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Our Services during the Covid-19 pandemic
COVID 19 has had an extraordinary effect on us all. Our goal, as a community, is to slow and stop the spread of the illness and keep us all safe. When the COVID 19 pandemic was initially declared, the Golden Family Center had to close its doors to all in-person and drop-in appointments. Office and counselling staff adapted by providing phone and virtual appointments and staying in touch through email and text.
As of mid August, we are now open for in-person appointments on a limited basis – if you are an existing client, check with your counsellor to see what they have available.
New Clients
If you are thinking about trying our counselling and support services, you can still get started now. Please call Tracey at 250-344-2000, and she will schedule a phone intake appointment with you. The intake worker will be in touch with you ahead of the intake appointment by phone or email, to arrange to send out paperwork to you.
Wednesday Drop-in Counselling Clinic
In-person sessions are available again at the Drop-in Counselling Clinic on Wednesdays. Video or phone sessions are still available as well, if you prefer to connect that way in this time of Covid. Please call Tracey at 250-344-2000 on Wednesday morning after 8:45 am to register for one of the four sessions.
Getting our voicemail when you phone?
We may not be able to answer each phone call right away, and you may end up getting our voicemail, even during normal office hours. Please leave a message with your name and number and we will call you back as soon as we can.
Financial help
Different kinds of financial help are available, but it can be tricky to find out what you qualify for. The Golden Community Coop website has up-to-date information on provincial and federal support programs http://www.goldencommunitycoop.ca/covid–19.html
For Parents
- Parents: It’s OK If You’re Barely Getting by Right Now – by Kim Simon, Huffpost
- How to talk to your child about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) – 8 tips to help comfort and protect children – by UNICEF
- Tips for Families: Coronavirus – age-appropriate responses to common questions, a guide to self-care, and activities for young children experiencing social distancing – by Zero to Three
- The Pandemic Toolkit Parents Need; 8 expert tips to help families stay regulated – by Veronika Tait Ph.D. Psychology Today
- Stress, Resilience, and the Role of Science: Responding to the Coronavirus Pandemic – by Center on the Developing Child
- Free printable Resources for parents – by Conscious Discipline (you need to set up a free account to access this)
- Webinar on co-parenting during covid-19 by divorce coach and registered clinical counsellor, Shelley Behr, and mediator and lawyer, Rebecca Stanley
- Coronavirus (COVID-19): Resources for the Autism Community
Video Story
- Video – Time to Come in, Bear: A Children’s Story About Social Distancing
Activities
- Patch Of Ground Activity – by Janis Dyck, Art Therapist
- Safe Place Activity – by Janis Dyck, Art Therapist
Picture Books And Comics
Social Stories To Read With Your Kids
- Coronavirus Social Stories – by Smarty Symbols
- For parents who work in the healthcare field: My Mommy is a Safekeeper/My Daddy is a Safekeeper (you need to set up a free account to access this)
- Here2Talk – free mental-health counselling for post-secondary students – 24/7 via app, phone and web
- Tips for When the News Stresses You Out by Foundry
- Build a Time Capsule You are living through history right now.
- Worry Coping Cards
- Managing Stress During COVID-19 – Facebook LIVE event with counsellor Liza
- Free Psychological First Aid telephone calls to any BC resident (19+) affected by the COVID-19 pandemic (by individual psychologists registered with the College of Psychology of British Columbia)
- BounceBack – free access to online, video and phone-based coaching and skills-building program for adults and youth.
- Find Help Now – by the Canadian Mental Health Association
- Covid-19: Tips for managing anxiety – by the Canadian Mental Health Association
- A series of short videos on COVID-19 Stress, Distress & Trauma Series – by Dr. Bruce Perry (Neurosequential Network)
- Tolerance for Uncertainty: a Covid-19 workbook
- Mental Health and the COVID-19 Pandemic – by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
- Substance use resources and COVID-19 – by the British Columbia Centre on Substance Use
- Safer strategies to reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission – by Vancouver Coastal H
For Health Care Staff
- Virtual Mental Health Supports for Healthcare Workers Virtual Mental Health Supports
- Care for Caregivers website Healthcare worker resources
- Video: How doctors can cope with the pressures of COVID-19 – by Dr. Joy Albuquerque, Medical Director for the OMA Physician Health Program
- Mental Health Commission of Canada – free online crisis training for essential workers during COVID-19: free training MHCC
- For parents who work in the healthcare field: My Mommy is a Safekeeper/My Daddy is a Safekeeper (you need to set up a free account to access this)
