Services
Registering for Counselling
Making the call is the first step – and often the hardest. Once the initial contact is made many people feel a sense of ease in their situation. We hope that’s true for you. The next step requires some patience. Here’s how our process works:
Citizens’ Counselling currently takes all counselling requests by phone. Our phone lines are answered from 10 am to 3 pm M-F and voicemail is available after hours. The initial intake phone call takes about 10-15 minutes as we’ll explain our services in detail and gather some information from you.
After the initial phone call, you will be sent an intake form to fill out and return to us. Once completed and returned, you are then placed on our waitlist for counselling. Our waitlist time is, on average, 8 weeks.
When you are nearing the top of the waitlist, we’ll check-in with you to see how you are doing, re-confirm your availability, and your preferences. From there, clients usually receive a call from their counsellor within a few weeks to book their first session.
The Centre offers individual, couples, and Psychoeducational Groups to people 18 years and older in Greater Victoria.
We offer up to 11 sessions over a 15-week period of individual or couples counselling. Counselling is available days, evenings and weekends in our offices in Quadra Village.
Our volunteer counsellors are trained to work with the following life issues:
changes in status or roles
stress and anxiety management
situational depression
relationship/ communication
conflict
self esteem and assertiveness
anger
We welcome the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community with all-gender washrooms, asking about pronouns, and making every attempt to fulfill requests for counsellors versed in 2SLGBTQQIA+ issues. In recognition of the impacts of systemic oppression, our volunteer counsellors are trained from a trauma-informed, anti-oppressive lens.
Psychoeducational Groups
WINTER GROUPS ARE OPEN FOR REGISTRATION
Groups include:
• Introduction to Mindfulness & Meditation •
• Exploring Anger •
All groups are offered in-person
Join our mailing list HERE to be notified when our groups are offered.
Our psychoeducational groups can be a very effective and affordable way to find the kind of information and support that you may need to make positive changes in your life. Our groups run three times each year (Fall, Winter and Spring and/or Summer) and include a range of focuses. Examples of the groups that we offer are :
Group fees are also based on family income and range from $10-20 per session.
exploring anger
shame resilience
creating happiness
building self esteem
mindfulness based practices to move through depression and anxiety
tools for building friendship: a group for men
If you need help now because you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please call the Vancouver Island Crisis Line for service at 1-888-494-3888. You can get more information by visiting their website.
Referrals
We’ll assist you in finding the help you want.
The Centre attempts to maintain current information on many other local community and government social services.
If those requesting counselling can be more appropriately served elsewhere, referral information will be offered. If you are needing information for a friend or family member please call.
If you would like to research community services online go to BC211.ca
Room Rentals
- Need to rent a group or meeting room? We rent space to community groups.
- For groups, rates are $25/hour, $150/day.
- Please contact the office: info@citizenscounselling.com