ABSTRACT
Evaluation strategies are bound to vary according to the needs and contexts within which the peer counselling is taking place. It may not be possible to interview all who are involved in a peer counselling project, but selected interviews can illuminate the processes which particular individuals are experiencing. Each cohort of trainees can be encouraged to develop its own criteria for evaluating development as counsellors. Video recordings of peers counselling one another during training can make an invaluable basis for self-evaluation. Care must be taken that they are used supportively and that all comments, even critical ones, are given constructively. It is important to have some method for evaluating client satisfaction. It is, of course, essential to ensure that the confidentiality of the client/counsellor relationship is maintained. During training, participants in small groups can brainstorm difficulties which they fear they may encounter once they begin their peer support work.
