Become a Certified Listener
Do you want to give back to your community in a meaningful and enriching way? Here is your opportunity! Volunteers are a vital part of Certified Listeners Society; every year, our volunteers will contribute more than 150,000 hours to our 24-hour online emotional support chats, providing help and immediate access to people who need emotional support.
Under the supervision of professional staff, all volunteers are carefully screened before selection and fully trained before taking emotional support chats. Throughout their volunteering experience, volunteers receive ongoing professional support and in-service education sessions. Experienced volunteers gain many life and communication skills that translate into other aspects of their daily lives.
What would you be doing?
You will be an online chat responder providing emotional support on our online chat platform.
- Providing immediate and confidential support (chat, etc.) using agency procedures and policies
- Providing information and referrals when appropriate
- Understanding what to do if you are concerned about a person’s safety
- Work with callers/chatters, volunteers, and staff in a respectful and professional manner
- Letting callers know you’re listening and someone cares
- Letting the person know there is someone here to provide individual support
What would you not be doing?
- Certified Listeners are not therapists or hold themselves out to be
- Telling people what to do or how they should live their lives
- You are not providing crisis intervention
- You are not a providing addiction counselling
What qualities are we looking for?
- Keyboarding skills
- Excellent communication skills
- Ability to build a relationship and convey empathy and emotion through an online platform
- Capacity to remain calm and effective in challenging situations
- Non-judgmental and accepting of diverse values and beliefs
- Reliability and punctuality
- Ability to work independently
- Good self-awareness and common sense
- Emotional resilience, stability and maturity
- Proficiency in the English language – both written and spoken
- Open to feedback and continuous development
- Access to a computer with reliable internet connectivity
- Access to a private space at home for the duration of your volunteering shift
- Adherence to Certified Listeners Society policies, procedures and online chat guidelines
- Ability to support Certified Listeners Society’s philosophy of empowering individuals
Our responsibility to you
We at the Certified Listeners Society provide training, protocols, policies, support, and supervision to help volunteers fulfill their roles at every stage of the way. You will never be alone. We supervise all chats and activities. We are beside you 24 hours a day seven days a week.
What we ask for you in return
Also, we ask you to work one 4-hour shift per week until you have provided 50 hours of volunteer time after successfully completing training. There is flexibility in scheduling, and you will be able to choose weekly shifts that best suit you from four designated times:
- 8am to 12pm
- 12pm to 4pm
- 4pm to 8pm
- 8pm to 12am
If you are not trained by a crisis and/or distress call centre, you can still become a certified listener volunteer. To find out how, please go HERE.
What will be expected of you
- You are at least 18 years old.
- 2 pieces of photo ID. ( Your OHIP is not acceptable as a Photo ID ).
- 2 volunteer, work, or school-related references. You can download the reference form HERE.
- 1 Non-Disclosure Agreement. You can download the agreement HERE
- 1 Police Record Check. You can find out more and download the Police Record Check Letter HERE.
- You have been trained by a recognized crisis and/or distress call centre.
- PLEASE NOTE: If you do not have this training, you can still become a certified listener volunteer. To find out how, please go HERE.
- Successful completion of all comprehensive Core Competencies training programs, quizzes and screening process.
- Reliability in fulfilling weekly shift commitments.
- Comply with Certified Listeners Society policies and procedures and our Code of Ethics.
- Maintain a confidential workplace as well as confidentiality about your work.
- Sign and comply with our Volunteer Non-Disclosure Agreement
- Participation in ongoing training and work-related development opportunities.
What is in it for you
- Receive training and insights into your own self that will stay with you for your lifetime. This training will change your life and the lives of the people around you. You will also develop and enhance your communication skills valuable in everyday personal and professional life.
- Helping people in need in your very own community is tremendously rewarding. Online emotional support is a unique opportunity to help others and help them when they need you.
Other benefits include
- Make tangible differences in others’ lives and feel connected to the community.
- Gain experience and confidence in supporting others
- Develop your communication and social skills and gain perspectives, or self-awareness
- Be a part of a supportive team
- Feeling good about yourself
- Training in emotional support
- Enhanced self-growth
- Staying informed on current social issues
- Volunteering experience in an organization where diversity is welcomed and encouraged
- Experience toward a career in social work, psychology, community outreach, etc.
- Upon finishing the Certified Listeners e-training course, you will obtain a Certificate of Completion in recognition of your new interpersonal skills.
