The listener: The stories of Craigslist Confessional
Washington, D.C. lawyer Helena Bala experienced an unusual sense of connection and fulfillment five years ago when she saw a homeless man, with whom she stopped and shared a sandwich and a conversation. After listening to his story, she posted an ad on Craigslist offering to listen to anyone who just needed to talk. She was immediately flooded with requests. And so began Craigslist Confessional. Bala talked to Jim Axelrod about how what she offers to the hundreds of people desperate to talk is very different from typical therapy.