I had had a profound experience with a close friend of mine in which we both disclosed our own experiences of having been raped. This was the first time either of us had said this aloud, and the first time that we were fully realizing that rape is what we had experienced. We quickly set out to find what was happening in the arena of sexual assault prevention and survivor support in Sonoma County and found Verity.
“Serving on the line crystalized my resolve to pursue a career devoted to supporting survivors of sexual assault and working towards a world that is free from sexual violence.”
We signed up to serve as crisis line counselors and received the 40 hour training in which we learned about what it means to be a survivor, statistics around sexual assault, intersectional identities, providing trauma-informed care, active listening, and so much more. We wanted to be a part of a movement that was creating community around the experience of sexual assault, an experience that is so often isolating and shrouded in secrecy and shame. In my time on the line I spoke with countless survivors in their moment of need and had the opportunity to validate what they were going through, no matter what that looked like, and provide them with tangible next steps that matched their specific needs in that moment.
Serving on the line crystalized my resolve to pursue a career devoted to supporting survivors of sexual assault and working towards a world that is free from sexual violence.
Verity is currently recruiting for the next cohort of crisis line counselors. If you are seeking a rewarding (albeit challenging) opportunity to support survivors during their critical moments, consider applying. Not only will you provide a vital service to our community, but you will also enhance your resume and develop tangible personal and professional skills.
To learn more about the volunteer opportunity, click here.
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