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
Anmol Gupta
Total Reviews
1,875
Effectiveness
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4.5/5
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4.1/5
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Samantha Giorgi
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1,875
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5/5
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4.1/5
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Review By
Katie Freiheit
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1,875
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5/5
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4.1/5
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Great place for support! So friendly, compassionate, and warm. I always feel listened too and supported.
Review By
Alannah Vila
Total Reviews
1,875
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4/5
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4.1/5
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Review By
pushparani asokan
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1,875
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4/5
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4.1/5
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Review By
Maryela Arulappah
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1,875
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5/5
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4.1/5
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Review By
Samuel Christoff
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1,875
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4.8/5
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4.1/5
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Review By
Maria Thomas
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1,875
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5/5
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4.1/5
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Great course!
Review By
Soha Rahman
Total Reviews
1,875
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5/5
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4.1/5
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Review By
Jennifer Grills
Total Reviews
1,875
Effectiveness
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5/5
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4.1/5
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Summary … read summary
After completing this course, I feel confident that I have the skills needed to provide emotional support to those in need. I feel equipped with insights and practical skills needed to manage critical moments – before, during, and after a crisis strikes.
Review By
Ashley Kivlichan
Total Reviews
1,875
Effectiveness
Comprehension
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4.3/5
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4.1/5
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Review By
Nataliya Bovey
Total Reviews
1,875
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5/5
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4.1/5
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Summary … read summary
The training course is very well organized and informative.
Review By
Akshay Mehta
Total Reviews
1,875
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5/5
Review Score
4.1/5
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Amazing job on the thorrough details and explanation throughout the training!! I am glad I took this training 🙂
Review By
Miles Thompson
Total Reviews
1,875
Effectiveness
Comprehension
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4.3/5
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4.1/5
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Review By
WEN REN
Total Reviews
1,875
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5/5
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4.1/5
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Review By
Stefani Nalliah
Total Reviews
1,875
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5/5
Review Score
4.1/5
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Review By
Veronica Smith
Total Reviews
1,875
Effectiveness
Comprehension
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4.3/5
Review Score
4.1/5
Overall Score
Summary … read summary
Great!
Review By
Olive Wan-choi Lim
Total Reviews
1,875
Effectiveness
Comprehension
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4.3/5
Review Score
4.1/5
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I love the training. It is a comprehension learning experiences and I learn a lot of skills to tackle with different situations which I may be able to apply later!
Review By
Maitri Mukeshbhai Panchal
Total Reviews
1,875
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5/5
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4.1/5
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Review By
Kelontae Ansine
Total Reviews
1,875
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5/5
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4.1/5
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This is great, I can’t wait to start volunteering.
Review By
Kurt Hamblosa
Total Reviews
1,875
Effectiveness
Comprehension
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4.4/5
Review Score
4.1/5
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Summary … read summary
What I appreciate the most about the training was that the instructions were clearly worded and straightforward. I seldom felt confused about the material I was being provided. My only notes for improvement would be minor typos, as well as I felt the Youtube medium for the chat training might be better consolidated into one longer video with sub tabs. I found the chat training session a useful component in engaging with the content, as it provided an idea of how the system really works.
Review By
Sharla Gillies
Total Reviews
1,875
Effectiveness
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3.5/5
Review Score
4.1/5
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Review By
Shivam Sadana
Total Reviews
1,875
Effectiveness
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4.6/5
Review Score
4.1/5
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Review By
Rowena Pigar
Total Reviews
1,875
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4/5
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4.1/5
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Review By
Ahmed Imran
Total Reviews
1,875
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4.9/5
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4.1/5
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Review By
Sara Pirani
Total Reviews
1,875
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5/5
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4.1/5
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Review By
Oreoluwa Malik-Yamah
Total Reviews
1,875
Effectiveness
Comprehension
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3.4/5
Review Score
4.1/5
Overall Score
Summary … read summary
The training was detailed but does not do a very good job at catering to multiple scenarios. Neither does it really identify what we really need to do as Listeners. Yes I under to listen not offer any help, But no clear instructions on what to do in case of emergency. I’m supposed to refer the chatter to 911 knowing they likely won’t oblige if they are in crisis. It does not make any significant use of psychology lots of the techniques shown are not even in the use of a chat platform.
Review By
Shamilah Mukhtar
Total Reviews
1,875
Effectiveness
Comprehension
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4.9/5
Review Score
4.1/5
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Review By
Mingdi Li
Total Reviews
1,875
Effectiveness
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4.1/5
Review Score
4.1/5
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Review By
Vicki C.
Total Reviews
1,875
Effectiveness
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4.4/5
Review Score
4.1/5
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Review By
Brendan Tao
Total Reviews
1,875
Effectiveness
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5/5
Review Score
4.1/5
Overall Score
Summary … read summary
Excellent!
Review By
Yvette Roberts
Total Reviews
1,875
Effectiveness
Comprehension
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Engagements
4.8/5
Review Score
4.1/5
Overall Score
Summary … read summary
My trainer was very patient with me and informative.
Review By
Ngoc Long Khang Nguyen
Total Reviews
1,875
Effectiveness
Comprehension
Attractiveness
Engagements
4.6/5
Review Score
4.1/5
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Review By
Zebrina King
Total Reviews
1,875
Effectiveness
Comprehension
Attractiveness
Engagements
4.9/5
Review Score
4.1/5
Overall Score
Summary … no summary submited