Peer Counseling Collective

The Peer Counseling Collective provides free, confidential peer counseling for individuals.

In our 50- or 30-minute sessions, we use active listening style peer counseling to hear and understand clients' thoughts and concerns. We do not give advice, provide treatment, or make diagnoses. We also cannot write or fill prescriptions but we do offer referrals to other low-cost Bay Area mental health resources. 

Volunteering with Us

Interested in volunteering with us? Applications are now closed for the 2025 cohort. Please send questions to pcctraining@berkeleyfreeclinic.org

Our Volunteers

  • Believe in health care for people, not for profit! 

  • Want to be part of a collective where there is no hierarchy and all decisions are made collectively 

  • Are ready to explore issues of oppression and life challenges in a non-judgmental way 

  • Are from different backgrounds and have lived a range of experiences 

  • Are eager to develop new skills and learn about themselves in the process 

  • Commit to attending all classes and completing all training requirements

  • Can make a one-year commitment after completion of the training, which includes being a peer-counselor AND being an active collective member

Volunteer Training

Our training is a self-exploratory learning experience that prepares its trainees well for peer counseling in a community-centered health model. Training lasts approximately 4 months. It will begin this year in early January and will finish mid April. Training sessions are held on Saturdays and Sundays during the day (approximately 10 am-3:30 pm with an hour-long lunch break). Full attendance is essential—if you miss more than two classes it will be harder for you to complete the training requirements. Counseling practice (triads) will be scheduled independently of the training sessions during certain weeks off.

We require a one-year commitment after training to volunteer within the Peer Counseling Collective. This commitment involves staffing shift nights as well as being an active member of our collective.