Key Points for You to Remember

When a counselor is not available, you will see an email form, but you cannot send an email to a counselor.  If you try, you will receive an error message, and your message will not be delivered.  If you need to speak with a counselor at that time, call  Teen Link at (205) 328-5465.  If before 3:00 pm or after 10:00 pm, call the Crisis and Suicide Line at (205) 323-7777.

The chat program requires the entry of an email address, but you do not have to put your real email address in the box.  You must put something in the box just to meet the data requirement, like anonymous@nunyabusiness.com, or something in that format. 

You also are not required to enter your real name, just whatever you would like the counselor to call you.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Online Counseling?

Online Counseling is a new way to discuss your situation with a trained volunteer counselor.  It is a one-to-one private, secure, and confidential chat between you and a counselor.  It’s just like Instant Messaging on AOL or Yahoo, except that it is encrypted for protection and you don’t get those pesky pop-up ads.

Are my chats confidential?

All chats are private and confidential, and no record of your chat will be kept.  

Who can use Online Counseling?

Online Counseling is intended for those aged 12 to 18 who are residents of Central Alabama. 

Who will I be chatting with when I am online?

You will be chatting with a trained crisis counselor.  Teen Link counselors are usually high school and college-aged individuals who have completed extensive training and are bound by a strict code of ethics.

What can I chat about?

Anything that is on your mind.  If it is important to you, then it is important to us.  We want you to know that there is always someone to listen and someone who cares about you and your situation.  There is no subject that is off-limits.

When can I chat?

Online Counseling will be available everyday from 3:00 pm to 10:00 pm. 

When I initiate a chat session, do I have to give my email address?

No.  The program requires the entry of an email address, but you do not have to put your real address in the box.  You must put something in the box just to meet the data requiremnt, like anonymous@nunyabusiness.com, or something in that format.  You also are not required to put in your real name, just whatever you would like the counselor to call you.

How do I start a chat session with a counselor?

Simply click the smiley face icon and your chat session will begin.

If I have additional questions, who can I contact for answers?

Any questions should be addressed to -

Jason Viana
(205) 458-8986
 jviana@crisiscenterbham.com

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Terms of Use

When a counselor is not available, you will see an email form, but you cannot send an email to a counselor.  If you try, you will receive an error message, and your message will not be delivered.  If you need to speak with a counselor, however, please call the Teen Link at 328-5465, or if after hours call the Crisis and Suicide Line at 323-7777.
 
Crisis Center, Inc. and Teen Link take your privacy seriously and do not share any information gathered during online counseling with any person or agency outside of the Crisis Center.  All chats are encrypted by our servers to ensure maximum security of the content contained in any communications between chatters and counselors.

During the online counseling process, our operators will have a record of your IP address. An IP address is a number that's automatically assigned to your computer whenever you're surfing the Web.  Web servers automatically identify your computer by its IP address. The IP address is an essential and unavoidable link or connection between the teen's computer and our counselors computer.  It actually allows and enables the chat to occur.

The IP address will only be accessed and used for identification purposes in cases of a high-risk suicide, a stated intent to seriously harm another person, or an indicated case of child abuse or neglect.  Even in these cases, the identity of the teen that is online will remain anonymous.

Any questions regarding these policies, or issues of security and confidentiality should be addressed to -

Jason Viana
(205) 458-8986
 jviana@crisiscenterbham.com

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