Mental health support can seem harder to access in a small town than in a big city, but it is no less important to a community. With colder weather rolling in and the days getting shorter, darker thoughts can roll in as well. The Golden Family Center has a program offering accessible support for people who need someone to talk to.
The Drop-In Single Session Support program provides adults with an opportunity to speak with someone in a private, one-hour session. The sessions are free and offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
The program began as a pilot project in February 2018 and has since facilitated more than 2,000 support sessions, according to Golden Family Center Executive Director Katie Hodder.
The program’s name was recently changed from counselling to Single Session Support to better reflect the range of help it provides.
“We replaced the word ‘counselling’ with ‘single session support’ to reflect the broad service delivery offering, which is sometimes more than counselling,” Hodder said.
The sessions use a solution-focused approach and give people an opportunity to identify issues, recognize their own strengths and abilities, and develop strategies for moving forward. The Family Center describes the sessions as an encouraging and supportive environment.
“Our drop-in sessions are an opportunity for individuals to feel heard, validated and to work through some tools and strategies,” Hodder said.
The program is open to adults dealing with a range of challenges, including personal issues, witnessing a traumatic event or injury, or struggling with loss. It can also be a resource that people refer friends, neighbours or family members to when they feel someone could use additional support.
While the program is designed around individual sessions, Hodder said many clients only attend once or twice.
“Most clients attend one or two sessions before they either feel confident to move forward on their own or are referred to longer term solutions,” she said.
The sessions can take place in person, by phone or by video.
The Family Center’s website says no pre-booking is necessary. People can register by calling 250-344-2000 after 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning or by stopping by the Family Center at 103, 612 7th St. North.
According to Hodder, the program generally has four to five spaces available each week. Once they arrive, participants complete some brief paperwork before their session and are asked to complete a short feedback survey afterward.
The program is funded through grants, local fundraising and donations.
“This is a community-funded program that relies on community donations,” Hodder said.
Donations can be made through the Golden Family Center’s website or delivered directly to its office.
For someone who needs support but may not be ready for ongoing counselling, the program provides a place to start.
With several spaces available each week, the program offers Golden residents a local option for support when they need someone to talk to.
