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Training

Online Training

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

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, Rachel O’Hara-Scully.

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

Our Impact Funders: