© 2008 Community Crisis Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Volunteers receive challenging and worthwhile assignments that help them develop
personal skills in communication, problems solving and crisis intervention.
Our professional and clinical staff provide support, information and training to
the volunteers as well as maintain statistics on the calls the Hotline receives.
They also conduct research on area resources so Hotline volunteers have an up to
date supply of programs and services in which to refer clients.
Who makes a good counselor?
- One does not need to be stronger, fitter, morally better or untroubled to come to
the aid of those in crisis.
- One has to be able to put one's own problems on hold and listen heart-fully, be nonjudgmental
and focus entirely on someone else's needs.
- People who to volunteer or work at suicide prevention centers tend to prefer anonymity,
or don't want to be singled out.
No on is applauding or eavesdropping. You become your sole judge, and you must decide
for yourself if you are worthy.
Counseling
- Make contact with the caller at a feeling level (reflect and identify feelings);
- Explore the current problem (using open ended questions);
- Summarize the problem (agree on a common understanding);
- Problem solving (if possible);
- Explore resources (past coping techniques & agency referrals);
- Plan of action (may include follow-up call);
"We do not listen passively, the way one does during a lecture. We listen actively,
and it is physically exhausting."
Painfully, people irrevocably set on suicide tend not to call. We are here for the people who still have some precarious, tenuous connection to life left - the part of them that clings to life calls us. We reach out with our voice like an invisible arm wrapping around them, offering what comfort we can. We don't tell them not to kill themselves. Suicide is certainly one option open to them - and we respect their right to choose when to live or die - but it's not the only option. Crisis is a relative term; every person has a different "emotional thermostat". We can't stop the crisis. All we can offer is a breather, a temporary safety zone in which to help explore feelings and help review resources and options. On rare occasions, when we believe someone is in physical danger from themselves or others, we intervene and send help. Our goal is not to intervene, but make intervention unnecessary because we've helped the caller reach a safe place - mentally and/or physically. We try and help the caller keep control of as much of their life as possible. We don't give advice and will sometimes tell you that. We can't tell them what to do; but maybe together we can figure something out by exploring their options.
Approximately 75% of the Hotline community consists of volunteers. There are volunteer phone counselors, board members, committees and even volunteers who participate in community outreach. Volunteers also develop education materials, posters, public service announcements as well as an array of other important functions.
