Crisis Text Line

Crisis Text Line Volunteer

March - September 2020 • North Andover, MA

What I liked

i loved the experience I gained and how much it helped me grow as a person. Especially considering how much time I had during the Pandemic. I think that it felt really nice to give back and be able to help others. The entire community that helped me through the process of becoming certified and training, etc. was very welcoming and encouraging.

What I wish was different

Nothing

Advice

I think make sure you're taking care of yourself because it can be very draining work mentally so make sure that you're doing small self-care things to make sure that you're okay first before being able to help others.

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Crisis Counselor

May 2020 • Elk Grove, CA

What I liked

I enjoy the flexibility of the position (I log on twice a week, from anywhere from around 10PM until 2/3AM depending on my schedule) and the temporary relationships I form with the texters. Especially during times like pandemic and elections, there have been more and more people dealing with domestic abuse, depression, anxiety, loneliness, and more, so I wanted to devote my time to people who were looking for support. The other crisis counselors and supervisors on the Platform are pretty sociable and engaging, which helps to create a little community online that continues past once I've logged off for the night/week.

What I wish was different

Sometimes when in a conversation with a texter, I want to be able to follow up with them for whatever reason, whether it's because I'm worried for their safety or I would just like the opportunity to check in like a friend. When it comes to the Crisis Text Line, the service is supposed to be used for ~short bursts of directed support for each texter intended to take them from high stress/hot moments to cool calms/better than how they were before they started the convo. While there have been influxes of texters due to social media posts with the number going viral and the number of texters can sometimes vastly outnumber the counselors, I do wish there was less of an emphasis on wrapping up conversations based on time and not with regards to how settled the texter feels.

Advice

When volunteering in this position, it's important to check in with yourself before checking in with others. While it's not impossible to help people while you yourself are having a rough time, it can make assisting texters incredibly difficult when you're feeling overwhelmed or experiencing stressful situations in your own life. Don't be afraid to ask for help and lean on others for support until you feel like yourself again, because you will benefit yourself and the people you serve when you can give 100%.

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Crisis Counselor

June 2020 • Aurora, IL

What I liked

Being a crisis counselor you are able to work with a variety of individuals ranging from young children to the elderly. You work with each texter in need in order to bring each individual a little more relief from the stress they are going through. Every case is different and it allows you to have a different perspective on life. This kind of work is really great for not only helping others when they are feeling low but also for building your own personal growth. I have volunteered with a lot of different places and of them all, Crisis Text Line has been the most eye opening and the most humbling.

What I wish was different

Advice

Make sure you take care of your own mental health too! There is a saying that they like to use at CTL and that saying is “you can’t pour from an empty cup”. Having a personal stress management plan is key when helping others. With everything going on in the world, it is easy to start to feel overwhelmed. Once you start feeling that way, the best thing to do is to take care of yourself. It is truly hard to provide sufficient support to others in need when you are unable to find the support for yourself while you are in need.

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crisis counselor

July 2022 • Richmond, CA

What I liked

I really like helping people who are going through a very challenging time in their life.

What I wish was different

Advice

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Crisis Counselor

January 2021 • Irvine, CA

What I liked

I enjoyed the flexibility of shifts, the very accessible support from experienced counselors, and the feeling that I was directly helping someone talk through their experiences and traumas.

What I wish was different

I wish there was more clarity about the aftermath of the conversations.

Advice

I would recommend being very in touch with yourself during this experience and being aware of your own limits when talking to others about theirs. I would also recommend trying it out, and not being too hard on yourself if a conversation doesn't go as well as you would have liked!

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