STEPS (Skills To Enhance Peer Support) equips Trent students with the tools and confidence to support others in times of stress or distress. Through this program, you'll gain valuable skills to connect peers with resources and referrals, empowering you to make a positive impact within the Trent community and beyond. The program focuses on communication skills, bystander intervention and diversity and inclusion.
We offer each workshop once per semester during both the Fall and Winter terms, ensuring availability twice in each academic year. Registration closes for each workshop 24 hours prior (or on the Friday before if workshop falls on a Monday).
STEPS offers students:
- Practical and relevant skills to support peers that are immediately applicable to student life and society.
- An opportunity to develop and enhance interpersonal skills that includes an understanding of self, groups and their community.
- The rules to engage in conversations with a peer in distress and to become a more engaged upstander.
- An opportunity to reflect upon and develop attitudes, knowledge and skills that relate to citizenship development and practices.
Students can choose to attend individual workshops without committing to the entire program, as there is no formal enrollment process. However, those who complete all five (5) workshops by the end of the term will earn a STEPS certificate, recognizing their achievement. Students interested in completing the full STEPS program must complete all five (5) of the following workshops:
January 2025
1. SafeTALK: Suicide Response Training
- Date: Friday, Jan. 24th, 2025
- Time: 1 PM-4 PM
- Location: CCN M2 (Council Chambers)
To register: We have 35 spots available! Email your name and student number to counselling@trentu.ca to reserve your spot and be sure to specify which workshop you would like to attend.
2. How to Support a Friend who has Experienced Sexual Violence (responding to disclosure of sexual violence)
Date: Wednesday, Jan. 29th, 2025[To Be Rescheduled!]- Time: 1-3 PM
- Location: Online (Zoom)
To register: We have 20 spots available! Zoom link will be sent to registered participants 48 hours prior to the workshop. Email your name and student number to counselling@trentu.ca to receive the link and be sure to specify which workshop you would like to attend.
February 2025
3. Active Listening and Conflict Resolution
- Date: Monday, Feb. 3rd, 2025
- Time: 10 AM-12 PM
- Location: OCA 104
To register: We have 19 spots available! Email your name and student number to counselling@trentu.ca to reserve your spot and be sure to specify which workshop you would like to attend.
Rescheduled! How to Support a Friend who has Experienced Sexual Violence (responding to disclosure of sexual violence)
- Date: Now Happening Wednesday, Feb. 12th, 2025
- Time: 1-3 PM
- Location: Online (Zoom)
To register: We have 15 spots available! Zoom link will be sent to registered participants 48 hours prior to the workshop. Email your name and student number to counselling@trentu.ca to receive the link and be sure to specify which workshop you
4. Bystander Intervention
- Date: Wednesday, Feb. 26th, 2025
- Time: 1-3 PM
- Location: Online (Zoom)
To register: We have 20 spots available! Zoom link will be sent to registered participants 48 hours prior to the workshop. Email your name and student number to counselling@trentu.ca to receive the link and be sure to specify which workshop you would like to attend.
March 2025
5. Respecting Individuals and Supporting Equity+
- Date: Wednesday, Mar. 5th, 2025
- Time: 1 PM-3 PM
- Location: CCW A1
To register: We have 16 spots available! Email your name and student number to counselling@trentu.ca to reserve your spot and be sure to specify which workshop you would like to attend.
We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. Please contact us two (2) weeks in advance of event if you have any particular accommodation requirements. Reach out providing the name you registered with, what workshop you signed up for, and we'll follow up to discuss and agree on appropriate accommodation.
For further information about STEPS please contact anya gwynne - Student Equity and Success Programs Coordinator - anyagwynne@trentu.ca