The Drop-in Center Students needing a person who will listen to their concerns can speak with a Peer Counselor/Educator by just stopping by the PEP office. No appointment is necessary and there is no fee for service. The only prerequisite is enrollment as a GMU student. The Peer Counselor/Educators are aware of campus resources and can address student concerns or personal situations, and make referrals.

The PEP office operates primarily as a drop-in center. GMU students are informed that a confidential professional appointment can be scheduled with the Counseling Center or Learning Services when necessary.

As a drop-in center PEP is staffed with Peer Counselor/Educators who receive extensive training and on-going supervision that incorporates the best practice procedures identified by the American Psychological Association (APA) “Guidelines on Multicultural Education, Training, Research, Practice, and Organizational Change for Psychologists” ( Approved as APA Policy by the APA Council of Representatives, August, 2002) . Peer Counselor/Educators are especially trained to become familiar with guidelines #2 and #3 which state the following:

• Guideline #2 : Psychologists are encouraged to recognize the importance of multicultural sensitivity/responsiveness, knowledge, and understanding about ethnically and racially different individuals.
• Guideline #3 : As educators, psychologists are encouraged to employ the constructs of multiculturalism and diversity in psychological education.

Adherence to these guidelines as part of peer education training helps to ensure that Peer Counselor/Educators are encouraged to increase the development of their sensitivity and competence as they expand their knowledge base on multicultural issues, theories, and information that impact on mental health issues. Adherence to these guidelines also helps to increase the confidence of peer educators as they put into educational programming strategies that embrace multiculturalism and diversity.

One of the cornerstones of client privilege in the field of mental health is confidentiality. It is important that peer counselor/educators be able to demonstrate that they are trustworthy with personal information. Confidentiality refers to the process in which peer counselor/educators will learn information from students that is considered confidential and not to be shared with other students who may be a peer or friend. Extensive training is provided on this subject so that Peer Counselor/Educators are fully aware of relevant situations and circumstances in which confidentiality is applied and/or waived. By helping individual students who drop-in to the PEP office to assess their needs and keep track of progress toward their goals, PEP counselor/educators help GMU students to connect with resources that facilitate their ability to:

• Achieve better grades
• Effectively manage their time and stress level
• Improve overall communication skills
• Develop better friendships
• Enhance self-esteem
• Overcome shyness or anxiety
• Maintain healthy eating habits
• Improve relationships with parents or significant other
• Change any behavior that is important to her/him