Due to unforeseen family circumstances, I am choosing to take a sudden and indefinite leave of absence from my counselling and coaching practices. I have very seriously considered the ramifications of this inescapable decision. Unfortunately, events out of my control have occurred and I need to support my loved ones during this time.
I apologize for the sudden nature of this news. I am going to provide names and contact information of other practitioners who I hold in high regard and other affordable therapeutic support alternatives (see list below).
At this point, I cannot predict my return. I am happy to arrange a time to speak with you by telephone (my cell: #778-859-1246) to respond to any questions you may have, referral options, brainstorm alternate practitioner possibilities and additional resources.
To assure you, my personal health is good. I do not want to cause worry. Simply put, out of respect for other people’s privacy, this is a matter of unexpected life events occurring in a manner that requires my full presence and attention for my loved ones.
Thank you for being in my life – each and every one of you. You’ve taught me how to be a better human being and inspire every step I take.
Respectfully,
Elaine Connolly
*If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, please call 911.
For non-life-threatening mental health or addictions concerns, contact the Access and Assessment Centre (ACC) at VGH, available 24-7, 365 days a year. Phone, drop-in and outreach support available.
#604-875-8289
711 W. 12th Ave.
http://www.vch.ca/your-health/health-topics/mental-health/vancouver-access- &-assessment-centre–aac-/
Respectful and able alternate practitioners:
Dr. Geoffery Carr
http://drgeoffreycarr.com
Lindsey Jespersen and Sandy Hawkins of Concordia Counseling
http://www.concordiacounselling.ca
PHONE: 778.331.0965
EMAIL: info@concordiacounselling.ca
Dr. Paul Peel (EMDR certified)
http://www.paulpeel.ca
Megan Sutherland of Willow Tree Counselling
https://willowtreecounselling.ca
Miriam Ulrych (Registered Psychologist)
#604-224-2284
Hiroko Demichelis (EMDR certified)
http://www.vancouverbrainlab.com/hiroko
Bea Mackay (EMDR certified)
https://beainbalance.com
Ulrich Lanius (EMDR certified)
http://www.bodymindhealing.ca
Alivia Maric (EMDR certified)
https://emdrcanada.org/profile/alivia-maric/
Affordable Counselling Services:
Family Services of Greater Vancouver, Counselling Program – 604-874-2938 http://www.fsgv.ca/find-the-support-you-need/counselling/
Counselling fees based on household income. Master’s-level therapists. Program has a dedicated intake worker who can also refer to other counselling services or groups. Offices in Vancouver, Richmond, Burnaby, New Westminster and Surrey.
Family Services of Greater Vancouver, Service Options – 604-731-4951 https://www.optionsforsexualhealth.org/providers/family-services-of-greater-vancouver- lgbt-service-options
Professional counselling for LGBTQ individuals and couples.
Family Services of the North Shore – 604-988-5281 http://www.familyservices.bc.ca
Professional counselling for residents of the North Shore. Sliding Scale.
Oak Counselling – 604-266-5611
http://oakcounselling.org/
Reduced fee. Secular counselling services provided at the Vancouver Unitarian Centre by supervised volunteers with Master’s degrees in psychology or psychology-related fields. Individual, couples and family counselling.
Adler Centre – Counselling Clinic – 604-742-1818 http://www.adlercentre.ca/clinic.html Sliding scale individual and couples counselling. Counselling provided by counselling psychology graduate students at the Adler Centre, supervised by an experienced clinician.
Scarfe Counselling – UBC – 604-827-1523 http://ecps.educ.ubc.ca/cnps/scarfe-counselling-clinic
Free. Counselling provided by counselling psychology graduate students, supervised by a psychologist. Clinic runs from September to April.
UBC Psychology Clinic – 604-822-3005
http://clinic.psych.ubc.ca/
Counselling services provided by doctoral student interns, supervised by registered psychologists. $10-$40 per hour.
New Westminster UBC Counselling Centre – 604-525-6651 http://ecps.educ.ubc.ca/clinical-instructional-resources/new-westminster-ubc- counselling-centre/
Free counselling for the general public by counselling psychology graduate students, supervised by a psychologist.
Simon Fraser University – Counselling Clinics
Surrey Clinic – 604-587-7320 – http://www.sfu.ca/education/centres-offices/sfu-surrey- counselling-centre.html
Burnaby Clinical Psychology Centre– 778-782-4720 – https://www.sfu.ca/psychology/ clinical-psychology-centre.html
Counselling for adults, children and youth provided by supervised graduate students in counselling psychology. Services at the Surrey clinic are free and at the Burnaby clinic are offered on a sliding scale.
