1

Volunteer 988 Crisis Counselor Jobs in Columbus, OH

988 Chat Clinician

Columbus, OH

$50.90K - $67.30K/yr

Crisis Assessment Counselor Responsible for providing crisis assessment and counseling via text ... Helps chat visitors reaching out through Lifeline 988 Chat/text while expressing compassion concern ...

New

Addictions Counselor - Urbana Hospital

Urbana, OH · On-site

$42.70K - $57.30K/yr

... planning and crisis intervention and other duties as assigned. Essential Functions * Case ... Any prospective employee, volunteer or student intern shall not have pled guilty to nor been ...

Shelter Advocate

Columbus, OH · On-site

$18/hr

... Hour Crisis Hotline, DV Counseling, Legal Advocacy, Peer Support Groups and more. The ideal ... Greets all volunteers, residents, and prospective residents. Provides communication, information ...

Security Officer

Columbus, OH · On-site

$16/hr

... Hour Crisis Hotline, DV Counseling, Legal Advocacy, Peer Support Groups and more. The ideal ... Escorts staff, volunteers, visitors, and other persons to and from vehicles as requested or ...

Direct Support Professional

Columbus, OH

$14.50 - $17.75/hr

Knowledge of and experience in supportive or peer counseling, crisis intervention, and conflict ... with other volunteers, staff, and residents * Clean driving record up to three years ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Volunteer 988 Crisis Counselor information

See Columbus, OH salary details

$13

$23

$31

How much do volunteer 988 crisis counselor jobs pay per hour?

As of May 27, 2026, the average hourly pay for volunteer 988 crisis counselor in Columbus, OH is $23.10, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $20.19 and $26.25 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Volunteer 988 Crisis Counselor, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Volunteer 988 Crisis Counselor, you need strong active listening skills, emotional resilience, and a foundational understanding of mental health and crisis intervention, typically supported by completion of specialized training programs. Familiarity with crisis management protocols, call center software, and secure communication platforms is often required. Compassion, nonjudgmental attitude, and the ability to remain calm under pressure are standout soft skills in this role. These skills and qualities are crucial for effectively supporting individuals in crisis, ensuring their safety, and connecting them with appropriate resources.

What types of support and training are provided to Volunteer 988 Crisis Counselors before they begin taking live calls?

Volunteer 988 Crisis Counselors receive comprehensive training before they begin handling live calls. This typically includes structured modules on crisis intervention, active listening, suicide prevention, and protocols for handling various emergency situations. Counselors often participate in role-playing exercises and supervised practice sessions to build confidence and skills. Ongoing supervision, peer support, and access to mental health professionals are also provided to ensure counselors feel supported and prepared for challenging calls.

What is a Volunteer 988 Crisis Counselor?

A Volunteer 988 Crisis Counselor is a trained individual who provides immediate support to people experiencing emotional distress or a mental health crisis via the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. These counselors answer calls, texts, or chats, offering nonjudgmental listening, safety planning, resources, and crisis intervention. Volunteers play a crucial role in helping individuals feel heard and supported during difficult moments, often connecting them with further mental health resources if needed. They receive specialized training to handle sensitive situations with empathy and confidentiality.
What are the most commonly searched types of 988 Crisis Counselor jobs in Columbus, OH? The most popular types of 988 Crisis Counselor jobs in Columbus, OH are:
What are popular job titles related to Volunteer 988 Crisis Counselor jobs in Columbus, OH? For Volunteer 988 Crisis Counselor jobs in Columbus, OH, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Volunteer 988 Crisis Counselor jobs in Columbus, OH look for? The top searched job categories for Volunteer 988 Crisis Counselor jobs in Columbus, OH are:
What cities near Columbus, OH are hiring for Volunteer 988 Crisis Counselor jobs? Cities near Columbus, OH with the most Volunteer 988 Crisis Counselor job openings:
988 Chat Clinician

$50.90K - $67.30K/yr

Other

Posted 2 days ago


Job description

Crisis Assessment Counselor

Responsible for providing crisis assessment and counseling via text/chat interactions, as it relates to mental health and/or alcohol and other drug crisis intervention.

Positions supervised: None

Essential duties and responsibilities:

  • Triage chat visitors via the chat/text platform through active engagement to assess for imminent risk of suicide and provide linkage to appropriate local community services and resources.
  • Helps chat visitors reaching out through Lifeline 988 Chat/text while expressing compassion concern, and expertise in helping them develop solutions.
  • Makes appropriate internal/external emergency and crisis intervention referrals for situations that are deemed imminent risk by 988 Lifeline standards.
  • Maintains timely and complete documentation of services and activities, which meet the standards of Netcare, 988 Lifeline, and accrediting agencies.
  • Documents in Vibrant Emotional Health's 988 Lifeline text/chat platform as well as in Avatar and other databases.
  • Operates and responds to live text/chat interaction requests, incorporating the process of "dovetailing" (taking two chats at once) when appropriate.
  • Maximizes time on shift to be available to receive chat/text interactions and responds to waiting text and chat requests within time parameters.
  • Monitors Microsoft Teams instant messaging system and uses it to communicate with supervisor and coworkers throughout each shift.
  • Responds to all chat visitors with compassion and empathy, incorporating active listening skills, and supportive means of communication throughout the text and chat interaction.
  • Uses clinical skill to de-escalate chat visitors and ascertain risk by using appropriate screening tools and safety planning with clients.
  • Participate in peer review as assigned.
  • Demonstrates skill in engaging clients who may be reluctant to share in texts and chats.
  • Assists with completing and tracking follow-up phone calls with 988 chat visitors depending on shift and need.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.

Essential knowledge, skills and abilities:

  • Ability to engage in problem solving processes.
  • Ability to establish therapeutic rapport quickly and compassionately through texts and chats.
  • Ability to assess suicide risk, and develop safety plan with clients.
  • Ability to explore resources in other states and areas, to assist texters and chatters.
  • Ability to relate to clients of a variety of age, economic/educational backgrounds, personality types and problems.
  • Ability to deal with verbally aggressive, violent or potentially violent clients.
  • Ability to quickly assess and prioritize information received.
  • Establish flexibility and ability to manage multiple demands in a fast-paced environment.
  • Ability to use a range of techniques and interventions.
  • Ability to utilize reference material such as maps, directions and street locations.
  • Basic knowledge of the demographic and human services network in Franklin County.
  • Ability to work in alternate locations as assigned.
  • Demonstrated skills in the use of personal computer to record client data, produce written correspondence or reports.
  • Ability to hear and speak well enough to converse with clients or other employees in person or over the telephone.
  • Ability to see enough and have the manual dexterity and physical ability to access referral source and other information from a wide selection of manual, texts, etc. while engaged in a crisis intervention telephone conversation with a client.
  • Ability to achieve and maintain certification in required training programs.

Essential core competencies:

  • Ability to provide effective clinical interventions via written communication in text and chats.
  • Ability to accurately and succinctly document clinical interventions.
  • Ability to complete required paperwork in a timely and error-free fashion.
  • Ability to apply risk management and problem-solving techniques to clinical/workplace situations.
  • Ability to engage and de-escalate clients in a professional and effective manner.
  • Ability to effectively work as a member of a team.
  • Demonstrates broad knowledge of and ability to access community resources on behalf of clients.
  • Ability to adhere to Agency Policies, Procedures and other expectations.
  • Actively seeks opportunities to develop clinical skills.

Minimum qualifications:

LSW/LPC: