The Listening Post
HISTORY
In 1979, a lady by the name of Mabel Barth opened the first “Listening Post” at Metropolitan State College in Denver, Colorado. One day, while Mabel was attending a meeting at the college, she looked over a balcony and saw scads of students in their usual daily quandry of activity. She thought: “I wonder who talks to the students?” After a lot of reflection, she returned to the college, asked to be a volunteer and opened the first “Listening Post.” Since that time, over 100 “Listening Posts” have opened around the country. Mabel published a handbook on the model and makes it available to all who wish to attempt it. Here in Baltimore, our first “Post” was tried at the University of Baltimore in 1984 with great success. The Towson University “Post” opened in the Spring of 1986, closed in 1992 and reopened in 1998. Under the sponsorship of the Catholic Campus Ministry, The Towson University “Post” has involved faculty, students and campus ministers of other faiths as “listeners.” The T.U. “Post” operates out of the University Union.
WHAT IS IT?
The “Listening Post” is a place: for unhurried conversation, to be heard and accepted, to clarify thinking, to consider options, to express human hurt, to be affirmed, to express joy, to explore ideas, to share seemingly impossible dreams, of warmth and friendship, of gentle challenge toward growth. The “Listening Post” is a safe space where visitor and listener meet as equals. An ambiance of welcome and informality is enhanced by provision of simple foods (fruit, nuts, snacks, etc.). The visitor is seen as capable of handling or solving his or her problem. The staffer serves as listener, responds with clarifying questions, affirms the individual as he or she is at the moment, suggests options and subsequently follows through in ways designed to be growth-producing.
WHAT IT IS NOT!
The “Listening Post” is not a traditional counseling center; not a place for “pat” answers; not a place of judgment; not a place to convert people to religion or any faith system; not an information booth; not a place to loaf or waste time; not a place with a
fee.“THE LISTENING POST”
IS A LISTENING MODEL
NOT A COUNSELING MODEL.
THE T.U. LISTENING POST
Here at Towson University, we ask for volunteers to be “listeners” to staff the “Post.” We train volunteers from student, faculty and campus ministry groups. Sessions to train “listeners” occur every semester. Depending on the number of “listeners” we have for a given semester, a schedule is set-up with 2 to 3 “Listeners” scheduled for each hour of listening. Two “listeners” sit at the table upon which is placed fruit and snacks, book marks, a plant and the wooden listening post. Two empty chairs for visitors are placed facing the two “listeners.” All of this is set up under a banner which highlights the spot from a distance. At the end of each listening hour, each “listener” fills out a data sheet describing the encounters of his or her hour at the “Post.” In a given semester the “listeners” report a total of over 400 encounters. We are proud of the service this “Post” offers to the entire T.U. community. You can become a “listener” by contacting the Newman Center at (410/828-0622).