Counselling Assistance Fund for Men ages 15 and up, Couples and Families

• Applications can be filled out and submitted online or dropped off at our Pemberton or Squamish offices.

• Sea to Sky Community Services (SSCS) emails acknowledgement of your submitted application immediately. The program manager follows up within three weeks with instructions on obtaining the necessary information to start the program.

• Clients who qualify for the program are given a list of registered clinical counsellors and their information. Clients choose their own counsellor based on the information in the list. Clients can request to see a registered clinical counsellor who is not on the SSCS list or continue a previously established relationship with their counsellor providing the counsellor is willing to join the SSCS program. Registered clinical counsellors are able to join the program by providing their clinical counsellor registration number, their information and contact details. There is no fee to join the program.

• Clients are responsible for letting their counsellor know they are a part of the subsidy program when they call to schedule their first appointment, so the counsellors are aware there will be a subsidized fee for service.

• Business cards with the client’s reference number and name on the back are provided to clients to give to their counsellor at their initial appointment. More than one business card is given in case the client chooses to switch counsellors.

• Clients are responsible to pay their portion ($30/one hour session or $45/one and a half hours session) of their counselling fees directly to the counsellor.

• Clients are expected to show up for their scheduled appointments or give at least 24 hours’ cancellation notice.

• Clients can access a maximum of eight sessions. These sessions must be completed within eight months unless there are extenuating circumstances. Those situations will be determined on a case by case basis.

• All information between the client and their counsellor is confidential. SSCS is the referring agent and will only collect the information provided on the application.

• Clients are encouraged to contact SSCS staff if issues or barriers arise preventing the client from receiving service. The program manager information is below.

Once you are approved for the Counselling Assistance Fund, you can select a counsellor from the List of Counsellors included below. We do our best to keep the list up to date, however, there is the chance some counsellors may not be accepting clients when you reach out to them.

List of Counsellors:

• Squamish
• Pemberton

Tips:

• Most counsellors offer a free 15-minute phone consultation to talk about who they are and how they approach their practice. Have a list of helpful questions to help identify if a counsellor is going to be a good fit for you and your needs.
• Counsellors can offer a combination of in-person and virtual session options (phone/video). Consider privacy and support needs when you are doing virtual sessions. For example, can anyone else in your home hear you and is that going to impact your capacity to be present? How about confidentiality/privacy? If you have a pet, do you need to close the door to the room you are in so you are not disturbed during your session?

What if I loose my Client Reference Number?

Your client reference number is given to you once your application is approved. It is what your counsellor needs so they can invoice us for eligible sessions. If you loose your client reference number, contact us to look it up for you (see contact information below).

I applied before, but it’s been a while. Can I re-apply? 

Yes, you can re-apply if it has been more than 12 months since your last application was approved.

Can I go to any counsellor? 

No, you can only select from counsellors on the ‘List of Counsellors’ for Squamish or Pemberton.

I am a counsellor and I need to invoice SSCS for client sessions through the Counselling Assistance Fund, but I don’t remember what to do. 

Counsellors can email invoices with the client reference number to admin@sscs.ca with the date of each session delivered. Some counsellors invoice in bundles, and others do it after each session.

I am a counsellor and I am interested in joining the subsidy program. What do I need to do? 

Email admin@sscs.ca to get more information.

How do I sponsor a counselling session?

Click the donate button on the right and choose Counselling Assistance Fund from the drop-down menu.

I’d like to donate but I don’t have that much money.

Give what you can and only as much as it doesn’t negatively impact your own financial well-being. Every bit helps!

I would like to help but I am not able to donate.

You can help by having conversations about mental health with your friends and family. This helps reduce those uncomfortable internal barriers for ourselves and other people. This has a huge impact on being open and honest about where we are at, what our needs are and figuring out how to best support ourselves.

BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC): Search the online database by region and area of expertise for a list clinical counsellors in your area if you are looking for a private counsellor outside of the subsidy program. 

Canadian Mental Health Association – North and West Vancouver Branch:  Provides mental health promotion and mental illness recovery-focused programs and services for people of all ages and their families. 

Kelty Mental Health: A free, online cognitive behavioural therapy tool to help treat anxiety and/or depression. Designed for children and youth, and also includes resources for parents and caregivers.

Here to Help: Mental Health and Substance Use Information to support ourselves or others. 

Mental Health Benefit – First Nations Health Authority (FNHA): Covers the cost of counselling services for First Nations people living in BC. Click here for a list of participating counsellors.

Wellness Together Canada: Free virtual counselling funded by the Government of Canada for all children, youth and adults, powered by Kids Help phone and Homewood Health.

Please email admin@sscs.ca or call 604-892-5796 with any questions about the Counselling Assistance Fund.