What is Peer Ministry?
What is the National Peer Ministry Center?
What do Peer Ministers do?
Who is Barbara Varenhorst, Ph. D.?
Associates

Who is Barbara Varenhorst, Ph.D.?

Dr. Barbara Varenhorst is the leading pioneer for Peer programs both with schools and churches. As a school counselor in Palo Alto, California, the counseling department in her school district was better off then most. They had a good budget, and an excellent staff with a good ratio of counselors to students. Yet she recognized the fact that they didn’t even begin to touch the needs of the students. As she talked with kids she would often ask, “Whom do you turn to when you have needs?” At first Barbara was kind of hurt that they didn’t say, “Well, we would come to you, Barbara.” Instead, they often spoke of peers whom they trusted. Barbara also would ask, “When a friend comes to you with a problem do you know how to help him or her?” And the answer seemed to always indicate that the students wished they could be better at helping. Working with the state of California, Barbara developed a written curriculum and began training what was then called Peer Counseling. Today many programs such as Peer Helpers, Natural Helpers, Peer Mediation, Peer Ministry and others are based on her original work.

Barbara Varenhorst has been the main writer, advisor and the trainer of staff for the National Peer Ministry Training Center. Her vast knowledge of educational philosophies and years of experience as a trainer of youth peer leaders and adult facilitators has given her the recognition as the leading authority of Peer programs. She continues to encourage groups to seek training for adult facilitators and says, "Peer Ministry programs can only be as good as the training adults receive."