Surviving Your Shift, Building Peer Support

Dr. Bart J. Leger
  • 4.9 (32)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Struggling to support your peers after a tough call, or unsure how to even start a peer support team? You’re not alone. Surviving Your Shift is the podcast for first responders, healthcare workers, and frontline professionals who want to build effective peer support programs, learn peer counseling skills, and bring training to their organizations. I’m Dr. Bart Leger, a retired first responder and board-certified traumatic stress expert with 25+ years of experience training peer supporters. Whether you’re starting a peer support program from scratch or want to be a stronger peer supporter, you’ll learn how to build trust, navigate tough conversations, and bring training to your organization. This is your go-to podcast for peer support training, first responder wellness, and frontline mental health. Hit play, and let’s equip you for success.

  1. How to Promote Peer Support in a Skeptical Culture

    11H AGO

    How to Promote Peer Support in a Skeptical Culture

    Send me a text Skeptical culture? Stigma? Silence? Learn how to promote peer support in a way your department will actually hear. Retired Sgt. Gabe Lira shares real solutions that work. How do you promote peer support without sounding like HR or a TED Talk? It’s one thing to build a peer support team. It’s another thing to get your department to trust it. If you’ve ever hit resistance, heard the line “We don’t need that,” or wondered how to shift the culture without sounding out of touch, this episode is for you. Gabe Lira joins me today with over 30 years of military and law enforcement experience, including building one of the first peer support teams in Southern California and co-founding the Public Safety Peer Support Association. Gabe understands firsthand what it takes to earn buy-in from the ground up, and he shares practical tools, common mistakes, and what works when you’re introducing peer support to a skeptical audience. BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL LEARN: What to expect when your department pushes backSmart ways to introduce peer support that don’t sound like a lectureHow to get buy-in from leadership and frontline staff alikeIf you’re building or growing a team and facing resistance, this conversation is exactly what you need. CONNECT WITH GABE  EMAIL: gabe@firstresponderpsych.com LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabe-lira-62b243247/ WEBSITE: https://www.firstresponderpsych.com OTHER LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:  Public Safety Peer Support Association: https://pspsa.org/ If you're receiving value from this podcast, consider becoming a monthly supporter—your gift helps me keep producing these practical episodes. Become a supporter today. Connect with Bart LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bartleger Facebook Page: facebook.com/survivingyourshift Website: survivingyourshift.com Want to find out how I can help you build a peer support program in your organization or provide training? Schedule a no-obligation call or Zoom meeting with me here.

    1h 6m
  2. Building Confidentiality and Trust in Peer Support

    SEP 25

    Building Confidentiality and Trust in Peer Support

    Send me a text If your people don’t trust your peer support team, it won’t work. In this episode, you’ll learn how to protect confidentiality, build psychological safety, and create a culture where people know it’s safe to reach out. What good is a peer support team if no one feels safe enough to use it? Confidentiality isn’t just a policy, it’s the foundation of trust. And if your people don’t believe their conversations will be kept private, they’ll stay silent. That silence keeps people stuck in pain, stress, and burnout. In this episode, we’ll talk about what real confidentiality looks like, how to create psychological safety, and why one slip can damage your whole program. You’ll also learn what peer supporters should say, how leadership can either support or sabotage the process, and how to build a culture where trust isn’t just a buzzword, it’s a lived experience. BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL DISCOVER: The non-negotiable rules of confidentiality for peer supportersHow to create psychological safety in every interactionPractical ways to build department-wide trust in your peer support programIf you want your peer support program to survive, confidentiality and trust aren’t optional; they’re everything. OTHER LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Schedule a free discovery call https://stresscaredoc.com/consultation Peer Support & Crisis Training Info https://stresscaredoc.com/training-courses Download Confidentiality Playbook https://survivingyourshift.com/playbook If you're receiving value from this podcast, consider becoming a monthly supporter—your gift helps me keep producing these practical episodes. Become a supporter today. Connect with Bart LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bartleger Facebook Page: facebook.com/survivingyourshift Website: survivingyourshift.com Want to find out how I can help you build a peer support program in your organization or provide training? Schedule a no-obligation call or Zoom meeting with me here.

