Sort of.
Tonight, I had my first training class as a paraprofessional crisis counselor with the local MHMR agency. The title is fancy (kinda superhero-ish, I was told) but I’ll just be taking calls on a crisis hotline. I already do something similar with a runaway/youth hotline. Tonight was basic stuff-signing forms, learning all about confidentiality (no news to me, thanks to my psych degree) and getting an introduction to active listening.
It’s just a part-time job, but I can’t afford to turn anything down. I think it’ll be good experience, and it’ll be something I can count on as I look for an additional job. The instructor, the director, said they give scheduling preference to their best counselors, as opposed to seniority. I’m both intrigued (Hey, I could be good! I could be one of the best!) and intimidated (But probably not!) by this idea.
We had a homework assignment to watch TV and practice actively listening to the characters. Law and Order was made for this.
