Volunteer Crisis Counseling Opportunity

Response Hotline Seeks Volunteers to Answer The Call!

Free Telephone Crisis Counselor Training Program Offered

Stony Brook – July 25, 2016 – Everyone has moments when the support and understanding of others seem hard to find, and it is for such moments that RESPONSE of Suffolk County, Inc. was born. RESPONSE of Suffolk County is a nationally accredited, non-profit agency that provides a confidential and anonymous hotline for anyone who needs to talk. RESPONSE is seeking volunteer crisis counselors and will offer a free training program to those interested in becoming the caring voice on the other end of the line.

Part one of the training program will be held on Saturday, September 17th and Sunday, September 18th, and continues on Saturday, September 24th and Sunday September 25th. Sessions will run from 9:30 am - 4:00 pm each day and trainees must attend all four sessions. Training will take place in the Stony Brook area. No experience is necessary, only a sincere willingness to learn and grow, and the ability to make a six-month commitment of four hours a week is required.

Response provides two types of telephone assistance lines and both are heavily dependent on volunteer talent. The crisis intervention hotline takes over 20,000 calls each year about a wide range of subjects – substance abuse, domestic violence, depression, family conflict, grief, suicidal thoughts among many others. The support line provides over 5,000 telephone “visits” yearly to individuals who are homebound or have limited social support due to a physical disability or mental illness. Training for both the hotline and support line counselors includes lecture, role-playing exercises, and private and group supervision. College credit is available and bilingual volunteers are especially needed.

Make a difference in our community – one phone call at a time. Volunteer as a telephone counselor with RESPONSE of Suffolk County and become the caring voice on the other end of the phone! Those interested in attending the up-coming training can visit www.responsehotline.org for more information or call the hotline at 631-751-7500. Please apply early, positions are limited.

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Response of Suffolk County is a nationally accredited community based agency that provides a confidential and anonymous hotline for anyone who needs to talk. RESPONSE’s services also include an online crisis counseling program, a community education program, and a computerized information and referral database to connect callers with appropriate community resources.

Contact:
Lorraine Peragallo, Special Projects Coordinator
RESPONSE of Suffolk County
(631) 751-7620
lperagallo@responsehotline.org