No! You don’t have to become a youth specialist to help a teen or young adult process “The Steps”. However, as mentioned in all our materials and courses for Encouragers (the term used for persons leading freedom appointments), you should not try to lead someone through “The Steps” until you have gone through the process yourself. Also, it is wise to observe someone else lead the process before attempting it yourself. (You will have opportunity to do both in a Practicum, if not elsewhere.)
We strongly recommend having someone with you as a prayer partner in any freedom appointment. (You will learn about the role of a prayer partner in the courses.) And, we encourage you to serve as a prayer partner before taking on the role of Encourager. (You get opportunity to “practice” both roles during Practicum.)