Volunteer Opportunities
At Long Island Crisis Center, we believe that everyone, regardless of who they are or what their needs might be, has the right to free confidential help at any time.
Our hotlines are staffed by knowledgeable volunteer counselors who listen with empathy, care, and attention. Counselors can also connect clients with helpful programs and services in the community.
Our training program is regarded as the standard for crisis intervention centers nationwide. Volunteer counselors receive 150 hours of extensive training on a variety of topics through a combination of in-person and virtual interactive information sessions, role plays and on-the-phone mentoring.
The skills you learn at Long Island Crisis Center will carry through to many aspects of your life outside of the Center.
The Next Counselor Training Program Will begin Saturday September 26th & Sunday September 27th in person at our Crisis Center in Bellmore.
Following the in person training kick off weekend, the remaining 7 weeks of information sessions will take place virtually on Zoom.
All prospective volunteers must fill out an application in order to be considered for our program. The application to become a volunteer crisis counselor will open in April 2026.
After submitting an application, you will be invited to our virtual Crisis Center Orientation. All prospective volunteers must first attend one of our virtual Crisis Center Orientations before being admitted into the Counselor Training Program. The next virtual orientations are:
Saturday August 8th at 10am
OR
Tuesday August 11th at 7pm
After the orientation session, we will schedule a short Zoom interview to get to know you better! If you are accepted into the training, you will be invited to our "Training Kick Off Weekend" .
Our training first begins with an IN PERSON “Training Kick Off Weekend” at our location in Bellmore where volunteers will learn the basis of crisis intervention. Our next Training Kick Off Weekend is Saturday September 26th and Sunday 27th 2026.
You must be available this weekend in order to move forward with the training.
After our IN PERSON Training Kick Off Weekend, volunteers will attend approximately 14 bi-weekly information sessions VIRTUALLY on Zoom. Information sessions will be held Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:30-9:00pm beginning on Tuesday September 29th, and ending approx. November 12th 2026
If you are unavailable for any of these manditory dates, but are interested in future Counselor Training Programs, please click the link below to be notified when the application for the October 2026 program opens.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Dana at dmastrangelo@longislandcrisiscenter.org