Tell me all about it…

Recently, a friend said to me: ‘You’re a great listener.’ She’d been telling me about how low she had been feeling, and her troubles with her relationship. By opening up, she appeared lighter.

Being a good listener has taken me a lot of practice. I became a Samaritan last year because I hoped to meet new people in a new area, but also because I wanted to make a difference. As a teenager, feeling alone, I’d called their helpline, and having someone listen to me as I worked through my feelings really helped. I wanted to give a good listening experience to others.

Samaritans aren’t superhumans, they are people like everyone else. When I first started my training, I couldn’t imagine, as I sat in front of an actor, how I’d be able to deal with real-world problems. But the more I practised, the easier it became. Anyone can become a good listener, and right now it’s more important than ever. It’s only by reaching