    16 min
  3. How to Train Your Peer Support Team

    SEP 18

    How to Train Your Peer Support Team

    Send me a text You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Just train it right. In this episode, I’ll show you exactly what kind of training your peer support team needs to be equipped and ready when it matters most. Does your peer support team actually have the training they need, or are they just winging it? Caring isn’t enough. Without the right training, peer supporters may overstep, or God forbid, do harm. And that can be disastrous for your team’s effectiveness. In this episode, I’ll walk you through the essential types of training every peer support team needs, especially in emergency services and high-stress professions. Whether you’re just getting started or realizing your current team needs more support, this episode gives you a clear and practical training roadmap to build confidence, competence, and care into every conversation. BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL LEARN: The three core areas every team must be trained inWhy suicide intervention training is non-negotiableHow to keep your team sharp with ongoing education and supportDon’t guess. Train your team well, and build a culture where people know where to turn when life gets heavy. OTHER LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:  Schedule a Discovery Call https://calendly.com/stresscaredoc/consultation Share this Episode: https://survivingyourshift.com/38 QPR Suicide Training: https://stresscaredoc.com/suicide-intervention-training ASIST Suicide Training https://livingworks.net/training/livingworks-asist/ If you're receiving value from this podcast, consider becoming a monthly supporter—your gift helps me keep producing these practical episodes. Become a supporter today. Connect with Bart LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bartleger Facebook Page: facebook.com/survivingyourshift Website: survivingyourshift.com Want to find out how I can help you build a peer support program in your organization or provide training? Schedule a no-obligation call or Zoom meeting with me here.

    18 min
  4. What Peer Supporters Actually Do (And Don’t Do)

    SEP 11

    What Peer Supporters Actually Do (And Don’t Do)

    Send me a text Confused about what a peer supporter is actually supposed to do? This episode breaks down the real role of peer support and what not to do, to keep the team trusted, safe, and effective. What’s the real role of a peer supporter, and where’s the line between helping and overreaching? Too many programs launch without clearly defining the role of a peer supporter. That leaves team members unsure of what to say, when to refer, or how much to carry. Some burn out trying to do too much. Others do too little, afraid of crossing a line. The result? Confusion and programs that quietly fall apart. In this episode, I walk you through what peer supporters actually do, and just as importantly, what they don’t do. BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL LEARN: The core responsibilities of a peer supporterClear boundaries to protect the role (and yourself)Why therapy and peer support are not the same—and how to explain the differenceWhether you’re serving on a team or building one from the ground up, this episode will help you define the role so your program stays trusted, effective, and safe. OTHER LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:  The International Critical Incident Stress Foundation Schedule a free discovery call with Bart Share This Episode https://survivingyourshift.com/37 If you're receiving value from this podcast, consider becoming a monthly supporter—your gift helps me keep producing these practical episodes. Become a supporter today. Connect with Bart LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bartleger Facebook Page: facebook.com/survivingyourshift Website: survivingyourshift.com Want to find out how I can help you build a peer support program in your organization or provide training? Schedule a no-obligation call or Zoom meeting with me here.

    15 min
  5. Choosing the Right People for Peer Support

    SEP 4

    Choosing the Right People for Peer Support

    Send me a text Not everyone is wired for peer support—and choosing the wrong people can do more harm than good. In this episode, I’ll show you how to choose the right team members your people can actually trust. How do you know if someone’s the right fit for your peer support team? Let’s be honest—just because someone wants to be on the team doesn’t mean they should be. In fact, putting the wrong people in peer support roles can do real damage. Trust gets broken. Teams disengage. And the program quietly falls apart. In this episode, I walk you through the traits of a strong peer supporter—and the red flags to watch out for. Whether you’re building your first team or cleaning up one that’s not working, this episode gives you the clarity you need to choose team members who are grounded, trustworthy, and emotionally ready for the job. BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL LEARN: The six traits every peer supporter must haveHow to spot red flags before they create problemsWhy trust matters more than rank, credentials, or popularityPeer support only works when your people trust the team. This episode shows you how to build that trust from the start. Links Mentioned in This Episode https://survivingyourshift.com/36 https://survivingyourshift.com/questions If you're receiving value from this podcast, consider becoming a monthly supporter—your gift helps me keep producing these practical episodes. Become a supporter today. Connect with Bart LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bartleger Facebook Page: facebook.com/survivingyourshift Website: survivingyourshift.com Want to find out how I can help you build a peer support program in your organization or provide training? Schedule a no-obligation call or Zoom meeting with me here.

