Skill Academy

Our Volunteers receive free ongoing training from experts, fellow senior volunteers and mentors. In the process, they also learn invaluable skills that can be helpful in their professional and personal lives—such as managing a crisis situation, dealing with suicide and self-harm cases, grief counselling, dealing with clients living in toxic relationships, and more.

Our trained volunteers play a critical role in providing a safe and secure space for conversations for all those who call/chat on our emergency helpline. They are at the forefront of our emergency calls and chats, and develop a trustworthy and safe environment in which callers and texters can engage with the Foundation without any inhibitions.

We are investing in resources to expand our pool of trained volunteers, so that we can extend our support to many more out the reseeking mental health support services. We strive to uplift, recognize and support our growing volunteer network.

Who can sign up for volunteering?

Psychology students, psychologists, psychiatrists, counsellors with other degrees, such as PG Diploma in Counselling and Masters's in Social Work (psychiatric social work) and even individuals from a non-psychology background with a strong desire to help can register for volunteer training program. Once trained, they are eligible to work as counsellors. They answer calls and WhatsApp chats from people who reach out to our 24X7 mental health helpline when they are feeling suicidal or need a safe, non-judgmental place to talk about their anxiety, depression or anything that is bothering with their mental health.

Location

Work from home

You’ll need access to a secure,
private and quiet location

Commitment

Minimum 5 hours of
volunteering per week

Training requirements

A week-long extensive virtual
training, followed by higher short
courses offered by the academy

For psychology students

Who can register?

Undergraduates as well as post-graduates can join the training program through a simple registration procedure, and can opt for both mandatory and volunteering internships.

What’s in it for you?

A week of induction, including psychology and technical training

Access to more than 500 hours of psychology-based reading material, including skill labs, worksheets, questionnaires, etc. related to online counseling and therapy

One-on-one sessions with trainers and mentors

Live chats with escalation and mentoring matrix in place

Certificate and LOR on successful completion of minimum 60 hours of effective counseling practice. LOR for Colleges and Universities in India will be submitted as per the desired format.

Apply Now

For Psychologists and Masters' in Social work (psychiatric social work)

Who can register?

Individuals with a Post graduate degree or higher in psychology can join through a simple registration procedure.

What’s in it for you?

A week of induction, including psychology and technical training

Access to more than 500 hours of psychology-based reading material, including skill labs, worksheets, questionnaires, etc. related to online counseling and therapy

One-on-one sessions with trainers and mentors

Live chats with escalation and mentoring matrix in place

Get featured on our Paid counseling program under the ‘Expert Panel’

Hours accumulated by you as volunteer will be counted in future, if you wish to join our organization as full-time counsellors or wish to join our Paid Counseling Program (this is subject to you having worked with us on the helpline for the required mandatory hours as stipulated)

Apply Now

For Psychiatrists

Who can register?

We have a select panel of Psychiatrists who are referred cases from our Free and Paid counselling platform, for those seeking specialized online medical advice. Individuals with a postgraduate degree with minimum three years of experience can join the Foundation program.

What’s in it for you?

Specialized training on the use of the platform for conducting online counselling sessions, maintaining patient records, communicating with patients and interacting with our counsellors.

Apply Now

Non-psychology background

Who can register?

Individuals with a postgraduate degree in their field or a technical degree, with good command over English and written communications. A diploma in counselling skills is desirable.

What’s in it for you?

Assessment with our trainers before selection for the Induction and training program, followed by another assessment before getting a clearance to take up chats and calls

Extensive training and one-to-one sessions with mentors and trainers to help you learn the basics and advanced nuances of counselling people in distress

Certification of Participation in training and active counselling at the end of 60/75/100 hours of effective counseling

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In all the above categories, there is strict monitoring of the quality of communication and counselling. The software uses an algorithm to monitor this and a lot of emphasis is given to the voice of the customer.

Apply Now

For any further assistance, write to us at
volunteer@vandrevalafoundation.com.

volunteer@vandrevalafoundation.com.

Post registration, automated emails and instructions will be sent to you. Please make sure that you check your junk and spam folder too. Also, you can only work on the helpline if you have a computer and good internet connection

Partnership with Educational Institutions

Vandrevala Foundation regularly partners with educational institutions who align with our mission of providing equitable quality mental health services. In turn, for participating member institutions in the Crisis Intervention Training Program and other educational programs,

If you are interested in partnering with Vandrevala Foundation to train and develop your students/ employees or if you are an institution looking to train your students with us or send them for mandatory internships, request for a demo of the training program, please write to us at
awareness@vandrevalafoundation.com

If you are a business, NGO, Community or Corporation interested in using Vandrevala Counselling services to foster, develop and enhance mental health of your employees, do reach out to us at awareness@vandrevalafoundation.com

If you are interested in campus placements, get details by writing to us on awareness@vandrevalafoundation.com

Partnership with SHOUT

Through our partnership with www.giveusashout.org, we’ve been able to get the assistance of many volunteers. If you’ve been trained at SHOUT, we will be able to onboard you as a volunteer after our regular 10-hour training program.

Apply to Vandrevala Foundation

Skill Academy

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