why be a counselor?

Being a Walden counselor is a big responsibility. The time commitment is heavy and Walden counselors are unpaid volunteers. Counseling can be unpredictable and stressful at times. However, most counselors find that being a part of Walden is very rewarding, for three reasons:

• Chances are, if you are at all interested in applying to Walden, it is because you are interested in providing support to others in the Yale community. Whether you care about a specific issue, or you simply feel that your listening skills shouldn't go to waste, Walden is an excellent way to reach out to those around.
• The skills you will acquire through the training and through your counseling experiences will be useful throughout all aspects of your life. You will learn people skills that are hard to acquire anywhere else that will prove useful in your personal life and in your future career, no matter what it may be.
• You will meet a great group of fun, friendly, dedicated, and enthusiastic people. Because Walden counselors know the value of giving support to others, they are some of the best people to have in your life. They'll stick up for you when times are hard, and laugh with you when times are good. They are often people you wouldn't have met otherwise, because they come from all walks of Yale life.

recruitment process

Recruitment typically takes place in the spring of each academic year. We ask that applicants download an application (below) and email it to us at walden.counseling@gmail.com. After we receive your application, we will contact you via email to schedule an interview. Interviews are usually held after spring break (in March) and final decisions are sent out around reading week. Applicants are evaluated on the content of their written application, their counseling skills, flexibility, and availability to meet the necessary time commitments. Unfortunately, not everyone who is qualified can be accepted as a Walden counseor, as our group is limited in size.

who should apply?

If you are interested, you should apply! There is no specific type of person we are looking for, since we want our staff to be comprised of diverse, interesting people who can bring lots of different of perspectives to their work. Some of the qualities that are useful in peer counseling are being compassionate, personable, non-judgmental and a good listener.

how can i apply?

Download and complete the application (located at the bottom of this page) and e-mail it to walden.counseling@gmail.com. For the 2012 recruitment cycle, the priority application deadline is Friday, March 2nd, and the final application deadline is Friday, March 23rd. After receiving your application, a Walden counselor will contact you via email to schedule an interview.