    15 min
  6. How to Start a Peer Support Program That Works

    AUG 21

    How to Start a Peer Support Program That Works

    Send me a text Thinking about launching a peer support program but unsure where to start? In this episode, I’ll walk you through the exact steps to build a team your people will actually trust and use. Thinking about starting a peer support program in your department or organization, but feel overwhelmed by where to begin? You’re not alone. A lot of agencies know they need something in place, but either launch too quickly without structure, or stay stuck in planning mode for months. And the worst part? Some programs do get started… but no one uses them. In this episode, I’ll walk you through the clear, practical steps for starting a peer support program that works—not just on paper, but in real life. Whether you’re building from the ground up or trying to fix a team that fizzled out, this episode gives you the roadmap to create something sustainable, trusted, and effective. BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL LEARN: How to get leadership buy-in and speak their languageThe most important step before choosing your teamWhat every peer support program needs to last long-termStarting a team doesn’t have to be complicated—but it does have to be done right. This episode will show you how. Share This Episode https://survivingyourshift.com/35 OTHER LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Peer Support Programs eBook Leave me a voicemail International Critical Incident Stress Foundation LivingWorks ASIST QPR Suicide Intervention Training Schedule a free discovery call Peer Support & Crisis Training Info This Week’s News Story If you're receiving value from this podcast, consider becoming a monthly supporter—your gift helps me keep producing these practical episodes. Become a supporter today. Connect with Bart LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bartleger Facebook Page: facebook.com/survivingyourshift Website: survivingyourshift.com Want to find out how I can help you build a peer support program in your organization or provide training? Schedule a no-obligation call or Zoom meeting with me here.

    23 min
  7. 5 Signs Your Department Needs a Peer Support Team

    AUG 14

    5 Signs Your Department Needs a Peer Support Team

    Send me a text Are there warning signs in your department you’re missing? In this episode, learn five red flags that signal it’s time to build—or rebuild—a peer support team that actually works. Is your department ignoring the signs that your people are struggling? When good people are burning out, leaving the job, or silently suffering through trauma, it’s not “just part of the job.” It’s a red flag. And if you don’t have a trusted, structured peer support team in place, the damage may already be happening under the surface. Many organizations don’t act until something breaks—but by then, it might be too late. In this episode, I’ll walk you through five warning signs that show your agency needs a peer support program—and what happens if you choose to ignore them. Whether you’re thinking about starting a team or realizing the one you have isn’t working, this episode gives you the clarity (and push) to take action. BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL DISCOVER: The five red flags that reveal a lack of peer supportWhat happens when you don’t act early enoughHow to turn things around with a team your people will actually trustYou don’t have to wait for tragedy to do the right thing. You can start building the support your team needs today. Share This Episode: https://survivingyourshift.com/34 OTHER LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Episode 33: https://survivingyourshift.com/33 Schedule a free discovery call QPR Suicide Intervention Training Peer Support & CISM Training Info Citations: (2023, April 26). First Responders Suffering in Silence. Common Ground. Retrieved August 12, 2025, from https://commongroundhelps.org/first-responders-suffering-in-silence/ (2024, October 31). Peer Support for First Responders: Insights from an Expert. FHE Health. Retrieved August 12, 2025, from https://fherehab.com/learning/peer-support-first-responders FEMA (2019, October 19). Strategies to Improve Firefighter Mental Health Awareness in the Dayton Fire Department. Fema.gov. Retrieved August 12, 2025, from https://apps.usfa.fema.gov/pdf/efop/efo250715.pdf 360 Counseling (2024, March 12). The Silent Struggle: Mental Health Challenges Among First Responders. Retrieved August 12, 2025, from https://clearwater360counseling.com/the-silent-struggle-mental-health-challenges-among-first-responders If you're receiving value from this podcast, consider becoming a monthly supporter—your gift helps me keep producing these practical episodes. Become a supporter today. Connect with Bart LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bartleger Facebook Page: facebook.com/survivingyourshift Website: survivingyourshift.com Want to find out how I can help you build a peer support program in your organization or provide training? Schedule a no-obligation call or Zoom meeting with me here.

