Aja Romano of The Daily Dot:

IMAlive sounds perfect for introverts and those who are more comfortable writing than speaking. And anyone can volunteer to be a counselor, as long as they pass the background check. But there’s a hitch. Potential volunteers have to pay the organization $280 up front—before they even have their first IM session.

There is much in Romano’s article that I didn’t know. It’s worth reading if this issue is important to you, and worth paying strong heed to if you’re considering any association with the organizations it discusses.