The Shared Watch: Peer Support Enrichment

Supporting the supporters. This work takes a toll, even when you carry it well.

Iron Sharpens Iron.

As a peer supporter, your role is crucial in crisis management and supporting your team. With the constant stress of your position, it's important to recognize signs of stress and build skills to decompress and stay resilient. This one-day course on our 100-acre ranch in Livermore, CA, provides hands-on training on PTSI and burnout, led by experienced first responders. You'll learn regulation techniques to boost morale and mental performance: skills you can bring back to strengthen your department.

Purpose, Principles, and Goals

Reinforce why the peer support team exists, define operating principles, and align around clear expectations for how the team functions under pressure.

Advocacy and Confidentiality

Clarify the scope of the role, boundaries, and confidentiality standards so supporters can act with confidence and credibility.

Education & Regulation

Introduce practical education on post-traumatic growth and teach regulation skills supporters can use personally and model within the department.

Empathy Fatigue

Train peer supporters to identify early warning signs in themselves and others before strain turns into withdrawal, conflict, or performance decline.

  • "You'll leave here with the understanding that you are in a unique position to do this kind of work, to have the courage to be able to do it, that is truly a calling... but recognizing that there are times we need to lean into others who can help support what we're going through. That isn't weakness, that's humanity."

    —Police Sergeant

  • "Runestone Ranch offers first responders an opportunity to commune with other first responders. Come get away from your everyday environment, explore a little bit of nature, and take some troubles off your mind."

    —Police Officer, 20+ year veteran

  • "Coming out here and being able to talk to peers who have been through the same experiences, things that other people can't understand, really helps to rebuild yourself so you can come back a better human being, better first responder, and a better supporter to others."

    —Police Sergeant

Take the Next Step

Interested in strengthening your peer support team? Submit the form below and we’ll connect with you about scheduling and program details.