    14 min
  8. What Is Peer Support and Why It Matters

    AUG 7

    What Is Peer Support and Why It Matters

    Send me a text What is peer support—and why does it matter so much in high-stress jobs? In this episode, you’ll learn how it works, what it’s not, and why it’s saving lives on the front lines. Ever wonder what peer support actually is—and why it seems like everyone’s talking about it lately? Too many departments are using the term without really knowing what it means—or how to make it work. Worse, some well-meaning programs fail because they weren’t clearly defined or supported. And if you’re thinking of starting a team—or you already have one that feels stuck—there’s a good chance the problem isn’t the people. It’s the lack of clarity, training, or purpose. In this episode, I break down what peer support is, what it isn’t, and why it matters more than ever for first responders, medical professionals, and anyone working in a high-stress profession. BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL DISCOVER: What peer support is—and why it’s not the same as being a good friendThe difference between Crisis Intervention Peer Support (CISM) and Comprehensive Peer SupportThe practical steps to build or improve a peer support program that actually helpsWhether you’re just getting started or trying to level up your existing team, this episode gives you a roadmap to do it right. OTHER LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Share this episode Schedule a free discovery call QPR Suicide Intervention Training CISM and Peer Support Training Info Citations: Jessica N. Jeruzal, Lori L. Boland, Monica S. Frazer, Jonathan W. Kamrud, Russell N. Myers, Charles J. Lick & Andrew C. Stevens (2018): Emergency Medical Services Provider Perspectives on Pediatric Calls: A Qualitative Study, Prehospital Emergency Care, DOI: 10.1080/10903127.2018.1551450 (2025, May 7). A Qualitative Study on the Design and Implementation of a First Responder Operational Stress Injury Clinic. PubMed Central. Retrieved August 2, 2025, from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12059418 (ND). A Day Like No Other: A Case Study of the Las Vegas Mass Shooting. New Mexico Department of Homeland Security & Emergency Management. Retrieved August 2, 2025, from https://nmdhsem2024-cf.rtscustomer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Las-Vegas-Mass-Shooting-Case-Study-by-NV-Hospital-Association-2018.pdf (2025, January 15). Frank Leto—Success Stories from FDNY’s Counseling Service Unit | S5 E3. First Responder Center for Excellence. Retrieved August 2, 2025, from If you're receiving value from this podcast, consider becoming a monthly supporter—your gift helps me keep producing these practical episodes. Become a supporter today. Connect with Bart LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bartleger Facebook Page: facebook.com/survivingyourshift Website: survivingyourshift.com Want to find out how I can help you build a peer support program in your organization or provide training? Schedule a no-obligation call or Zoom meeting with me here.

    25 min
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4.9
out of 5
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About

Struggling to support your peers after a tough call, or unsure how to even start a peer support team? You’re not alone. Surviving Your Shift is the podcast for first responders, healthcare workers, and frontline professionals who want to build effective peer support programs, learn peer counseling skills, and bring training to their organizations. I’m Dr. Bart Leger, a retired first responder and board-certified traumatic stress expert with 25+ years of experience training peer supporters. Whether you’re starting a peer support program from scratch or want to be a stronger peer supporter, you’ll learn how to build trust, navigate tough conversations, and bring training to your organization. This is your go-to podcast for peer support training, first responder wellness, and frontline mental health. Hit play, and let’s equip you for success.

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