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.
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Learn more about our Application Process and FAQ
Review By
Emily Hicks
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1,729
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4.1/5
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Madeleine Samuel
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Aiesha Khan
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1,729
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4.1/5
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The training was truly an amazing experience. I learnt a lot and have benefitted from the live training session. The best was the role play exercise that made me confident for using the interface. The content is easy to comprehend and there is always help that is easily available. I look forward to put the training to best use and be part of this awesome community.
Review By
Krizia Racel Briones
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1,729
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4.8/5
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4.1/5
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Kevin Lau
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1,729
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4.8/5
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4.1/5
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The practical training especially I found was very effective as it really gave me almost first hand experience in what this position holds. I feel like I know what to expect now to a much greater degree.
Review By
Yasamin Toutounchian
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1,729
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Prakriti Gianey
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1,729
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4.9/5
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Anita Chen
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1,729
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5/5
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4.1/5
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Training was good. No suggestions at the moment.
Review By
Alyssa Medeiros
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1,729
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5/5
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4.1/5
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Great training and videos. I really enjoyed the roleplay portion. It was a great way to get comfortable with using the system.
Review By
Jennifer Phung
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1,729
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3.6/5
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4.1/5
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Andrea Te
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1,729
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3.8/5
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4.1/5
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Karen Rajendra
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1,729
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4.5/5
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4.1/5
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Glad for the training provided and especially the support through the chat.
Review By
Swagatanjali Bauri
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1,729
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4.4/5
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4.1/5
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Review By
Catherine Kamel
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1,729
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3.6/5
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4.1/5
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Review By
Eileen Dapaah
Total Reviews
1,729
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4.8/5
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4.1/5
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This training was really insightful. I feel that I learned a lot, and gained skills that I can apply even beyond this training. I do feel the training does a good job to prepare the volunteers to be CLs, however, I wish there were additional contents beyond videos that allow for some more practical learning experiences. I did really enjoy doing the live training, and even quizzes.
Review By
Henry Wang
Total Reviews
1,729
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3.8/5
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4.1/5
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Review By
Michelle Brenzel
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1,729
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5/5
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4.1/5
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Review By
Andreea Gheorghe
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1,729
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4.1/5
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Sasha Golvin
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1,729
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3.8/5
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4.1/5
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Over all effective and easy training.
Review By
Parth Mistry
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1,729
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3.5/5
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4.1/5
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Review By
Corey Coblentz
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1,729
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5/5
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4.1/5
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Summary … read summary
The course materials were engaging and interesting and well-presented. I had an issue with testing, and would occasionally make an error, and was never sure where my error was – it would be nice to be able to review materials and quizzes after completing them. Also, the material and printed forms were rife with typos, which I felt undermined the professionalism that is everywhere else. I’d be happy to volunteer my time to offer corrections.
Review By
Gerrald Paringit
Total Reviews
1,729
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5/5
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4.1/5
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It was my greatest intention to serve the community thru this organisation. I have learn a lot of new things, this help not only me but other people wants to connect with me and with us. The platform and mission of this society is truly for mankind, the heart and ears of these society will save the life of others.
Review By
Mahwish Faiyaz
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1,729
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5/5
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4.1/5
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The training is very helpful and I feel equipped to take my first call.
Review By
Elizabeth lee
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1,729
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5/5
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4.1/5
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Review By
Omotayo Daniyan
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1,729
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4.9/5
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4.1/5
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Review By
Midusha Sivasudan
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1,729
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4.1/5
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4.1/5
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Review By
Stefanie Baios
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1,729
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3/5
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Review By
christal ormsby
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1,729
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4.3/5
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4.1/5
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Review By
Joshua Chan
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1,729
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5/5
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4.1/5
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Review By
Catherine Brasch
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1,729
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3.3/5
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4.1/5
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Summary … read summary
The videos were at times a bit long and it may be better if there were different activities to do while watching the videos to keep learners engaged.
Review By
Marcela Almeida
Total Reviews
1,729
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4.5/5
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4.1/5
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It is good material. Some of the videos are extremely interesting. What caught my attention was a careful way that they brought the content and at the same time in a condensed format. The only issue, for me, that perhaps could be reevaluated is the quiz, sometimes it’s just tricky, and doesn’t achieve the matter of knowledge.
Review By
Eun Sung Lee
Total Reviews
1,729
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5/5
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4.1/5
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Great first-hand experience in how to deal with calls and different scenarios that can be come acrossed!
Review By
Sumeet Sidhu
Total Reviews
1,729
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5/5
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4.1/5
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Review By
Mitchell Phillips
Total Reviews
1,729
Effectiveness
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4.4/5
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4.1/5
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