Vancouver Coastal Mental Health – Vancouver Hospital – 604-875-4794 http://psychiatry.vch.ca/opt.htm
Group therapy for depression, anxiety, stress. Individual mental health assessments. Referral through your family doctor, or via a walk-in clinic.
Catholic Family Services – 604-443-3220 http://www.rcav.org/olmf/Office_of_Life_Marriage_and_Family_Counselling/
Individual, couple and family counselling available to Catholic and non-Catholic families. Sliding scale. Offices in Vancouver and Surrey.
Bounce Back Program – Canadian Mental Health Association – 1-866-639-0522 http://www.cmha.bc.ca/programs-services/bounce-back/
Telephone coaching for people with mild-moderate depression with or without accompanying anxiety. Coaching available in English, Cantonese, French and Punjabi. Family doctor’s referral required to access this program. Free.
Jewish Family Services – 604-637-3309
http://jfsa.ca/counselling/
Sliding scale counselling to the Jewish and non-Jewish community.
SUCCESS – Individual and Family Counselling Program – 604-408-7266 http://www.successbc.ca/eng/services/family-youth/counselling-service/611-individual- and-family-counselling
Counselling offered in Madarin, Cantonese, Korean and English with a focus on helping new immigrants of Chinese and other ethnic origins. Play and art therapy also available.
Living Systems Counselling – 604-926-5496, ext. “0” http://www.livingsystems.ca/counselling/locations-fees-services#Counselling
Individual, couple and family counselling using Bowen Family Systems Therapy. Lower- cost counselling provided by supervised interns.
ProChoices Community Therapy Clinic http://prochoices.ca
By-donation ($20.00 min) feminist counselling services provided by supervised master’s-level and intern narrative therapists.
Moving Forward Family Services – 778-321-3054 https://movingforwardfamilyservices.com
Pay-by-donation counselling for individuals and families. Offices in Surrey and South Vancouver. Graduate-level counsellors and counselling interns.
Broadway Youth Resource Centre – City University Community Counselling Clinic 604-709-5729
Offers counselling and support services in the areas of youth and family, anger management, and sexual orientation/gender identity issues. Counselling provided by supervised interns completing their Master’s of Counselling Degree. Free.
Surrey Youth Resources Centre, Community Counselling Clinic 604-592-6200 Free counselling provided by graduate student interns for individuals, youth and families (must be have a child or youth in the family to access services).
Mood Disorders Association of BC – 604-873-0103
Counselling and Wellness Centre
www.mdabc.net
Individual therapy with certified counsellor ($85-$95 an hour) or intern ($50 hour). Group therapy also available.
Residential Historical Abuse Program – 604-875-4255 http://vch.eduhealth.ca/PDFs/CE/CE.851.S49.pdf
Free counselling for those who were sexually abused while under the care of the province (foster care, group homes, etc.)
Crime Vicitims Assistance Program – Victim Link BC 1-800-563-0808 (available 24/7) http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/justice/criminal-justice/bcs-criminal-justice-system/if- you-are-a-victim-of-a-crime/victim-of-crime/financial-assistance-benefits
Counselling for victims of crime, their immediate family members and witnesses. Contact for eligibility.
BC Responsible and Problem Gambling Program – 1-888-795-6111 (available 24/7) https://www.bcresponsiblegambling.ca/getting-help/find-counsellor
Free professional, multilingual counselling for any British Columbian struggling with their own or their family member’s gambling.
Qmunity – Free Counselling Program – 604-684-5307 http://www.qmunity.ca/older-adults/resources/counselling/ Counselling for members of the GLBTQ communities.
If none of the above suit your needs, please visit any of the following search engines for a more suitable practitioner near your location:
http://bc-counsellors.org/counsellors/
https://counsellingbc.com
https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/therapists/bc/vancouver
UBUNTU
“Ubuntu […] speaks of the very essence of being human. [We] say […] “Hey, so-and-so has Ubuntu.” Then you are generous, you are hospitable, you are friendly and caring and compassionate. You share what you have. It is to say, “My humanity is caught up, is inextricably bound up, in yours.” We belong in a bundle of life. We say, “A person is a person through other persons.”
[…] A person with Ubuntu is open and available to others, affirming of others, does not feel threatened that others are able and good, for he or she has a (- or “They” have – ) proper self-assurance that comes from knowing that he or she belongs in a greater whole and is diminished when others are humiliated or diminished, when others are tortured or oppressed, or treated as if they were less than who they are.”
― Desmond Tutu, “No Future Without Forgiveness”