- Confirmation of Volunteer Work upon fulfillment of your 50 Hours of volunteering commitment to our clients.
NOTE: As part of our commitment to volunteers, reference letters and confirmations of volunteering experience are provided upon request to individuals who have fulfilled the specified requirements previously stated. Certified Listeners Society can only attest to a volunteer’s skills, experience, and personal qualities. Reference letters and confirmation will state that Certified Listeners Society volunteers are engaged in emotional support, not any type of psychotherapy during the course of their volunteer work.
For your consideration
Due to the nature of the work and the various stressful situations that our clients will require support with, this position may not be a good fit for everyone, especially during this time. Timing is everything; if you are experiencing or have experienced, in the past, your own personal trauma or emotional difficulties, it is crucial to address potential triggers before considering this opportunity.
DIVERSITY: Certified Listeners Society embraces diversity and values the lived experience of those who may have been discriminated against based on race, creed, color, nationality, political or religious affiliation, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, family relationship, or disability.
Learn more about our Application Process and FAQ
Review By
Patricia D’souza
Total Reviews
2,275
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5/5
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4.1/5
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Very useful training. I learnt a lot from it.
Review By
Basma Hossain
Total Reviews
2,275
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4.5/5
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4.1/5
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Review By
Shrivalli Suri
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2,275
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4.8/5
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4.1/5
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The course helped me gain valuable insight regarding the issues our society has to face and how to be there for someone to make their feelings feel acknowledged and validated without only having to tackle the problem
Review By
Sheilan Kaya
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2,275
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4.6/5
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4.1/5
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Review By
Aya Fouad
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2,275
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3.9/5
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4.1/5
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Summary … read summary
I had a lot of problems with the videos as I could no longer hear sound.
Review By
Qanbar Ali ZAREH
Total Reviews
2,275
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3.1/5
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4.1/5
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it was excellent experience and learning for me
Review By
Maarya Hasan
Total Reviews
2,275
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5/5
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4.1/5
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I enjoyed my experience with this training. I was able to learn a lot and use the knowledge I have for future references. There was a lot of thought and knowledge put into this training and I am truly appreciative.
Review By
Wendy Bui
Total Reviews
2,275
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5/5
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4.1/5
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I enjoyed the training and found it very informative. The insight will be very useful in the real world and I’m glad I did it.
Review By
GABRIELA DRAGOMIR
Total Reviews
2,275
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5/5
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4.1/5
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The Certified Listener training is unique in its model to assist individuals in our communities who cannot find help anywhere else. It is an effective tool of emotional support with a high level of discretion and confidentiality which is essential in building trust among members and within the targeted group in need of support. The program has step by step solutions for a very large volunteer human resources community. The pragmatic and engaged environment is perfected during and after chats are completed on an ongoing basis and provides an excellent source of emotional support and crisis intervention genuinely offered by a committed group of well trained individuals.
Review By
Roshani Buvanenthiran
Total Reviews
2,275
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5/5
Review Score
4.1/5
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Review By
Julie Pritt
Total Reviews
2,275
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4.4/5
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4.1/5
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Review By
madeeha taj
Total Reviews
2,275
Effectiveness
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4.9/5
Review Score
4.1/5
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Review By
Danielle Djelic
Total Reviews
2,275
Effectiveness
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5/5
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4.1/5
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Loved it!
Review By
Maninder Dhesi
Total Reviews
2,275
Effectiveness
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5/5
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4.1/5
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Review By
Ma. Mirasol Joy P. Amoncio
Total Reviews
2,275
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5/5
Review Score
4.1/5
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I would like to thank everyone who made this program and service possible, it is not only helpful to those people that is in need to have someone to talk to but also help people like me gain more knowledge through wonderful training program. The program that was provided is easy to understand and easy to use. For the improvement I think segments that has 30 minutes onwards would be better if chunk down since we might have volunteers that prefer to listen for each segments in a shorter period of time. All in all I find this experience very awesome and I look forward to learn and gain more knowledge through the experiences that I would encounter here along the way. Again, thank you very much!
Review By
michele larmet
Total Reviews
2,275
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4.6/5
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4.1/5
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This is an excellent course to help you help others in their darkest times and to provide them with references when needed.
Review By
Danielle Bilodeau
Total Reviews
2,275
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4.4/5
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4.1/5
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Review By
Caroline Haiashi
Total Reviews
2,275
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5/5
Review Score
4.1/5
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An essential training course for everyone. I enjoyed it from the beginning to the end.
