Sometimes the best help isn’t a solution, it’s a safe space. Learn how active listening can help peers feel seen, heard, and ready to open up after a critical incident.

Ever been in a conversation where you could tell someone was struggling… but they weren’t saying much?

You don’t want to push, and you don’t want to say the wrong thing. So what do you do?

The answer is often simpler than we think, listen better.

In peer support, listening is everything. It’s the difference between someone shutting down or finally opening up. But most of us haven’t been taught how to listen well in high-stress, emotional conversations.

This episode gives you the practical skills to do just that. Whether you’re supporting someone after a traumatic call, or sitting with a coworker who’s barely holding it together, these tools will help you show up in a calm, helpful, and human way.

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL LEARN:

• What active listening is, and what it’s not
• How to use body language, tone, and simple cues to make people feel safe
• Four core skills to help peers open up (without advice-giving or oversharing)

Active listening isn’t about being perfect; it’s about being present. And it’s one of the most powerful things you can offer as a peer.

OTHER LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

StressCareDoc.com

Schedule a Discovery Call

Connect with Bart

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bartleger

Facebook Page: facebook.com/survivingyourshift

Website: www.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.

Mentioned in this episode:

Houston Area CISM GRIN Training

This 3-day course, hosted by the Atascocita Fire Department, will teach you how to support your peers through effective communication, emotional resilience, and understanding the psychological impact of crises. Register for this training. https://stresscaredoc.com/atascocita-grin Dates: January 6-8, 2026 Times: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM each day Location: Atascocita Fire Admin Building

Feel lost in peer conversations? The Diamond Communication Structure gives you a simple, reliable way to support someone in crisis, without making things worse.

Ever wish someone had given you a roadmap for crisis conversations?

Too often, we freeze up when a peer says, “I’m not OK.” We either launch into advice too quickly or fumble through the silence, hoping we’re doing it right. And in peer support, those moments matter.

One wrong move can shut a person down. But the right framework? It can build trust, open up healing, and give someone the safety to talk.

In this episode, I’ll teach you the Diamond Communication Structure, a proven way to guide someone through a hard conversation, especially when they’re sharing something traumatic.

It’s not a script. It’s a shape.

And once you learn it, you’ll never go into another conversation feeling unsure again.

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL LEARN:

• How to use closed-ended questions to stabilize the conversation
• When to shift into open-ended questions to invite their story
• How to paraphrase and close the loop without rushing or minimizing

This is one of the most practical communication tools you can learn in peer support. And the best part? You can start using it today.

OTHER LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

StressCareDoc.com

Schedule a Peer Support Discovery Call

Connect with Bart

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bartleger

Facebook Page: facebook.com/survivingyourshift

Website: www.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.

Don’t guess your way through a crisis conversation. Learn how to use the 6-step SAFER-R model to support a peer through stress, shock, or trauma.

Have you ever walked into a conversation with someone in crisis and thought, “I hope I don’t mess this up”?

You’re not alone. When emotions are high and someone is overwhelmed, even experienced peer supporters can feel stuck. The good news? You don’t have to guess your way through it. There’s a simple model you can follow that keeps the conversation safe, supportive, and focused.

In this episode, I walk you through the SAFER-R model, a 6-step crisis intervention framework that peer support teams across the country use to help coworkers stabilize, process, and move forward after a tough event.

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL LEARN:

• The six essential steps of the SAFER-R model
• What each step looks and sounds like in a real conversation
• How to guide someone through a crisis moment without freezing or fixing

This episode gives you a structured, data-driven approach to one-on-one peer support that actually works, especially when emotions are raw and time is short.

Links Mentioned in This Episode:

CISM Quick Reference Cards - https://www.cismbookstore.com/content/critical-incident-stress-management-cism-quick-reference-cards

Schedule a call with Bart: https://stresscaredoc.com/consultation

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.

Mentioned in this episode:

Houston Area CISM GRIN Training

This 3-day course, hosted by the Atascocita Fire Department, will teach you how to support your peers through effective communication, emotional resilience, and understanding the psychological impact of crises. Register for this training. https://stresscaredoc.com/atascocita-grin Dates: January 6-8, 2026 Times: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM each day Location: Atascocita Fire Admin Building

Knowing what to say in a crisis can be hard. In this episode, we cover what to say and what not to say when someone’s been through a critical incident or is overwhelmed.

Ever been in a conversation where someone opens up about something painful, and you’re not sure what to say next?

That moment can feel like walking a tightrope. Say the wrong thing, and they might shut down. Say nothing, and you risk missing a chance to help.

If you’re on a peer support team or just someone others lean on, this episode will help you show up better when someone is hurting. You’ll learn practical ways to communicate care and empathy, without overstepping your role or fumbling for the right words.

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL KNOW:

• What to avoid saying in a crisis conversation (even if it sounds helpful)
• How to stay present when someone’s angry, overwhelmed, or in tears
• Simple, supportive phrases that help people feel heard—not judged

This episode is full of real-world tools you can use the next time someone says, “I’m not OK.”

Links Mentioned in This Episode

Email Bart: info@stresscaredoc.com

Schedule a Discovery Call: https://stresscaredoc.com/consultation

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.

