RIVER Peer Grief Support Training Page
RIVER Peer Grief Support

Deepen your ability to be present with others navigating grief

This eight-hour RIVER training builds core competencies in peer grief support through the lens of the RIVER model: Relate, Invite, Validate, Empower, and Reassure.

The experience blends interactive teaching, video demonstrations, transcript analysis, live role-plays, and group reflection to deepen participants’ ability to support others through grief in peer-based settings.

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Next Training starts August 6, 2026
Who this training is for

This training is designed for:

  • Peer support specialists, recovery coaches, and community health workers
  • Mental health and substance use recovery peer professionals
  • Volunteers, outreach workers, and staff in community-based or peer-led programs
  • Anyone engaged in peer support who wishes to deepen their ability to be present with others navigating grief
Training overview

A practical framework for peer grief support

Participants explore the role of grief within peer work, examine how stigma and disenfranchised grief impact helping relationships, and develop a shared language and intentional framework for support grounded in human connection.

Participants are introduced to the RIVER model through video scenarios that depict real peer grief support interactions. These are accompanied by detailed deconstruction and discussion, highlighting how each of the five RIVER intentions shows up in practice.

Throughout the training, participants take part in structured role-plays with coaching and peer feedback. Scenarios are designed to reflect a range of grief experiences, encouraging participants to focus on how to listen, respond, and engage using RIVER principles.

This is not a clinical or professional grief counseling training, but rather an opportunity to learn and grow through shared understanding, cultural humility, and community-based support.

Learning objectives

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

Learning Objective 1 Describe the RIVER model and explain the purpose of each of its five intentions: Relate, Invite, Validate, Empower, and Reassure.
Learning Objective 2 Demonstrate a working understanding of grief literacy, including the ability to recognize stigma, disenfranchised grief, and trauma-informed considerations.
Learning Objective 3 Apply RIVER principles through analysis of real-world peer support scenarios and structured role plays.
Learning Objective 4 Explore the intersections between grief and peer support work and understand how grief support can strengthen connection, presence, and trust.
Download a PDF with information on the training