17 Peer Counselor Interview Questions and Answers

Peer counselors are people who provide support to their peers through listening, sharing experiences, and providing information and resources. They work in a variety of settings, such as schools, colleges, universities, community centers, and healthcare facilities.

If you’re interviewing for a peer counselor position, you’ll likely be asked questions about your experience with and knowledge of mental health, your ability to listen and empathize with others, and your own experiences with mental health. You may also be asked about your ability to handle difficult conversations and to work with people from diverse backgrounds.

To help you prepare for your interview, we’ve put together a list of common peer counselor interview questions and answers.

Are you comfortable working with people who are struggling with mental health issues or addiction?

Peer counselors often work with students who are struggling with mental health issues or addiction. Employers ask this question to make sure you have the experience and skills necessary to help these students succeed. In your answer, explain that you do have these experiences and can relate to many of these students’ struggles. Explain how you would use your personal experiences to help them through their challenges.

Example: “I am very comfortable working with people who are struggling with mental health issues or addiction. I myself struggled with depression in high school, so I know what it’s like to feel alone and scared. I also worked as a peer counselor at my previous job, where I helped students overcome drug addictions. I learned a lot about different types of addiction and how to support others through difficult times.”

What are some of the most important skills for a peer counselor to have?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have the skills necessary to succeed in this role. Peer counselors need strong communication, problem-solving and interpersonal skills. They also should be compassionate and empathetic. When answering this question, make sure to mention a few of these important skills and explain how you use them.

Example: “The most important skill for a peer counselor is empathy. It’s essential that I understand what my clients are going through so I can provide them with the best advice. Another important skill is active listening. This allows me to better understand my client’s situation and respond appropriately. Finally, I think it’s important to have good time management skills because counseling sessions often run late.”

How would you handle a situation where a client becomes hostile or aggressive?

Peer counselors often work with clients who are experiencing emotional distress. Interviewers want to know that you have the skills and experience to handle challenging situations calmly and effectively. In your answer, describe a situation where you helped diffuse a difficult client or student.

Example: “In my current role as a peer counselor, I’ve encountered many students who become hostile when they don’t get their way. When this happens, I try to remain calm and remind myself that it’s not personal. Then, I ask them what they need from me in order to help them feel better. Sometimes, just being listened to is enough to diffuse the situation. If not, I explain our policies and procedures clearly and kindly.”

What is your experience working with people from diverse backgrounds?

Peer counselors often work with students from different backgrounds, cultures and ethnicities. Employers ask this question to make sure you have experience working with people who are different than you. Use your answer to explain that you can communicate effectively with a variety of people. Share an example of how you helped someone from a different background than you.

Example: “I’ve worked with many people from diverse backgrounds in my previous role as a peer counselor. I once had the opportunity to help a student who was new to the country. He didn’t speak English very well, so it was hard for him to understand what we were learning in class. I used hand gestures and other visual cues to help him learn more about our lessons. Eventually, he started understanding more of what we were doing in class.”

Provide an example of a time when you were able to help a client achieve their goals.

Interviewers may ask this question to learn more about your counseling style and how you interact with clients. When answering, it can be helpful to provide a specific example of a time when you helped a client overcome an obstacle or achieve their goals.

Example: “In my last role as a peer counselor, I worked with a client who was struggling with anxiety. She wanted to find ways to reduce her stress levels so she could feel better in her everyday life. Together, we came up with several strategies that she could use to help manage her anxiety. After implementing these techniques for a few weeks, she reported feeling much calmer than before.”

If a client refuses to speak with you, how would you handle the situation?

Peer counselors often work with clients who are reluctant to open up about their problems. Interviewers want to know that you can handle these situations effectively and professionally. In your answer, explain how you would try to encourage the client to talk to you. Share a specific example of when you had to deal with this situation in the past.

Example: “I understand that some students may not feel comfortable speaking with me. If I notice that a student is avoiding me, I will make sure to check in on them regularly. For example, if they have been absent from class for two days, I will ask them if everything is okay. This shows them that I am invested in their well-being and willing to listen to them. It also gives them an opportunity to speak with me without feeling pressured.”

What would you do if you noticed another peer counselor behaving unprofessionally?

Interviewers may ask this question to assess your ability to work with others and resolve conflict. In your answer, explain how you would handle the situation in a professional manner.

Example: “If I noticed another peer counselor behaving unprofessionally, I would first try to speak with them privately about it. If they didn’t change their behavior after our conversation, I would report my concerns to my supervisor or program director. I believe that all counselors should be respectful of one another and treat each other with kindness. Therefore, if someone was acting unprofessionally, I would want to address the issue as soon as possible so we could ensure everyone felt safe at work.”

How well do you understand the policies and procedures of this organization?

Peer counselors often work with students who are struggling academically. They may need to refer these students to the school’s administration for disciplinary action or academic support. The interviewer wants to ensure that you understand the policies and procedures of their organization so you can help your students navigate them effectively. In your answer, explain how you would help your students access resources and services they need.

