Below are first-hand stories of people who have benefited from affordable community counselling services across the province. In most cases, the person’s name has been changed or their initials were used to protect their identities.

S.C.

S.C. is an Indigenous man from the Nisga'a Valley. He is a multi-generational trauma survivor from his parents being in residential school. He is also a survivor of Indian day school, survived sexual abuse and violence. He was a youth worker in his hometown when the RCMP came to his work to tell him that they had arrested a man who was his elementary school teacher and was being charged with sexual abuse. S.C. ended up charging his former teacher as well. That same year S.C. had another visit from RCMP, this time to let him know that his father was killed in police custody. He started drinking heavily, trying to cope with all the pain. He lost his job because of this. He came to Vancouver and found himself in the Downtown Eastside and started using crack cocaine. He hit bottom and got into recovery, tapped into culture and spirituality and started coming to counselling. S.C. attended talking circles, smudging and drum making. S.C. has finally found forgiveness for all, including himself. He is now four years into his sobriety. He has completed his adult education diploma from Native Education College and was on the dean’s list. Currently, he is in his third year of university.

Client 1

One client began receiving services while in active addiction. With counselling support, the client began their recovery journey and was able to receive a referral to attend treatment due to this [counselling] program. Currently, the client has turned their life around and is sober for more than a year with steady employment, has a strong relationship and social life, and is doing well. The client said this program helped them beyond what they imagined was possible and completely changed the trajectory of their life.

Client 2

Another client engaged in counselling to seek support, while she transitioned from a bed-based substance-use treatment program to their home community. The client stated that the ongoing counselling helped her to maintain abstinence even during a brief period of homelessness. She is now housed, has found employment after a period of job seeking, started a new relationship, and reported an increase in self-confidence and stability in her life.

Alexandria

Alexandria, an Indigenous woman in her mid-30s with three school-age children, experienced a series of deaths, several of which were quite traumatic in nature. She sought counselling after each subsequent loss, eventually completing three rounds of services, each eight sessions in length. Rather than attempting to move past the grief, Alexandria instead found her own ways of maintaining meaningful relationships with the deceased. She described herself as being frozen and so collected herbs in the forest so she could thaw herself with tea. She saw the pain etched on her hands, so she cleaned them in the lake. She felt overwhelmed, so she cried and let others cry with her. She felt shame, so now shares her experiences with her children so shame can’t have the same hold on them.

Fraser Health Authority 

• Archway Community Services Society, Abbotsford
• Cythera Transition House Society, Maple Ridge
• Deltassist Family and Community Services Society, Delta
• DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society, Surrey
• Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver, New Westminster
• Fraser House Society, Mission
• Kinghaven Peardonville House Society, Mission
• Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Community Services, Maple Ridge
• Moving Forward Family Services Society, Surrey/provincewide
• Native Courtworker and Counselling Association of British Columbia, Surrey
• SHARE Family and Community Services, Port Moody/Coquitlam

Interior Health Authority

• Canadian Mental Health Association - Cariboo Chilcotin Branch, Cariboo Chilcotin
• Canadian Mental Health Association - Kelowna Branch, Kelowna
• Cariboo Family Enrichment Centre Society, 100 Mile House and communities in the South Cariboo region
• Circle of Indigenous Nations Society, Kelson, Castlegar, Trail, Nakusp and Grand Forks
• Family Tree Family Centre (Kamloops Family Resources Society), Kamloops
• Independent Living Vernon Society, Vernon
• Lillooet Friendship Centre Society, Lillooet
• Metis Community Services Society of B.C., Kelowna
• OneSky Community Resources, Penticton
• Yellowhead Community Services, Thompson Valley

Northern Health Authority

• Canadian Mental Health Association - Northern B.C., Prince George and northern communities
• Central Interior Native Health Society, Prince George, Hazelton, Gitsegukla, Kitwanga, Fort Babine, Lake Babine, Witset, Takla, Tlazten, Binche, Nakazdli, Yekooche
• Dze L K’ant Friendship Centre Society, Smithers, Houston
• Prince George Native Friendship Centre, Prince George
• Quesnel Women’s Resource Centre, Quesnel

Vancouver Coastal Health Authority

• Association of Neighbourhood Houses BC, DBA Gordon Neighbourhood House, Vancouver
• Canadian Mental Health Association - North Vancouver and West Vancouver
• Family Services of the North Shore, North Shore
• Jewish Family Services, Vancouver
• S.U.C.C.E.S.S., Vancouver
• REACH Community Health Centre, Vancouver
• Sunshine Coast Community Services Society, Sechelt
• Turning Point Recovery Society, Richmond, Vancouver, North Shore
• Vancouver Association for Survivors of Torture, Vancouver
• Watari Counselling and Support Services, Vancouver 

Vancouver Island Health Authority

• Esquimalt Neighbourhood House Society, Esquimalt
• Hiiye'yu Lelum (House of Friendship) Society, Duncan and Cowichan Valley
• Kwakiutl Band Council, Fort Rupert
• Pacific Centre Family Services Association, Victoria and Colwood
• Peers Victoria Resources Society, Victoria
• Salt Spring and Southern Gulf Islands Community Services Society, Salt Spring
• Snuneymuxw First Nation, Nanaimo
• Vancouver Island Counselling Centre for Immigrants and Refugees, Victoria, Vancouver Island