What Do I Say Next? Real-Life Peer Conversations

This webinar focuses on practical, real‑world responses to situations peers encounter every day.

Peers are often told to “meet people where they are,” but rarely given concrete language for what that actually sounds like in real moments of tension, uncertainty, or emotional intensity. This webinar responds directly to one of the most common requests from peer supporters: “Just tell me what to say.” Grounded in peer values—but intentionally light on theory—this session focuses on practical, real‑world responses to situations peers encounter every day, including hopelessness, anger, silence, and resistance. Participants will examine common instinctive responses that can unintentionally shut conversations down, explore how to model mutuality without centering themselves, and practice choosing language that keeps connection intact even when there is no clear solution. Through facilitated discussion and chat‑based scenarios, peers will leave with concrete scripts, adaptable phrases, and decision‑making frameworks they can immediately apply in their work.

Learning objectives:

By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Identify common conversational moments where peers feel stuck, unsure, or pressured to “fix” the situation
• Recognize phrases and responses that are tempting—but often counterproductive—in peer support conversations
• Apply practical, values‑aligned language when responding to hopelessness, anger, silence, and resistance
• Demonstrate ways to model mutuality without shifting the focus to their own story or experience
• Use simple decision‑making cues to choose what to say next in real time
• Practice adapting scripts and sample responses to fit their own voice, role, and setting