Mentioned in this episode:

Houston Area CISM GRIN Training

This 3-day course, hosted by the Atascocita Fire Department, will teach you how to support your peers through effective communication, emotional resilience, and understanding the psychological impact of crises. Register for this training. https://stresscaredoc.com/atascocita-grin Dates: January 6-8, 2026 Times: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM each day Location: Atascocita Fire Admin Building

Helping others doesn’t mean sacrificing yourself. Learn how peer supporters can set boundaries without guilt, burnout, or blowing up relationships.

Do you ever feel like you’re always “on call” for your team, even when you’re off?

That might be a sign your peer support boundaries are too fuzzy. And here’s the thing: blurry boundaries don’t help anyone, not you, and not the people you’re trying to support.

In peer support, it’s easy to slip into a mindset where you feel like you can’t say no. Like if someone needs you, you have to drop everything and respond. But that’s not sustainable. You can’t pour from an empty cup, and you shouldn’t feel guilty for taking care of your own mental and emotional health.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to set boundaries in a way that protects your energy and still communicates care. We’ll talk about how to avoid burnout, how to recognize when you’re giving too much, and how to create healthy limits that still allow you to be present and helpful.

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL LEARN:

• How to recognize when your boundaries are being pushed
• What healthy peer support boundaries look like in real life
• How to say “no” without guilt—and why it’s one of the most caring things you can do

This episode will help you stay effective, avoid resentment, and model the kind of balance that actually helps your team thrive.

Schedule a Call with Bart

https://www.survivingyourshift.com/consultation

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.

Mentioned in this episode:

Houston Area CISM GRIN Training

This 3-day course, hosted by the Atascocita Fire Department, will teach you how to support your peers through effective communication, emotional resilience, and understanding the psychological impact of crises. Register for this training. https://stresscaredoc.com/atascocita-grin Dates: January 6-8, 2026 Times: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM each day Location: Atascocita Fire Admin Building

Ever freeze up when someone says, “I’m not OK”? Learn how to respond with simple crisis communication skills that support, not shut down, your peer.

Ever feel stuck when someone opens up about something hard, and you have no idea what to say?

It’s not just you. Most people aren’t taught how to handle emotionally charged conversations. So when a coworker or team member says, “I’m struggling,” we either over-talk, underreact, or panic inside.

And if you’re on a peer support team? That silence can be costly.

Avoiding the conversation, brushing it off, or saying something well-meaning but clumsy can actually shut the person down. The truth is, most of us don’t need fancy therapy skills; we need a simple structure to guide hard conversations in a helpful, human way.

In this episode, you’ll learn a conversation framework that helps you support others without making things worse.

BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING, YOU’LL LEARN:

• How to respond when someone says, “I’m not OK”
• What helps people feel psychologically safe in hard conversations
• A simple structure you can use in almost any peer support situation

This episode is practical, encouraging, and designed to help you stay calm, stay present, and stay helpful when things get hard.

OTHER LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

StressCareDoc.com

Schedule a Consultation

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.

Mentioned in this episode:

Houston Area CISM GRIN Training

This 3-day course, hosted by the Atascocita Fire Department, will teach you how to support your peers through effective communication, emotional resilience, and understanding the psychological impact of crises. Register for this training. https://stresscaredoc.com/atascocita-grin Dates: January 6-8, 2026 Times: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM each day Location: Atascocita Fire Admin Building

Most peer support programs start strong… then fade out. In this episode, we’ll talk about how to sustain your team, keep engagement high, and ensure your peer support program remains trusted and effective for the long haul.

Most peer support teams start with good intentions, a few trained peers, a launch meeting, maybe even some early wins. But what happens after six months? Or a year?

If your team is starting to fade, or you want to prevent that from happening, this episode is for you.

We’ll talk about what causes peer support teams to lose momentum, and I’ll walk you through practical steps to keep your team active, engaged, and trusted. From avoiding burnout to evaluating effectiveness, you’ll walk away with tools to make your program last.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why most peer support programs lose steam
• How to maintain engagement without exhausting your team
• What kinds of ongoing training actually make a difference
• How to evaluate what’s working (without breaking confidentiality)
• What to do if your team has fizzled out

If you found today’s episode helpful…

Share it with your team. Follow the podcast so you never miss an episode. And if you’re building or revitalizing a peer support program, I’d love to help. Visit StressCareDoc.com to schedule a strategy call.

https://www.survivingyourshift.com/41

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.

Mentioned in this episode:

Houston Area CISM GRIN Training

This 3-day course, hosted by the Atascocita Fire Department, will teach you how to support your peers through effective communication, emotional resilience, and understanding the psychological impact of crises. Register for this training. https://stresscaredoc.com/atascocita-grin Dates: January 6-8, 2026 Times: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM each day Location: Atascocita Fire Admin Building

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 back
• Smart ways to introduce peer support that don’t sound like a lecture
• How to get buy-in from leadership and frontline staff alike

If 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.

Mentioned in this episode:

Houston Area CISM GRIN Training

This 3-day course, hosted by the Atascocita Fire Department, will teach you how to support your peers through effective communication, emotional resilience, and understanding the psychological impact of crises. Register for this training. https://stresscaredoc.com/atascocita-grin Dates: January 6-8, 2026 Times: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM each day Location: Atascocita Fire Admin Building