Innovation in Peer Support: Telemental Health and One to One
Peer Support in a Global Pandemic
Enroll in the Online Self-Study course and complete it at your own pace.
1 CE hours available for behavioral health clinicians upon completion.
In a world upended by isolation, trauma, and mental health crises, one question demands urgent attention: how do we restore connection when face-to-face care is no longer possible? Peer support—grounded in lived experience and mutual respect—has become a lifeline, and its transformation through telemental health is not just an adaptation but a revolution in care.
Now more than ever, clinicians must understand how peer specialists are transforming behavioral health through telemental health—breaking through loneliness, rebuilding trust, and offering hope when it’s needed most.
Enroll in the 1 CE Online Self-Study for $20
Payment Options are listed at checkout
Register for the 0 CE Training Video for $10
Payment Options are listed at checkout
Patrick Hendry, NCPS, brings decades of experience to this critical topic as Vice President of Peer Advocacy, Supports and Services for Mental Health America. A nationally respected leader and innovator, Patrick has shaped the peer support field with compassion, lived experience, and groundbreaking leadership in national peer certification standards. His personal and professional journey deeply informs his understanding of how peer support can drive recovery and inclusion—even at a distance.
In this one-hour, self-paced course, Patrick invites learners into a powerful conversation about the evolution of peer support in a time of extraordinary challenge. Through firsthand insights, real-world examples, and a research-informed approach, learners will gain a deeper understanding of how peer support continues to thrive in digital spaces while staying grounded in person-centered values.
Topics explored in this course include the historical foundations of the peer movement, the impact of COVID-19 on service delivery, the emergence of digital and hybrid peer support models, the role of certified peer specialists, the dangers of "peer-bots," and strategies for maintaining relational trust in virtual care. Participants will also learn how peer support mitigates isolation, reduces re-hospitalization, and empowers self-management through accessible, scalable digital interventions.
Instructor
Patrick Hendry is a seasoned mental health advocate with over 31 years of experience advancing peer services and consumer inclusion in behavioral healthcare. He currently serves as Head of Peer Services at Firsthand, following his tenure as Vice President of Peer Services. At Mental Health America, he developed the groundbreaking National Certified Peer Specialist credential, setting a national standard for the peer support profession.
Patrick has been instrumental in establishing peer-run organizations and promoting self-directed care models across Florida, leveraging his expertise in organizational development, community outreach, and program management. As a self-disclosed consumer of mental health services, he brings authenticity and passion to his work, championing the inclusion of mental health consumers at every level of the system.
He has contributed to national and international conversations on recovery and peer support, served on numerous advocacy boards, and received multiple awards recognizing his leadership. Across every role, Patrick’s dedication remains clear: to empower others and to strengthen the voice of lived experience in shaping mental health care.
Key Takeaways:
Gain insight into innovative strategies: Learn how peer specialists are overcoming barriers in telemental health to offer meaningful support and engagement.
Bridge traditional and digital care: Discover how digital peer support compares to face-to-face methods and what makes each uniquely impactful.
Enhance clinical collaboration: Understand how peer support strengthens behavioral health systems and improves outcomes for individuals with complex needs.
Why This Course?
Critical relevance: This course speaks directly to the post-pandemic realities clinicians are navigating now—rising need, stretched systems, and the promise of scalable, human-centered care.
Exceptional expertise: Learn from a pioneer in peer support who not only shaped national standards but continues to lead innovation in service delivery models.
Mission-driven learning: Offered by Telehealth Certification Institute, whose mission is to equip clinicians with transformative education that empowers healing at scale.
Learning Objectives:
Recite at least 3 distinct techniques being used by peer specialists providing Telemental Health.
Compare the new innovative techniques to those used in face to face peer support.
The future of peer support is here—and it's deeply relational, digitally delivered, and powerfully effective. This course offers the insight you need to better serve, connect, and collaborate in a rapidly evolving landscape. Let it inspire and equip you for the work ahead.
Add this to your course library to begin learning instantly.
This is a non-interactive, self-study course. Instruction consists of 1 hour of video instruction and a post-test.
Select each tab for course details
Availability: From the time of registration, you have six months to access the coursework.
Who Should Attend: This course is intended for clinicians who provide behavioral health services.
Teaching Methods: This is a non-interactive, self-study course. Teaching methods for this course include recorded lectures, videos, a post-test, and a course evaluation.
How to attend: Directions for completing a course can be found by clicking here.
This program was recorded on March 24, 2021.
Testimonials
Bridgette Nalumu
Public health consultant, Green and Purple Consultancy Network
Lora Verley
Clinical Therapist, Bayless Integrated Healthcare
Jackie Tanna
Therapist, Region One Mental Health
Jackie Bell-Russell
Therapeutic Behavioral Strategist, Rialto Unified School District