Alright, buckle up, because I’m about to spill the beans on my volunteer work experience as a psych student. It was a wild ride, full of unexpected twists and turns, but I learned a ton.
So, it all started with me scrolling through the university’s volunteer board. You know, that place where everyone plasters flyers for everything from dog walking to tutoring kids? I was looking for something psychology-related, something that would actually look good on my resume and maybe, just maybe, give me a glimpse into the real world of mental health. And then I saw it: “Volunteer Opportunity: Crisis Text Line Counselor.”
Crisis Text Line, huh? Sounded intense. I read the description. Basically, you’d be trained to respond to people in crisis via text message. Suicide, self-harm, anxiety, depression – the whole shebang. My initial reaction was, “Woah, that’s heavy.” But then my inner voice kicked in, the one that yells at me for being a lazy bum, and I thought, “Okay, this is it. Time to step up.”
I applied. Wrote a killer cover letter about my passion for helping people (which was, like, 75% true), and waited. To my surprise, I got an interview! It was all online, thankfully, because I was a nervous wreck. They asked me about my coping mechanisms, my personal experiences with mental health (kept that vague!), and how I handle stressful situations. I tried to sound as calm and collected as possible, even though my palms were sweating like crazy.
Got accepted! Next up: training. It was intense. Like, seriously intense. We spent weeks learning about active listening, de-escalation techniques, suicide prevention strategies, and ethical considerations. There were role-playing scenarios, quizzes, and endless readings. I felt like my brain was going to explode. But I also started to feel more confident. Like, maybe I could actually do this.
Finally, it was time to go live. My first shift was terrifying. I remember staring at the computer screen, waiting for a text to come in. And then it did. Someone was feeling suicidal. My heart pounded in my chest. I took a deep breath and started typing. I used all the techniques I’d learned in training, trying to listen, empathize, and help the person find reasons to stay alive. It was exhausting, emotionally draining, but ultimately, I felt like I had made a difference.
I volunteered for the Crisis Text Line for about a year. There were good days and bad days. Some days I felt like I was actually helping people. Other days I felt completely inadequate. But every day, I learned something new. I learned about the realities of mental illness, the power of human connection, and the importance of self-care.
What did I actually do, day-to-day? Well, a typical shift involved:
- Logging in: Checking the queue for texters in need.
- Responding to texts: Reading their messages carefully and crafting thoughtful responses.
- De-escalating crises: Helping people calm down and find solutions to their problems.
- Connecting people to resources: Providing information about mental health services in their area.
- Collaborating with supervisors: Asking for help when I was unsure how to proceed.
- Debriefing: Talking to a supervisor after a particularly challenging conversation to process my emotions.
The biggest takeaway? Volunteering at the Crisis Text Line wasn’t just a resume booster. It was a deeply personal experience that changed the way I view mental health and the human condition. It solidified my desire to work in the field and gave me a much-needed dose of real-world experience.
If you’re a psych student looking for volunteer opportunities, I highly recommend checking out crisis hotlines or text lines. It’s challenging, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. Just be prepared to be emotionally drained and invest in some serious self-care!
