By Rhonda Massad
www.thesuburban.com
The Laval listening centre (CEL) has revamped their website just in time to celebrate 25 years of listening to people who need to talk. CEL offers an anonymous confidential telephone listening service free of charge to anyone in trouble or simply feeling the need to talk.
The organization bases it’s listening philosophy on the theories of Carl Rogers, an influential American psychologist who emphasized empathy, warmth and authenticity. He is widely known for his humanistic approach or client-centered approach to psychology.
According to Laval city councillor Vasilios Karidogiannis the centre is well equipped with volunteers but always needs more. They are actively searching for Anglophone volunteers to cover a larger segment of the population.
Karidongiannis explained that this is an essential service because seniors are often feeling confined and alone. The centre offers them a solution, they can easily pick up the phone for some human interaction.
“Everyone needs to talk to someone now and then. The volunteers are trained to know when to pass an emergency situation on to a higher level of intervention,” he told The Suburban in an interview, “they have been doing this for 25 years.”
With more than forty volunteers, the CEL receives calls six days per week. It is a regional non-profit organization serving Laval and the surrounding area. The inception of the centre came out of a need established by a group of local women lead by the founder Gilberte Hougues and Pauline Larouche.
More information on the services or to volunteer can be found at www.centredecoute.com
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