Review By
Jessica Figliola
Total Reviews
2,275
Effectiveness
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5/5
Review Score
4.1/5
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Summary … no summary submited
Review By
Christian Nario
Total Reviews
2,275
Effectiveness
Comprehension
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4.5/5
Review Score
4.1/5
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Summary … read summary
Overall, the CL-Training-100 was quite extensive and provided a lot of useful tips for providing emotional support to callers. It also was effective in training me for using the platform for the calls and the finial group training session was very effective for getting me used to text chatting other callers. However, there have been some bumps in the road throughout the training sessions. Overall, it wasn’t that bad.
Review By
Jenney Wang
Total Reviews
2,275
Effectiveness
Comprehension
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4/5
Review Score
4.1/5
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Summary … read summary
This was a very comprehensive training, thank you! However, there are a few video glitches in this training course i.e. some videos play on loop (videos 18 onwards) so the Mark as Complete option is never available
Review By
Angi Tatari
Total Reviews
2,275
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4.5/5
Review Score
4.1/5
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Review By
Harmanjot Dhillon
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2,275
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4.8/5
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4.1/5
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Review By
Marco Niro
Total Reviews
2,275
Effectiveness
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4.5/5
Review Score
4.1/5
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Despite having a bachelor’s degree in Human Relations, I found that this training was very informative. I gained additional knowledge from it and learned new aspects about the field that I never knew before. One improvement that I would like to see be made is a system upgrade with the training website. There were times that I sometimes struggled with the training website. For example, when I had to submit my referees contact information in order to have them receive a form that they had to complete, I ran into some technical issues. It took some time for these issues to be resolved, which led to increased delays and postponements with my training. Nonetheless, I was very pleased that the team members at C.L.S., that I was in touch with, were very supportive of me and my journey! Despite having to sometimes wait a lengthy amount of time to receive an email response back, the team at C.L.S. were always very understanding! Overall, this experience allowed me to enhance the skills that I have already learned, while also encouraging me to develop new skills in the process. I am eager to put these skills to good use and benefit from this experience as a way to start building on my future career in this field of work.
Review By
Kirandip Virk
Total Reviews
2,275
Effectiveness
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5/5
Review Score
4.1/5
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Summary … no summary submited
Review By
Susan Both
Total Reviews
2,275
Effectiveness
Comprehension
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3.8/5
Review Score
4.1/5
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Summary … read summary
Thank you for this valuable training. I did have a couple of problems navigating the site but I suspect this is more about me than the site. I would offer that there are a few errors/typos in the text, including the reference form. I have done some editing in the past and would be happy to help should you wish.
Review By
Lakshimi Dhevi Thanga Naharajan
Total Reviews
2,275
Effectiveness
Comprehension
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4.3/5
Review Score
4.1/5
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Summary … read summary
Best learning experience
Review By
Hillary Gor
Total Reviews
2,275
Effectiveness
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5/5
Review Score
4.1/5
Overall Score
Summary … read summary
The training was very much helpful. It made me understand how the organization works and also the chat platform.
Review By
Bobby Mao
Total Reviews
2,275
Effectiveness
Comprehension
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4.3/5
Review Score
4.1/5
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Summary … read summary
Excelling podcast-style videos to absorb the essential wisdom of certified listening.
Review By
Manju Kodwaney
Total Reviews
2,275
Effectiveness
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5/5
Review Score
4.1/5
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I am feeling proud, it’s such an amazing thing to do this training, I always wanted to help people, but didn’t know the method and didn’t had enough knowledge and training. Now I can professionally help people.
Review By
Sophia Kurt
Total Reviews
2,275
Effectiveness
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5/5
Review Score
4.1/5
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It was such a great experience learning many things to listen actively.
Review By
Ashley Venner
Total Reviews
2,275
Effectiveness
Comprehension
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Engagements
4.9/5
Review Score
4.1/5
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Summary … no summary submited
Review By
Jeonghyun Lee
Total Reviews
2,275
Effectiveness
Comprehension
Attractiveness
Engagements
5/5
Review Score
4.1/5
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Summary … no summary submited
Review By
Patricia Fair
Total Reviews
2,275
Effectiveness
Comprehension
Attractiveness
Engagements
4/5
Review Score
4.1/5
Overall Score
Summary … no summary submited
