Peer Wellness Specialist Training

Cascadia Health offers an OHA-approved, 80-hour training program to certify people as Peer Wellness Specialists.

Do you have lived experience of mental health challenges, substance use, or other addictions? Do you want to support others in finding a path of recovery, change, and empowerment? Consider becoming a Peer Wellness Specialist and encourage others on their journey.

*We are accepting applications for June and July sessions. Apply Now.*

Apply now for upcoming peer trainings

June 1-30 | Mondays & Tuesdays | 9:30am-5:30pm

This session meets two days a week for five weeks. Attendance to all sessions is required, and the training will be held in-person at Cascadia’s Talbert Health Center, 12360 SE Sunnyside Rd. Clackamas, OR. The application window will be open until May 1 or until 125 applications have been accepted.

July 13-24 | Monday-Friday | 9:30am-5:30pm

This training session meets five days a week for two weeks. Attendance to all sessions is required, and the training will be held in-person at Cascadia’s Plaza Health Center, 2415 SE 43rd Avenue, Portland, OR. The application window will be open until May 1 or until 125 applications have been accepted.

September 10-October 9 | Thursdays & Fridays | 9:30am-5:30pm

This session meets two days a week for five weeks. Attendance to all sessions is required, and the training will be held in-person at Cascadia’s Administrative Office, 847 NE 19th Avenue, Portland, OR.

Sign up here to be notified when our application window opens. We will accept 100 applicants for 24 spots, so be sure to apply early.

November 9-20 | Monday-Friday | 9:30am-5:30pm

This training session meets five days a week for two weeks. Attendance to all sessions is required, and the training will be held in-person at Cascadia’s Plaza Health Center, 2415 SE 43rd Avenue, Portland, OR.

Sign up here to be notified when our application window opens. We will accept 100 applicants for 24 spots, so be sure to apply early.

To sign up for updates about future trainings and learning opportunities, complete our interest form.

Do you have personal experiences with mental health challenges, substance use issues, and/or other addictions? Have you been able to find ways to cope and create a life that you choose? Peer Providers use our lived experiences to create connections with others who are struggling, and to offer nonjudgmental space, support, and encouragement so that they can also choose the life they want. If this sounds like satisfying work to you, you may want to consider becoming a Peer Provider.

As people who have “been there,” Peer Providers possess a personal understanding of the recovery journey and have a commitment to our own wellness and self-care. From this starting point, our Peer Wellness Specialist training will provide you with frameworks, skills, and practices that you will use on the job to help others create pathways for their own recovery journey.

PWS training FAQ

Get notified when we announce application windows for Peer Wellness Specialist Training.

Continuing Education for Peer Providers

Peer Documentation in EHR Systems 

Wednesday, March 18, 2026 | 10:00am-12:00pm 

  • VIRTUAL TRAINING
  • Instructor: Rhea Wolf 
  • 2 CEUs for all peer worker types through the THW commission 

Many of us have questions about how to incorporate our peer values into the documentation required by the healthcare system. What are some ways we can document from a peer perspective? How can we stay person-centered in our approach? How do we make decisions about what to include or not include in our notes? 

Join this session, open to peers of all worker types, to learn more about the considerations, challenges, and practices specific to peer providers documenting in Electronic Health Records systems. Bring questions, concerns, and experiences from you own work life in documentation for us to discuss together! 

Peer Support Strategies for Negotiating Realities and Intense States 

Thursday, April 23, 2026 | 1:00-5:00pm 

  • Garlington Health Center | Education Room
    • 3036 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Portland OR 
  • Instructors: Beethoven Thornton and Rhea Wolf 
  • 4 CEUs for all peer worker types through the THW commission 

“Lived experience” can mean so many different things to peer providers and the people we support. From depression, anxiety, or mood fluctuations; to seeing/hearing things others do not hear or see; or believing things that seem to be at odds with everyone else’s version of reality. How can we ensure we are providing person-centered, empowering, and nonjudgmental support for people across the spectrum of experiences?

This training will go over peer strategies for supporting those who are experiencing more intense states and/or non-consensus realities. Taught by instructors who have experienced these states, training participants will have opportunities to learn nonclinical frameworks, deep discussions, and supportive space to practice together. 

Get notified when there are other continuing education and training opportunities for peers.

Questions?

Email peer.trainings@cascadiahealth.org for more information. Please read our FAQs first. We will announce the training dates once confirmed.