As a volunteer therapist at Iguality, you play a key role in providing support to individuals in need. To ensure a safe, professional, and effective environment, it’s important to follow these general responsibilities:
**Set Clear Boundaries: **Always establish clear boundaries and rules with users before starting any activity. This helps create a safe and structured environment for both you and the users.
**Maintain Professionalism: **The relationship between you and the users must remain strictly professional. Any form of personal or romantic relationship outside of the therapeutic context is prohibited.
**No Financial Compensation: **Volunteers cannot accept financial compensation or gifts from users. Small portions of food may be accepted, but this should not create any sense of obligation.
**Clarify the Purpose of Support: **Before beginning any session or activity, clearly explain the purpose of the support you will be providing. Make sure the user understands the nature of the assistance they will receive.
Stay Informed: **Familiarize yourself with this guide, our **Safeguarding Policy, and the Code of Conduct. These documents outline essential guidelines and best practices to ensure safe and ethical support. They are available on this page.
**Session Logging: **Log each session you conduct using the designated form provided to you at the start of your case. This ensures transparency and helps maintain high standards of care.
Report Safeguarding Concerns: **If you encounter any safeguarding issues, report them immediately as outlined in the **Safeguarding Policy. Timely reporting is crucial for the safety and wellbeing of all individuals involved.
**Attend Monthly Supervision: **If you are actively volunteering, you are required to attend at least one supervision session per month. These sessions provide valuable feedback and support for your work and professional growth.
**Open Communication: **For any issues, concerns, or doubts, communicate with your main contact person as detailed in this guide. We are here to support you, and your feedback is important to us.
In this section, you will learn about the vital role volunteer therapists play in Iguality's mission to provide accessible mental health care to marginalized communities. Discover how your contributions can make a significant impact on the wellbeing of individuals facing complex life challenges.
In this section, you will learn about essential resources to enhance your volunteering experience at Iguality. Stay organized and connected with quick access to tools like the Volunteer App, session registration, supervision sign-ups, and space booking to provide the best support to users.
In this section, you will learn about essential resources to enhance your volunteering experience at Iguality. Stay organized and connected with quick access to tools like the Volunteer App, session registration, supervision sign-ups, and space booking to provide the best support to users.
In this section, you will learn about the diverse patient community at Iguality, consisting of individuals from over 25 nationalities who face unique challenges due to legal, financial, and cultural barriers to traditional mental health care. Discover how therapists can make a difference by providing support and building trust with those navigating life in a
In this section, you will learn about the growing mental health needs in Barcelona and across Spain, particularly among underserved communities facing barriers like overloaded public services and inaccessible private care. Discover how Iguality is addressing these challenges by providing free, community-rooted mental health care to create a more equitable system.
In this section, you will learn about the flexible commitment of volunteer hours, with a recommended dedication of at least 15 therapy sessions to ensure a comprehensive process. You'll also discover options for early termination or extension of sessions based on patient needs and availability.
In this section, you will learn about our therapy approach at Iguality, which offers short- to mid-term, goal-oriented sessions based on Brief and Solution-Focused Therapy to build resilience and address daily challenges. Our adaptable model includes weekly or bi-weekly sessions, starting with 15 sessions per patient, focusing on practical solutions to improve quality of life.
In this section, you will learn how our therapy aims to enhance patients' lives by reducing stress, increasing emotional stability, and strengthening coping skills. Discover how providing support can transform feelings of isolation into empowerment and offer concrete strategies for hope and guidance.
In this section, you will learn about the key contacts at Iguality who are ready to support you, including Luciana, the Community Manager, Alex, the Clinical Supervisor, and Vincent, the General Coordinator. Each team member is accessible via WhatsApp or Slack, ensuring you have the guidance and assistance you need for patient assignments, clinical supervision,
In this section, you will learn how people discover Iguality through various channels such as word of mouth, partner referrals, and online searches. Our coordination team reviews each online referral to determine eligibility for a screening session, ensuring everyone receives guidance or alternative options.
In this section, you will learn about the 30-minute screening call process with our volunteer therapists, designed to assess a patient's challenges and determine if Iguality is the right fit. You'll receive a list of questions to guide the call, and the information gathered will assist in guiding future therapy sessions.
In this section, you will learn about the process of starting a case, from being added to the waiting list to scheduling the first session. Follow the steps of matching, agreement, receiving details, and scheduling to ensure a smooth start with your patient.
In this section, you will learn about the expectations for patient cancellations, no-shows, and punctuality to ensure a respectful and effective collaboration. Discover how to handle consistent issues and when to reach out to the Iguality team for support.
In this section, you will learn how to establish a regular therapy schedule and set clear, realistic goals with your patient to ensure a focused and directed therapeutic process. Discover the importance of flexibility in goal-setting and the availability of supervision and support when needed.
In this section, you will learn about the various settings where therapy at Iguality can take place, including online, in person at Iguality’s therapy space, or in public locations like a quiet café. Discover tips for ensuring a safe and respectful environment, and find out how to request a therapy room if needed.
In this section, you will learn how to approach therapy with cultural sensitivity, emphasizing curiosity, openness, and humility when working with diverse populations, including migrants, refugees, and LGBTQ+ individuals. Gain insights into avoiding assumptions, understanding cultural contexts, and collaborating with community groups to enhance patient support and connection.
In this section, you will learn the importance of completing the Session Registration Form after each therapy session to track patient progress and ensure high-quality care. This quick form captures essential details like session type, location, and safeguarding concerns, aiding in service improvement and providing a confidential log of care.
In this section, you will learn about Iguality's monthly group supervision sessions for volunteer therapists, providing a supportive environment to reflect, share, and receive feedback on cases. Discover how these 90-minute sessions offer a safe space for collaboration, with additional one-on-one support available from Vincent or Alex when needed.
In this section, you will learn how to navigate the Iguality Volunteer Platform, your personal dashboard for managing patient details and session history. Discover how to get started with easy sign-up instructions and secure access, ensuring seamless management of your volunteer activities.
In this section, you will learn about the additional services offered by Iguality to support your patients' holistic care, including sports activities, physiotherapy, legal advice, and LGBTQ+ support. These services aim to enhance physical health, provide legal guidance, and foster a sense of community, ensuring comprehensive care for your patients.
In this section, you will learn how to recognize and respond to risks of harm, including self-harm, harm to others, and suicide, ensuring the safety of individuals and team members at Iguality. Discover the steps to take in both non-urgent and urgent situations, including how to flag concerns and access immediate support through crisis helplines
In this section, you will learn about Iguality's proactive approach to harm prevention, emphasizing the importance of being informed and vigilant as a therapist. Familiarize yourself with our Code of Conduct, Safeguarding Policy, and Harm Prevention Policy to effectively recognize, prevent, and respond to potential risks, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of both patients and
In this section, you will learn about PsicoRed, a platform designed to connect clients with licensed therapists offering reduced-rate psychotherapy sessions at €35 each. This initiative by Iguality aims to expand access to affordable mental health care while allowing therapists to manage their own practices independently.
In this section, you will learn about the Resource Hub, a dynamic collection of materials contributed by Iguality's volunteer therapists to support diverse, marginalized communities. Discover and share valuable resources like research papers, clinical tools, and techniques, and contribute your own to enhance our collective impact.
In this section, you will learn about the Therapist Growth Track at Iguality, a program designed to support new professionals in gaining confidence and skills as therapists. This structured pathway offers supervised sessions, guidance, and feedback to help volunteers build experience and provide high-quality care to the community.
