Talking with the Caller : Guidelines for Crisisline and Other Volunteer Counselors

This practical introduction to the art of interacting with crisis helpline callers will be essential to those who work, or intend to work, on a crisis line.

The book is geared towards volunteers and others who initiate the crisis intervention process, when they need to accurately gauge the nature of the call and effectively engage the caller in problem-solving.

The manual, in a loose-leaf binder, helps provide consistency in training on communication and listening skills.

The text is designed to help telephone counsellors provide an appropriate level of response and direction - but it is not written to help counsellors detect underlying causes or otherwise engage in therapeutic encounters.

The authors anticipate the possibility that the initial crisis interview techniques will subsequently be complemented with appropriate counselling skills.