You鈥檙e Not Alone: Access to Community-Based Counselling Support is a program created to support people suffering from a variety of mental-health and addiction issues.
The program is offered by Esquimalt Neighbourhood House and funded by the Victoria Foundation. The community-based mental-health and addiction program provides supportive counselling 鈥� including after-hours availability 鈥� to 350 adults annually.
The client-centred program is rooted in accessibility, especially for at-risk and low-income communities. It is structured to be a no-charge, low-barrier program. The program also receives referrals from other frontline social-service agencies.
鈥淲e try to be plugged in to the needs of the community,鈥� said Mo Martin, a volunteer counsellor with 23 years of experience. 鈥淲e look for a holistic approach 鈥� to see a person in the wholeness of his or her life.鈥�
As many as 45 volunteer counsellors are trained to respond compassionately by listening, advocating and following up with each individual.
鈥淲e sit down and connect with the person, developing a partnership together to create the most optimal solutions,鈥� said Martin. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like a dynamic dance.鈥�
She says that their counselling is not solution-focused, but client-centred to break down the systemic barriers clients sometimes face.
鈥淲e need to recognize that people鈥檚 problems don鈥檛 happen in a vacuum. We need to ask: 鈥榃hat is the larger context?鈥� and incorporate our knowledge of social justice. We need to acknowledge systemic barriers some of our clients face 鈥� the history of oppression, abuse, neglect and violence,鈥� she said.
The program allows for 12 sessions of 45 minutes each. At their discretion, counsellors can ask for approval to see a client beyond the allotted time.
Clients typically seek out counselling support for depression, anxiety, abuse, grief, parenting, substance use, relationships, personal loss, sexual orientation and other changes and challenges.
鈥淣o two clients are alike.鈥�
Funding helps pay for an 鈥渆xhaustive鈥� application and 10-month training process for volunteer counsellors and to allow the Esquimalt Neighbourhood House to continue outreach in the community.
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