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Joshua P. Bias, M.S., Leah Davies, Jessica Hoskins, Katherine Klauke, Sarah McCurry,
John Nugent, Maria Ortega, B.A., Amanda Payne, Brian Peek, B.S., Amanda Pfeffer, B.A., Stacy Reed,
Susan Vavra, B.S., CVA, and Matthew Watt
Student Counseling HelpLine - Texas A&M University - Student Counseling Service
College Station, TX
The Student Counseling HelpLine is sponsored and supervised by the Student Counseling Service at Texas
A&M University. The HelpLine provides crisis intervention, support, information, and referrals for a
campus of approximately 44,000 students, those concerned about these students, and community residents. It
is staffed by a dedicated and diverse group of undergraduate, graduate, and former students of Texas A&M
University.
The HelpLine has received a variety of difficult calls over the years it has been in operation. These callers
are diverse in their presenting concerns and include (but are not limited to) callers who are sexually
inappropriate, non-productive, abusive, and chronic. This workshop will include general guidelines and
strategies used when initially training HelpLine workers, as well as more individualized protocols for dealing
with some of our more difficult callers. This workshop will also include demonstration role plays.
Dealing with difficult callers also includes managing the HelpLine worker's stress in dealing with these types
of callers. The HelpLine has several procedures in place to help reduce stress levels including working with a
partner, having an on-call back-up psychologist, attending a weekly supervision group, and having
supervisors of the HelpLine readily available for consultation and on-going support and encouragement.
This workshop will provide organizational and anecdotal illustrations of volunteer stress management techniques.
At the conclusion of the workshop, a question and answer session will provide further information about the
HelpLine program including practical issues related to coordination, volunteer care and management, and
statistical information. Handouts and literature will be provided to participants of this workshop.
This year Texas A&M University's Student Counseling HelpLine is celebrating it's 9 year anniversary and
this workshop was developed and is being presented by current HelpLine workers.
For additional information contact:
Susan-Vavra@tamu.edu or (979) 845-4470 x133
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