NEW Youth Summer Program Opportunity!
Emotional Health Practitioner - Peer Support (Offered July 6 - July 10, 2026)Ages: 16-18 |
This in-person program equips participants with essential emotional health strategies and workforce readiness skills that are directly applicable to school, work, and everyday life. Participants will gain practical tools to manage stress, communicate effectively, build resilience, and collaborate with others. These skills foster success in job applications, support peers and colleagues, and prepare students to handle challenging situations with confidence and professionalism. The program includes two key components:
Our philosophy is that you learn by doing, so the material will be taught from engaging exercises. |
Course Objectives:
Participants will come away with a toolbox of practical tools to manage their own mental health and support others. This will include:
- Understanding signs and symptoms of emotional overload
- How to set up an environment to be healthy and balanced.
- How to rewire emotional connections and explore future aspirations.
- Additional subjects such as grief and relationships.
Successful participants will obtain an Emotional Health Practitioner – Peer Support micro-credential
Participants will work through the Workforce Readiness program which includes:
- Identifying and articulate transferable skills
- Explore job search strategies tailored to their interests.
- Updated resume with professional feedback.
- Practicing job interviews using an online system.
Students will have the option of completing an informational interview, workplace etiquette training, and conflict management strategies to obtain an additional Workforce Readiness micro-credential.
Who Should Enroll?
Students pursuing careers in nursing, social work, or care roles
Students seeking stress management skills
Students aiming to support mental health in both themselves and their peers
- Students interested in brain rewiring and the basics of neuroscience
Course Details:
- Cost: $975 per participant
- Suitable for 16-18 year olds
- Hours: TBC but not planning to start before 10am. Likely 10:30 – 4pm daily.
- Location: Trent University Peterborough campus
- OSAP eligible (Confirm OSAP eligibility here)
- Please note that no discount codes are available for this program
How to Register:
- Please register your interest using our survey to get notified when registration is open
- When registration opens (likely end Feb / March), a $300 deposit will be due
- The remaining fees are due June 1st, 2026
Any questions?
Please email microcredential@trentu.ca
FAQs:
WHO WILL BE RUNNING THE PROGRAM?
This program will be managed by Careerspace at Trent University which supports students in building meaningful, careerready skills by providing personalized guidance, experiential learning opportunities, and robust connections with employers and community partners. The mission of Careerspace at Trent is to equip learners with the perspectives, competencies, and realworld exposure needed to navigate an evolving job market, while fostering strong partnerships that benefit both students and the broader community.
This program will be delivered through a strategic partnership between Trent University and Canadian Family Health Counselling (CFHC), leveraging both organisations’ expertise in education, mental health, and workforce development. Trent has worked with CFHC since March 2024 to successfully deliver the online Emotional Health Practitioner micro-credential and they will be developing and providing the training for the new, youth-focused Emotional Health Practitioner – Peer Support micro-credential.
Canadian Family Health Counselling developed Neural Network Therapy® content, which is a therapeutic approach designed to reprogram the brain for optimal mental health. Developed based on neuroscience data surrounding the neuroplasticity of the brain (the brain’s ability to rewire old patterns and learn new habits), Neural Network Therapy® is an education-based approach that empowers clients to transform their mental health through adaptive skills and strategies.
The project partners bring significant expertise directly aligned with the grant proposal’s objectives. Kim Sargent, Founder of Neural Network Therapy® and Clinical Director at Canadian Family Health Counselling, has decades of experience in mental health counselling and program development, providing services globally. Jodi Stansfield is an Emotional Health Practitioner with extensive experience supporting women through anxiety, depression, and trauma, as well as a background in education and not-for-profit leadership focused on survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Chris Kirby, also an Emotional Health Practitioner and co-founder of The Ironwood Project, offers both professional and lived experience supporting trauma survivors, and is active in training police to enhance trauma-informed responses. Collectively, their specialized skills in emotional health, peer support, and trauma recovery are essential to delivering evidence-based, impactful programming for participants.
ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS
If accommodation is required, there is an opportunity for a parent and participant to stay in a 2-bedroom apartment in Gzowski College.
Summer Guest Accommodations - Conference & Hospitality Services - Trent University
ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS
There will be the option for parents to register for a Parent Companion Course program.
This is a self‑paced program designed to help you understand the tools, language, and strategies your teen is learning in the Emotional Health Practitioner – Peer Support Program at Trent.
This course empowers you to grow alongside your teen, strengthen connection at home, and develop your own emotional and communication skills.