The Community Counselling Programs offer support through outreach, individual counselling and group work. Many of our clients face unique challenges that cannot be addressed using traditional approaches. The services we offer are creative, flexible and comprehensive. In the community, workers interact on an individual basis with youth in their homes and neighbourhoods. This outreach relationship based model is noted for being effective in reaching the most difficult to serve youth. In school settings we bring services directly to high-risk students. Our counselling groups respond to emerging client needs and concerns. In all our programs, we help youth find their own solutions by forging consistent and supportive relationships.

Ways We Can Help

Community Outreach Program
Clients in this program are often very hard-to-serve youth who would have difficulty being in a traditional office setting. In this intensive service, sometimes lasting several years, outreach workers connect with youth on an individual basis in their own homes, neighbourhoods, and communities. This allows workers time to really get to know and understand clients and be more effective in supporting them to find real solutions. Outreach workers can help youth with a wide range of issues including self-harm, aggression and social isolation. Workers collaborate with a coordinator at CTYS to make sure the broad needs of the client are being met. Workers also connect with key individuals, like parents or teachers, who are important in the client’s life. Youth play the key role in setting the goals, pace, and manner in which services are delivered. A trusting relationship between worker and client is the key to developing coping and life skills and overcoming challenges.

School Outreach
This program offers individual and group counselling, both in and outside of school, to marginalized students, particularly those on the verge of being expelled or dropping out of school. The program has operated for many years at a number of elementary and high schools with a significant population of high-risk youth facing a range of challenges. Counsellors offer support to promote attendance, reduce aggression and behaviour problems, build communication and relationship skills, and encourage healthy lifestyle and recreational choices. The program’s strength is that it is on-site at the school and services are offered by a consistent counsellor familiar to both teachers and students. Teachers can refer students to the program or youth can seek out services. The delivery of the service is flexible and is adapted based on the specific needs of the students. These youth would be unlikely to access support in a traditional setting, but the school- based, non-threatening environment removes some of these barriers.

Group Programs
Groups are a key component of responding to client needs. CTYS offers innovative counselling groups for youth and parents/caregivers. The content and structure of groups are flexible and adapts over time depending on client needs. Groups for youth address issues like coping with anger, social skills, isolation, depression, anxiety and self-esteem.

Groups are available to parents/caregivers of clients on our waiting lists as well as those already receiving services. These groups help parents/caregivers reduce their sense of isolation, offer mutual support and increase their skills and capacity to adapt and respond to challenges.

Accessing Our Programs
An intake worker will assist callers in accessing the appropriate program. We accept referrals from professionals and other agencies as well as client self-referrals. There are waiting lists for some of our programs, particularly the Community Outreach Program.