Volunteer Opportunities

Make a Difference as a Volunteer Crisis Counselor

Training Begins January 9th 2027

Long Island Crisis Center provides free, confidential and nonjudgmental programs and services to support and empower Long Islanders at critical times in their lives. This includes our 24/7 Crisis Hotlines, as well as our online counseling platform, ChatLIVE Long Island.

Individuals reach out to the Crisis Center for many reasons, including thoughts of suicide, mental health challenges, substance use issues, relationship problems, and more. Our motto is Any Problem, Any Time, Any One.

Volunteer Training Program

Long Island Crisis Center volunteers are the heart of the Agency. They provide the counseling services to our clients. All you need to start is the desire to help and time to give.

**At this time, we are offering a new type of training to volunteers. This training will focus on preparing our volunteers to make follow up calls. Follow-up calls are made to individuals who have contacted one of our hotlines. A few days after their initial call, we reach out to check in, see how they’re doing, and offer continued support. This is a great opportunity to get involved with LICC in a role focused specifically on follow-up counseling. This opportunity is fully remote.**

You do not need any previous experience. LICC provides a free, comprehensive training program to all volunteers. You must be at least 18 years old to volunteer at LICC.

Interested in participating? Please complete the application linked here: Volunteer Application

Once we review your application, you’ll be notified if you’re invited to attend our virtual orientation session. The orientation will provide an overview of Long Island Crisis Center and explain the training program in detail. You must be able to attend the orientation session to be considered for training.

Here’s what the process and schedule will look like:

1. Virtual Orientation

·         Tuesday, December 8, 2026

·         7:00 PM–8:00 PM

·         Virtual

·         You will learn about LICC and the training process

2. Individual Virtual Interview

If you are interested in participating after the orientation session, you’ll participate in a one-on-one virtual interview on Zoom with a member of administrative staff. Following your interview, you’ll be notified if you’re accepted into the training program. Once accepted into the training program, you will be invited to our training Kick Off Weekend and Information Sessions to prepare you to become a Follow Up Counselor.

3. Initial Training Kick Off Weekend

·         Saturday, January 9, 2027: 9:30 AM–4:30 PM

·         Sunday, January 10, 2027: 12:30 PM–4:30 PM

·         Virtual

·         We will be learning active listening, our counseling philosophy, and be laying all of the groundwork for becoming a crisis counselor. You must be able to attend both of these information sessions in order to participate in the training.

4. Information Sessions

After the initial training weekend, we’ll hold additional virtual information and training sessions on:

·         Tuesdays and Thursdays

·         7:00 PM–9:30 PM

·         Approximately 6 weeks, beginning Tuesday, January 12, 2027

·         Virtual

·         Topics include: Suicide, Child Abuse, Intimate Partner Violence, Substance Use, how to make follow up calls, etc.

5: Follow Up Counseling Shifts

Once you complete the training, you will volunteer one 3 hour shift per week making outgoing follow up calls as assigned, and answering calls on our follow up line for those who are returning a message to check in.

·         Shifts include Monday-Friday 3pm-6pm OR 6pm-9pm

·         Saturday and Sunday 11am-2pm OR 2pm-5pm OR 5pm-8pm

·         Virtual with support from our on-call shift supervisors

We’re excited to offer this opportunity to our prospective volunteers and hope some of you will be interested in joining us!

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Dana at dmastrangelo@longislandcrisiscenter.org