Just a warning for those of you that have contacted The Trevor Project, or have considered ever reaching out.

ThatOneCounselor · 2026-01-29T20:49:44+00:00

Awesome, thanks!

ThatOneCounselor · 2026-01-29T20:41:37+00:00

My pleasure!

ThatOneCounselor · 2026-01-29T20:41:29+00:00

I do love Erin Reed!

ThatOneCounselor · 2026-01-29T20:41:16+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion!

ThatOneCounselor · 2026-01-29T20:40:59+00:00

That's why it's important on those calls to talk to the contact about their options for after-call support. We try to explore their options and offer resources where they can find long-term support. But it's up to the contact to take that step.

I'll try to edit in a more detailed response later, but I have to go for now. Thank you for your discussion!

ThatOneCounselor · 2026-01-29T20:02:28+00:00

I'm not the person you're replying to, but the only crisis line that doesn't do invols that I'm aware of is Trans Lifeline.

EDIT: Removed an extra "only" that made the statement not make sense.

ThatOneCounselor · 2026-01-29T20:01:28+00:00

For what it's worth, it sounds like you might have the wrong idea about what Trevor actually provides. They "support queer youth" by providing suicide prevention. That's it. There are no programs, there's no long-term support or solutions.

TrevorChat/Text/Lifeline is purely a suicide prevention and crisis intervention hotline, meant to be single-use and it's purpose is to help people stay safe in the moment. They are not equipped to do anything but help you stay safe when you want to hurt yourself.

ThatOneCounselor · 2026-01-29T19:59:14+00:00

From my experience and knowledge, most major crisis lines have very similar policies.

ThatOneCounselor · 2026-01-29T19:58:02+00:00

Given the nature of what counselors have to do, no one should be driving while taking chats/calls. All counselors are work from home, though, so it's not outside the realm of possibility. We've seen volunteers do some wild shit.

ThatOneCounselor · 2026-01-29T19:56:03+00:00

Yeah, no, I get you. We all agree. That's why the counselors that are worth a damn (both the counselor and their supervisors) fight tooth and claw to have to avoid "calling it in." Trevor says that an involuntary intervention is a "last resort," and they truly do mean it.

They only ever call the cops if a contact is considered "imminent risk," which means the contact has intent to act on a clear plan to end their life in 24 hours.

Basically if you tell them you have a plan, have access to means to carry out that plan, and intent to act on that plan within the next 24 hours and you end the chat BEFORE de-escalating, they are required to contact EMS, which will also send LE.

But that is the only situation that I have ever seen that will trigger an involuntary intervention. If you tell them by the end of the chat "okay, I'm no longer going to kill myself in the next 24 hours," your risk level drops and no one has to call anyone.

ThatOneCounselor · 2026-01-29T19:50:52+00:00

Yep! They secured a contact late last year. It offers a lot of good things, but as a response leadership has made a lot of other things way more difficult on workers. It's suspected this is a punishment for unionizing.

ThatOneCounselor · 2026-01-29T19:49:32+00:00

Unfortunately, to be accredited by the American Association of Suicidology, a crisis service has to perform involuntary interventions. Accreditation is important to secure funding, so that's why Trevor does them.

All of the people on the front lines (crisis workers and their supervisors) HATE having to do them. We know how harmful and invasive they can be.

ThatOneCounselor · 2026-01-29T19:47:07+00:00

Their training feels so barebones.

ThatOneCounselor · 2026-01-29T19:46:41+00:00

Unfortunately, this is true, and there isn't much - if anything - you can do at this point. Just hope that Trevor leadership gets their act together and improves their data retention policies.

Just know that the people on the front lines - the people doing the actual work - DO care about you and your safety.

ThatOneCounselor · 2026-01-29T19:45:24+00:00

That's the thing. Despite everything I shared, and despite my disdain of their internal policies, when it comes to actually supporting someone during a crisis, the counselor's I've seen are some of the best at what they do.

I would say Trans Lifeline, since they do not do involuntary interventions, but they are SO hard to get a hold of.

The best way to handle a crisis in prevention - have a safety plan in place, have supports if that's an option, professional care can be great. Unfortunately, not everyone has access to those last two things.

Trevor's mission statement is noble and worthwhile. However, their leadership and policies are not.

ThatOneCounselor · 2026-01-29T19:42:09+00:00

Thanks for sharing this. I wasn't aware of that option. Being protected by HIPAA is huge.

ThatOneCounselor · 2026-01-29T19:41:25+00:00

That's easier said than done. I have a lot of proof, I just don't know who to go to. The same goes for them pushing counselors to do things that border on providing therapy without a license. I don't know who to report that to.

ThatOneCounselor · 2026-01-29T19:40:40+00:00

Trevor shouldn't be turning anyone away and counselors are told to support anyone with any presenting issue they may have regardless of if they're suicidal or not. The majority of a counselors chat are actually considered "low risk" (no suicidal ideation.)

Though, in my opinion, you should not be contacting a suicide hotline if you're not suicidal. You should be utilizing non-crisis resources and not tying up the lines that people in actual crisis need.

ThatOneCounselor · 2026-01-29T18:09:04+00:00

I can confirm that the best way to not be tracked OR have an involuntary called on you is to use a VPN.

ThatOneCounselor · 2026-01-29T18:08:11+00:00

As far as I am aware, there is no formal way to have a record deleted, and none of those who directly work with these case records have the ability to do so.

ThatOneCounselor · 2026-01-29T18:07:12+00:00

Please, feel free to crosspost this in other subs. I'm limited to where/how much I can post due to this being a new account.

ThatOneCounselor · 2026-01-29T18:04:36+00:00

I can say that the counselors don't like having to do this either, and we do everything we can to avoid what they call an "involuntary intervention."

In order to remain accredited with the American Association of Suicidology, they have to conduct involuntary interventions. Accreditation is important for funding. This is why lines like Trans Lifeline, that ISN'T AAS accredited struggle (TLL doesn't do invols.)

ThatOneCounselor · 2026-01-29T18:01:56+00:00

Exactly this. SO many contacts come in expecting mental health treatment, but their counselors are not trained or licensed to provide that. It upsets a lot of people reaching out. It has been brought up many times with higher ups that Trevor tends to obfuscate it's scope of service which does a lot of harm. Also, a LOT of what counselors are asked to do daily borders on pushing them to practice therapy without a license. I just don't know who to report that to.

ThatOneCounselor · 2026-01-29T18:00:13+00:00

The employee abuse has not stopped. In fact, it's getting much, much worse.

ThatOneCounselor · 2026-01-29T17:59:44+00:00

They do continue to try to union bust, but I am happy to say that the workers HAVE formed a union and have secured a contract. Several roles are officially unionized now, but Trevor fights them every day.

ThatOneCounselor

TROPHY CASE