When I took my new job as a crisis counselor, I really didn’t know what to expect. Of course, I knew that there would be troubling phone calls that would impact me. I knew that there would be times where I would need to include other team members in an effort to insure a client’s safety. What I wasn’t aware of was the eclectic types of calls. Who doesn’t love a job with surprises?
Let me start by saying that I really love this job. I was a little wary simply because I am in the older demographic of workers and I was completely out of my comfort zone. In a matter of a month, I have carved my niche and am really finding my groove. The biggest tool in this job is the capacity of listening because people just want to be heard. When they are heard, they are seen and validated.
There is a collection of frequent callers. Some just want to chat and connect. Those are my favorites because they are familiar, kind, and it provides a reprieve when some other calls are more difficult. The sex calls are a bit unnerving. One caller likes to talk about the “weather”. Apparently, that is his kink. I wasn’t aware of that when I first spoke to him, so while I mentioned our temperature as being cold, he was talking about how hot it is, and well, you get the gist. Now, I know to end that call quickly before the “weather” talk starts. He isn’t the only “special” caller, but he is the one that I seem to get the most.
I have to express that crisis counselors are needed more than ever. With our current social climate, it is imperative that people have someone to vent to. To provide encouragement and support. But, most of all, just to have someone on the line saying, “I’m listening”, is one of the most powerful sentences that a human can utter.
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