Peer Counseling Services

Peer Counseling Services are based on an innovative model for delivering peer, home-based mental health counseling that LBFE has managed since 2003. The model was adapted from the Senior Peer Counseling Program of the Center for Healthy Aging in Santa Monica, California, and is the only peer counseling program in the Twin Cities.

Our Peer Counseling Services utilize staff and trained volunteers age 55 years or better to work with older adults age 60 and better who have mild to moderate mental health issues. The most common issues presented by the clients are depression, anxiety, grief and loss, and adjustment issues related to aging. After an extensive seven-week, 36-hour training, the volunteer Peer Counselor works with one to three assigned clients on a weekly basis for up to one year. 30 hours of ongoing training are also required throughout the year. Counseling services are provided on a one-to-one basis in the client’s home.

Additionally, Peer Counselors provide reminiscence, life review and wellness groups to agency participants and older adults in the larger community. The average volunteer commitment is 20-24 hours per month.

Criteria for eligibility for services include: 

• Age 60 or better
• Experiencing mild to moderate depression or anxiety or grief and loss due to a significant life event
• Resident of Hennepin or Ramsey County
• Person does not reside in a nursing home
• Person agrees to participate in program evaluation
• Cognitively able to participate in the program
• Agrees to in-home assessment interview
• Will accept private weekly counseling meetings

For counseling inquiries, please contact Louise Anderson at 612.746.0720 or landerson@littlebrothersmn.org.

For professionals who wish refer someone to receive our counseling services, click here to view and print the LBFE Counseling Services Referral Form.

Click here for an information sheet (PDF) on LBFE Peer Counseling.