Serving Those Who Serve
First Responder Peer Support Programs
Every call takes a toll. Police officers, firefighters, paramedics, corrections staff, and dispatchers witness trauma that most people never encounter. Over time, those experiences can build into stress, isolation, and burnout.
Peer support transforms shared experience into a lifeline. When colleagues are trained to recognize stress and provide support, they create an environment where it is safe to talk, stigma is reduced, and help is easier to access. For many first responders, that conversation with a peer is the first step toward saving a career, a marriage—or even a life.
TCTI helped pioneer peer support training in the 1980s. Today, we remain a national leader, preparing thousands of first responders each year to serve on certified peer support teams.
“Peer support is one of the best things we’ve ever built—because talking to someone who’s been there, worn the uniform, is the bridge to getting real help.”
Dr. Nancy Bohl-Penrod
TCTI Founder
What Peer Support Training Includes
Peer support training programs from TCTI give participants the skills to recognize warning signs, listen without judgment, maintain confidentiality, and connect their peers to appropriate resources. The training is practical, straightforward, and grounded in the realities of first responder culture. Participants leave ready to support their colleagues on the job, after hours, or following a critical incident.
We begin with the foundations: understanding stress and trauma, developing listening skills, and learning the ethical boundaries of peer support. From there, departments can choose advanced topics such as suicide awareness, substance use in public safety, family dynamics, and leadership engagement. Many agencies return for refresher courses to keep their teams strong and effective.
A Foundation Built on Trust
TCTI’s peer support training is widely recognized across the country. Our courses align with ICISF standards, meet or exceed POST requirements, and are delivered by instructors who know the culture of law enforcement, fire, EMS, and dispatch firsthand. Departments and unions trust us because our trainers “speak the language” of first responders and understand what it means to carry the badge or wear the uniform.
Proud Partners
Why Agencies Choose TCTI
For more than forty years, TCTI has helped agencies embed peer support into their wellness programs. Chiefs and command staff rely on us because our approach is credible, confidential, and rooted in lived experience. Agencies that invest in peer training see stronger teams, more resilient employees, and earlier interventions that prevent crises.
"Peer support is so important for a department because there are officers that are exposed to trauma nearly on a daily basis, and they don’t have an outlet. They need to have people that they can talk to at the department that understand what they’re going through."
Jeff McGreevy
Retired Sergeant & Public Safety Advocate
Bring Peer Support Training to Your Agency
Whether you are creating your first peer team or strengthening an existing program, TCTI can help. We offer on-site training for departments, open-enrollment courses for individuals, and ongoing consultation to keep your team active and effective. Contact us today to learn how peer support training and certification can strengthen resilience across your agency.