Example: “I have worked in this district for five years now, so I am very familiar with its policies and procedures. If a student came to me asking about getting an extension on an assignment, I would first check our school’s policy on extensions. If it was within the parameters, I would tell the student what steps they needed to take to get an extension. If not, I would direct them to the appropriate person to discuss their options.”

Do you have any experience working with children?

Peer counselors often work with students, so employers ask this question to make sure you have experience working with children. If you do not have any experience working with children, explain what kind of experience you have working with people who are younger than you. Peer counselors need to be able to relate to their students and help them through difficult situations.

Example: “I have never worked specifically with children, but I have plenty of experience working with young adults. In my last job as a peer counselor, I helped many teenagers deal with issues like depression and anxiety. I also volunteered at a local elementary school where I led an after-school program for kids in grades K-5. We did fun activities every day, and I learned how to interact with younger kids.”

When working with a group, how do you ensure everyone has a chance to speak?

Peer counselors often work with groups of students to help them develop their social and emotional skills. Interviewers want to know that you can facilitate a group discussion in a way that allows everyone to participate. In your answer, explain how you plan for time management and ensure all voices are heard.

Example: “I always make sure to have an agenda before our meetings so we can stay on track. I also try to give each person at least two minutes to speak during the meeting. This helps me manage my time while ensuring everyone has a chance to share their thoughts.”

We want to ensure our peer counselors are constantly learning and improving. What strategies do you use to stay informed on the latest trends in counseling?

Peer counselors need to be up-to-date on the latest research and best practices in counseling. This question helps employers understand how you stay informed about new developments in your field. Use examples of how you’ve learned from others or attended conferences, seminars or training sessions.

Example: “I have a subscription to several online journals that publish peer-reviewed articles. I also subscribe to newsletters from some of my favorite mental health organizations. In addition, I try to attend at least one conference per year where I can learn more about current issues facing students.”

Describe your experience working with people from different cultures.

Peer counselors often work with students from different backgrounds. Employers ask this question to make sure you have experience working with people who are different than you. Use your answer to explain that you can adapt to different cultures and communicate effectively with others.

Example: “I’ve worked in a school district for the past five years, so I’m used to working with many different types of people. In my current role as a peer counselor, I help students who speak English as a second language. I use techniques like active listening to ensure they understand what I am saying. I also try to learn some basic phrases in their native language to show them I care about their culture.”

What makes you an ideal candidate for this position?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications for the role. Before your interview, make a list of reasons why you are qualified for this position. Consider including any relevant experience or skills that relate to the job description.

Example: “I am an ideal candidate because I have extensive counseling experience and can help students with their problems. In my previous role as a school counselor, I helped students overcome many challenges, such as bullying, family issues and mental health concerns. I also understand how important it is to keep student information confidential, which makes me feel comfortable in this role.”

Which peer counseling models are you most familiar with?

Interviewers may ask this question to see if you have experience with the counseling model they use at their school. Peer counselors often work within a specific framework, so it’s important that you’re familiar with the one your potential employer uses. In your answer, try to name several models and explain why you prefer each one.

Example: “I’ve worked in both individualized and group peer counseling settings. I find that I enjoy working with small groups of students because I can get to know them better and help them develop meaningful relationships. However, I also like working as an individual counselor because I feel like I can give each student the attention they need. I think both approaches are valuable.”

What do you think is the most important aspect of building a strong relationship with a client?

Peer counselors need to build strong relationships with their clients in order to help them. Interviewers may ask this question to see if you understand the importance of building a relationship and how you would do so. In your answer, try to explain what you think is most important about building a relationship and share an example from your experience.

Example: “I believe that trust is the most important aspect of building a strong relationship with a client. If I can’t trust my client, then it’s hard for me to feel comfortable helping them. When I first started as a peer counselor, I had a client who was very quiet and didn’t seem like they wanted to be there. I decided to start by asking them questions about themselves and showing genuine interest in their answers. After a few sessions, they began opening up more and we developed a good rapport.”

How often do you think peer counselors should meet with clients?

Peer counselors often meet with clients to discuss their progress and any challenges they’re facing. The interviewer wants to know how you plan your counseling sessions so that you can help students succeed in school. In your answer, explain the importance of regular meetings and how you would schedule them for your peer counseling job.

Example: “I think it’s important for peer counselors to meet with students at least once a week. This allows us to check in on their progress and make sure they’re making steady steps toward reaching their goals. I also believe we should have shorter weekly meetings rather than longer monthly ones because this gives us more time to focus on each student’s individual needs.”

There is a new treatment method that has shown promising results for clients with a certain condition. How would you go about integrating this method into your counseling sessions?

An interviewer may ask this question to assess your ability to stay up-to-date on the latest research in psychology. In your answer, demonstrate that you are willing to learn new methods and techniques for helping clients achieve their goals.

Example: “I would first read about the method thoroughly so I could understand how it works. Then, I would discuss the pros and cons of using the method with my supervisor or other senior counselors. If they agreed that it was a good fit for our clients, we would integrate it into our sessions. We would also monitor its effectiveness over time to ensure that it’s still working as intended.”