In Crisis? 
Volunteer counsellors in the Crisis Program provide telephone crisis counselling on Klinic’s 24-hour crisis lines. They provide emotional support, referrals to resources, and the opportunity for callers to feel heard, understood, and connected.
Volunteer Requirements
Crisis Program applicants come with all different kinds of important experience, history, and knowledge; but the most essential skills that we need from of our applicants are things like an openness to learning, a willingness to self-reflect, and the ability to sit with difficult emotions and to provide empathy to our callers.
Each Crisis Program volunteer applicant needs to attend our 14-week Crisis Volunteer classroom training followed by 12-weeks of practical Crisis Room training. In exchange, we ask for a commitment of fulfilling 200 volunteer hours in 4-hour weekly shifts, (with Crisis Room training hours contributing towards this total).
Each volunteer applicants also needs to provide a Criminal Record Check obtained within the past twelve months before beginning their volunteer training. Applicants who live in Winnipeg need to obtain this document through the Winnipeg Police Service, and applicants living outside the perimeter should obtain this check from their local RCMP. All Criminal Record Checks must include a search of the Vulnerable Persons sector. Volunteers also need to provide a Child Abuse Registry Check and an Adult Abuse Registry Check, both of which can be obtained through Klinic at no cost.
Klinic Volunteers must be at least 18-years of age, and cannot be currently accessing ongoing counselling through any Klinic program. Training takes place at Klinic’s office at 167 Sherbrook, with some virtual components throughout, and all volunteer work within the Crisis Program is done at our office.
Crisis Volunteer Training
The first step in becoming a volunteer in the Crisis Program is to fill out an application form to attend Crisis Volunteer Training, (using the link below).
This training program provides 86 hours or learning, practice, evaluation, and feedback over fourteen weeks, and explores topics including counselling skills & risk assessment, suicide, sexual assault, family violence, trauma, mental health, feminism, and systematic oppression; and does so from a pro-choice, trauma-informed, 2SLGBTQ+ positive, feminist perspective. Trainees are challenged to reflect and grow in their ability to balance empathy, empowerment, safety, and choice. Additionally, trainees are encouraged to reflect on their own history and values, practice skills to stay focused and present, and explore self-care and personal supports to help enhance their own sustainability and hope.
If you are interested in attending our Crisis Volunteer Training, please fill out an application form using the link below. Spaces in these training groups are offered in the order that applications are received. When there is space available in an upcoming training group, you will be contacted by email at the address provided on your application form. If you are still interested and the training dates and times work for your available, you will be invited to attend a one-hour interview to discuss this opportunity and the expectations.
Once accepted into a training group, trainees are expected to attend all training sessions. We provide our volunteer training free of charge, and ask for 150 hours volunteer work in exchange for this learning and experience.
Ready to Apply?
If you’re feeling ready to apply, you can find the application form here.
Have More Questions?
If you have any questions about becoming a volunteer at Klinic or about our volunteer program, please contact Volunteer Intake or call (204) 784-4006
Upcoming Training Dates
April 15, 2024 to July 31, 2024
Monday and Wednesday evenings
6pm to 9:30pm
July 2, 2024 to October 10, 2024
Tuesday and Thursday daytime sessions
12:30pm to 4pm
*this daytime schedule is subject to change based on enrollment
September 4, 2024 to December 18th, 2024
Monday and Wednesday evenings
6pm to 9:30pm
November 5, 2024 to February 20, 2025
Tuesday and Thursday evenings
6pm to 9:30pm
*this group will break for two weeks at the end of December