Training

Volunteer Online Training Centre

If you are a current volunteer, please visit our online training centre.

Distress Centre Calgary is proud to offer innovative and accessible training to all of our volunteers. In our ongoing commitment to excellence, Distress Centre Calgary provides an online learning centre exclusively available to our volunteers. Here volunteers can access the current workbook and additional training content.

If you are not a current volunteer, please check out our current volunteer opportunities.

Paid Training

Please note: Training is free for Distress Centre volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering, apply here.

Distress Centre Calgary’s training is in high demand within the community. For many years this training has been available exclusively to those who commit to volunteering on our crisis lines, but after consultation with other organizations and requests from the public we are very pleased to be offering our training on a fee-for-service basis.

Distress Centre’s training is now available on a sliding scale for individuals, students, non-profit & corporate groups. Training includes access to reading materials, a professional trainer, and guided role plays. Please review the Fee for Service Training Outline for more details.

Training at Distress Centre counts towards Category A continuing competency credits with the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW). Each module counts for 3 credited hours. You must explain how this activity meets the personal learning goals you have set out for yourself by submitting a Category A Summary Form to the ACSW along with the certificate(s) provided.

For additional information on paid training and/or to book training please contact the Training Coordinator.

Disclaimer: Paid training material strictly belongs to Distress Centre and we aren’t affiliated or partnered with any other training organizations.

The following modules are available for purchase:

Crisis Intervention Training

You will be able to define what a crisis is
Understand core features of crisis situations
Identify the range of origins of a crisis
Appreciate impacts of a crisis in a person’s life
Recognize and apply the Roberts’ Seven-Stage Crisis Intervention Model
Be able to apply your knowledge to a case example

Relationships Training

Understand impacts involved when individuals are experiencing disconnection in their relationships
Learn how to listen for first party risks and risks for everyone else connected to the first party, especially for children
Become familiar with child protection laws in Alberta and types of child maltreatment and abuse
Recognize procedures to undertake when child abuse is suspected

Grief and Loss Training

Examine barriers created by myths surrounding grief
Understand and recognize various methods with which individuals can process grief
Create an appreciation of how grief is unique from person to person
Become mindful of appropriate and inappropriate support strategies for individuals experiencing grief and loss

Mental Health Training

Be able to define mental illness
Create a comprehensive definition of mental health
Increase your understanding of common mental illnesses
Identify common myths and various stigma surrounding mental illness
Develop strategies for managing conversations with people experiencing mental health issues
Understand challenges those with mental illnesses face
Foster the ability to identify appropriate intervention strategies for individuals with mental illness

Suicide Training

Develop an understanding of suicidal thoughts and ambivalence
Gain an understanding of potential clues surrounding suicidal thoughts
Understand and be able to apply a risk assessment for suicide.
Understand barriers to safety planning
Preparation for supporting a third party and their concerns for someone else
Increased comfort when talking about suicide
Awareness of the stigma surrounding suicide will be developed

Youth Issues Training

Recognize and understand the similarities and differences between talking to youth vs. talking to adults
Understand the unique developmental stage of youth and how this can impact decision making and reasoning
Implementation of a strengths-based approach as a means to empower youth
Appreciation of unique youth perspectives and the importance of maintaining a non-judgmental attitude
Promotion of youth-specific community resources such as ConnecTeen

Addictions Training

Identify the effects addictions can have on many major life areas
Understand how to use the continuum of use and stages of change together to determine where addiction fits into someone’s life
Ascertain the types of concerns a third party might have and how to address them
Be aware of the different issues involved in assessing risk for those under the influence

Domestic Violence Training

Become proficient at recognizing and differentiating types of abuse
Understand and recognize how abuse can cycle through time
Comprehend the importance and procedures of a domestic violence risk assessment
Discuss and create a framework of formulating safety plans with those at risk of violence

Being an Ally Training

Be able to define what an ally is
Understand how individuals have intersectional identities
Identify how positionality, privilege, and oppression impact callers and volunteers
Appreciate that while peoples’ value is inherently equal the structures we are born into are not
Recognize and apply Anti-Oppressive Practice in crisis calls