ACTS Suicide Services & Helpline is a private, non-profit agency that provides suicide prevention support in Northern Virginia. The primary component of this program is the crisis intervention hotline, which has an annual call volume of over 40,000. Established in 1981, Helpline is accredited by the Association of Suicidology and answers the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on a backup basis. The content of these calls can range from assisting someone with locating mental health resources to providing emotional support to a grieving caller.
Position Title: Crisis Listener
Duties:
- Answering crisis calls utilizing de-escalation techniques and intervention models.
- Complete call logs in a timely manner.
- Assist with other administrative duties.
- Strong oral communication and interpersonal skills are expected.
Agency Requirements:
- Complete 40 hours of training, which includes time in the classroom and experiential education.
- A portion of training hours may be able to count towards the internship depending on when they are completed – this must be worked out with the on-campus supervisor at the start of the internship in alignment with the department policy on internship training hours.
Prerequisites:
1. Must meet all UMW and Department of Psychological Science internship requirements.
2. Required courses:
• PSYC 211 – Psychopathology
• PSYC 315 – Foundations of Clinical Psychology
3. Recommended courses:
• PSYC 242 – Psychology of Personality
Assessment:
- 42 hours of work per credit hour (most interns do 3 credits with 126 hours of work)
- Grade is based on on-campus supervision, agency evaluation, reflective journal, and a final paper
Agency Contact:
Action in Community Thought Services
Dumfries, VA 22025
Main office: (703) 291-5730
Website: https://www.actspwc.org/