Crisis line volunteers provide counseling and emotional support to people who are abused, depressed, grieving, suicidal, homeless, or mentally ill. Some volunteers have mental health backgrounds, but many don’t. A 10-week training program teaches new volunteers everything they need to know.
During training, volunteers receive a free, one-hour screening from an outside mental health professional. The screening ensures that prospective volunteers have the emotional stability to answer crisis calls and can be as nonjudgmental as possible. The latter is important because when people call us with a problem, we can help best by exploring options and not judging them or their choices.
After training, volunteers work one four-hour shift per week. Our clinical staff always is available to consult on difficult calls and to debrief afterwards. Staff also supervise counseling interns who earn hours towards professional certification.
Crisis line volunteers must be 21 or older, complete our crisis line training program, pass a free screening from an outside mental health professional, agree to volunteer for one year after they're trained, and adhere to our ethics and confidentiality policies. Training classes are held in January and August.
During training, volunteers receive a free, one-hour screening from an outside mental health professional. The screening ensures that prospective volunteers have the emotional stability to answer crisis calls and can be as nonjudgmental as possible. The latter is important because when people call us with a problem, we can help best by exploring options and not judging them or their choices.
After training, volunteers work one four-hour shift per week. Our clinical staff always is available to consult on difficult calls and to debrief afterwards. Staff also supervise counseling interns who earn hours towards professional certification.
Crisis line volunteers must be 21 or older, complete our crisis line training program, pass a free screening from an outside mental health professional, agree to volunteer for one year after they're trained, and adhere to our ethics and confidentiality policies. Training classes are held in January and August.
