About Us
Services
211
Volunteers
Contact Us
Helpful Links
Training & CEU

What can I do?

There are two different opportunities, tapping into a variety of interests, skills, and personalities, including:

Each provides a unique volunteer experience and allows an individual to get to know other staff and volunteers, thereby enhancing their volunteer experience. You will find working with our extraordinary, loving community to be a rewarding and life-enhancing experience. Together we will learn more about ourselves, each other, and the world in which we live. We invite you to get involved and become part of the Crisis Center team! To volunteer, or share your questions or comments about our volunteer program, please contact Bren Keith, Clinical Coordinator, at 615-298-3359 ex. 237 or complete the form below.

I. Crisis Counselor Opportunities

  • Telephone Counseling- volunteer telephone counselors are needed to help cover the Crisis Center’s 24/7 schedule. Shifts last from three to four hours.
  • Speaker’s Bureau/Outreach- volunteers are needed to increase community awareness of the Crisis Center, recruit volunteers, and educate the public about suicide prevention and mental health issues.
  • Training- volunteers can assist with computer training or act as role-play facilitators.
  • Survivors of Suicide (SOS)- volunteers can assist the SOS program, which helps those who have lost someone to suicide. Help is needed with support groups, newsletters, and a yearly candlelight remembrance event.
  • Depression Screening- there are opportunities for trained volunteer telephone counselors to help with two or three depression screenings per year. Tables are set up in public places (malls, schools, etc.) and people are invited to fill out a simple depression screening form. Volunteers are needed to meet and greet passersby, hand out tests for Depression Screening, Bipolar Disorder, General Anxiety, or PTSD. Volunteer scorers tally participants' test scores. And finally, volunteer counselors meet one-on-one with those who have taken the test to discuss their test results, any symptoms they are experiencing, and refer them to helping resources.

Student Internships
Opportunities are available at the Crisis Center for students completing practicums and/or student volunteer services. We offer a variety of learning experiences, ranging from telephone crisis counseling to other projects that also benefit our community. Students help people in crisis, learn about community resources, and develop valuable insights about life experiences and diagnoses that prompt people to call for counseling and support. Our training program prepares students for a fulfilling experience at the Crisis Center. Call the Crisis Services Director at 615-298-3359 to gain more information.

Volunteer & Student Opportunities
Crisis Center volunteers and students can choose from five areas of opportunity. These areas tap into a variety of interests, skills, and personalities. Volunteers are welcome to participate in as many opportunities as they wish. Each provides a unique volunteer experience and allows an individual to get to know other staff and volunteers, thereby enhancing their volunteer experience. We invite you to get involved and be a part of the Crisis Center team!

A Crisis Center Professional Ladder honors telephone counselors at three levels:

Crisis Associate
Awarded when a trainee has completed an initial 40-hour training session, participated in supervised on-the-job training, been favorably evaluated, and completed 20 hours on the telephone counseling lines.

Crisis Specialist
Awarded when a Crisis Associate has completed one year of continued active telephone counseling experience, fulfilled a required number of in-service hours, and received favorable evaluations.

Senior Crisis Specialist
Awarded when the Crisis Specialist has completed a required number of telephone counseling and in-service hours and has acquired additional training in or outside the Center by attending seminars or workshops relevant to their telephone counseling experience. This level may also be attained by active assistance with training of new volunteers, participation in the Speaker’s Bureau, and/or other service to the Center in addition to telephone counseling.
A person must have been at the Crisis Specialist level for at least two years before they can be considered for the Senior Crisis Specialist level. He or she must exhibit exceptional counseling skills, knowledge of case management policies and procedures, an accepting and non-judgmental attitude toward clients, and a cooperative attitude toward colleagues.
Awarding of the Senior Crisis Specialist title will be based on a performance evaluation and will be determined jointly by the Executive Director, Crisis Services Director, and Volunteer Services Coordinator.

To volunteer, please fill out the information below and press the SUBMIT button. Our volunteer services staff will contact you soon.

Your Name
Your Email Address
Your Phone Number
Your Street Address
Your City
Your State Your Zip Code
 
I am interested in the following Volunteer & Student Opportunities
(check all that apply)
Crisis Counselor
Volunteer Support
 
Please add your comments or questions below