepression could lead to

suicidal thinking. suicidal thinking.

Suicidal Warning SignsSuicidal Warning Signs

• Previous attempts at suicide

• Threats of suicide

• Extreme depression

• Abrupt changes in personality or behavior

• Behavior that they are preparing for death

Role of Peer SupporterRole of Peer Supporter

• Listen to what they are saying• Take them seriously• Ask appropriate questions to see what they

are thinking• Do not argue or try to reason with them• Talk about other options• Tell person help is available and contact the

AgrAbility office

If Danger Appears ImminentIf Danger Appears Imminent

• Call 1-800-SUICIDE 24 x 7 for a live trained person to talk with and to find local resources (1-800-784-2433)

• Then contact AgrAbility staff

• Another resource: Your State Rural Family Helpline 1-866-327-6578

Safety and Health of Farmer, Safety and Health of Farmer, Rancher or FamilyRancher or Family

• Notify AgrAbility if you observe signs of excessive anger, alcohol or drug abuse, stress, depression, or suicidal tendencies.

• Avoid trying to solve family arguments or problems.

• Notify AgrAbility if you suspect abusive behavior of family or hired labor.

Managing Uncomfortable Managing Uncomfortable Situations and PeopleSituations and People

Relationship BoundariesRelationship Boundaries• Avoid ‘getting attached’ to the person to a

point where your objectivity may be compromised

• Avoid overly friendly overtures toward you. Discuss your role as a peer supporter with the person.

• Avoid allowing the person to become dependent on your judgment. Empower them to make their own decisions.

In Summary:In Summary:

• Actively listen

• Be available

• Support them as they resolve problems

• Notify AgrAbility staff if you have concerns about the person’s welfare

An Effective Peer SupporterAn Effective Peer Supporter

• Maintains perspective and objectivity

• Empathizes with compassion

• Helps empower person to make their own decisions

Promoting Success in Agriculture for People with Disabilities and their Families