Volunteer Opportunities
Make a Difference as a Volunteer Crisis Counselor
Training Begins March 8th 2025
Long Island Crisis Center provides free, confidential and nonjudgmental programs and services to support and empower Long Islanders at critical times in their lives. This includes our 24/7 Crisis Hotlines, as well as our online counseling platform, ChatLIVE Long Island.
Individuals reach out to the Crisis Center for many reasons, including thoughts of suicide, mental health challenges, substance use issues, relationship problems, and more. Out motto is Any Problem, Any Time, Any One.
Volunteer Training Program
Long Island Crisis Center volunteers are the heart of the Agency. They provide the counseling services to our clients. All you need to start is the desire to help and time to give.
You do not need any previous experience. LICC provides a free, comprehensive training program to all volunteers. You must be at least 18 years old to volunteer at LICC.
How The Training Works
Our training will follow a hybrid format, with training done both in person and virtually on Zoom.
Counselor Training will begin with two in person information training sessions on Saturday March 8th from 9:30am-4:30pm and Sunday March 9th from 12:30pm-4:30pm.
You MUST be able to attend these sessions at our location in Bellmore in order to participate in our training.
Hotline Counselor Training
After the initial in person weekend training referenced above, weekly information sessions for hotline counselors will be held twice a week Tuesday 6:30pm-9:00pm AND Thursday 6:30p-9:00pm beginning Tuesday March 11th and ending approximately Thursday April 24th 2025 virtually on ZOOM. After your information training sessions end in April, you will be paired with a mentor for the remainder of your counselor training which will end sometime September 2025 when you will become a solo counselor. Mentored sessions will take place at either at our Bellmore location or virtually on Zoom at approximately 4 hours per week depending on your preference.
Here’s How to Get Started
The first step is to complete the online Volunteer Application. After submitting the form, a staff member will contact you via email to discuss next steps.
If you are invited to the next step of the process, you will be asked to attend a one-hour Zoom Informational Session to learn more about Long Island Crisis Center and our training process. You must be able to attend one of these training sessions on Zoom before being considered for our Counselor training program.
Upcoming Informational Sessions
Saturday January 25th 2025 from 10am-11am
OR
Tuesday January 28th 2025 from 7pm-8pm
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Dana at dmastrangelo@longislandcrisiscenter.org