Volunteering at the Crisis Text Line has significantly benefitted my future career as a counseling psychologist, providing hands-on experience in crisis intervention and mental health support. The Crisis Text Line volunteer role has honed my active listening, empathy, and de-escalation skills. Being able to manage high-stress situations and providing immediate support has deepened my understanding of the complexities of mental health crises and has helped me prepare for similar challenges in my future career.
My experience with the organisation does tie into my major in psychology. It allowed me to apply knowledge from my coursework to real-world scenarios and helped me bridge the gap between academic learning and practical application. I have taken courses that touched on safety planning and non-judgmental communication, so to know that at the undergraduate level, I am prepared with the knowledge of what to do in case someone needs help has made me feel confident in my abilities. Working with individuals in times of need has reinforced my commitment to pursuing a career in mental health and provided me with more insights into practical forms of interventions.
As previously mentioned, being a psychology major has been a big help with transitioning into this field of work. With that in mind, a foundational understanding of psychological theories and a basis for crisis intervention strategies was helpful. Courses such as PSY 341: Abnormal Psychology and PSY 422: Psychopharmacology of Abused Drugs were particularly valuable in helping me work well as a volunteer crisis counselor.
My time at the Crisis Textline was beneficial and encouraged my desire to work in mental health and directly impact people's lives. However, I long for a more face-to-face position that allows people to interact with others.
To secure a full-time position in this field, I plan on obtaining the required certifications, such as becoming a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. From there, I plan to get my PhD in counseling. I also aim to gain more experience by working in other settings that focus on mental health, such as clinics or hospitals.
I advise incoming interns to approach each interaction with an open mind and a compassionate heart. Remaining calm and empathetic is crucial in this line of work, and it is also extremely important to know when to take a step back. Also, never be afraid to embrace every learning opportunity and be proactive in continually seeking feedback to improve your skills.
Hey, Jordan. That’s great that you got experience from this internship in helping those in mental crisis, that will definitely help you in your future career. This kind of work is notoriously mentally taxing so it’s very impressive and just really important work you did. You should definitely feel proud of yourself for participating and accomplishing in an opportunity such as this one. And taking what you have learned in your major and applying to real word circumstances must have been very interesting. Definitely a big step in your career. Great job and good luck with your future endeavors!
Hi Jordan! I bet your internship with the crisis text line was such an insightful experience! The skills you learned, such as your de-escalation skills, will serve you well for your future career as a counseling psychologist! As a fellow psychology major, I have also taken some of the same courses that you have such as abnormal psychology, which I believe to be one of the most informative classes for the psychology career path. I hope that your experience in your internship serves as a beautiful foundation for your future goals in gaining the certifications needed to be a counselor, as well as obtaining your PhD.