Counselling Services at HIM

We do not operate any crisis lines, however we have a resource for crisis lines that are accessible by people. Click here to download the crisis information card.

All of our partnered counsellors are at least Master level students pursuing a counselling-related graduate degree. In addition to students pursuing their Master degrees, our mental health team consists of registered mental health practitioners (e.g., Registered Social Worker, Registered Clinical Counsellor, etc.) who employ a variety of styles of psychological interventions. All of HIM partnered counsellors are required to go through a rigorous interview process and have lived experience or professional experiences working with queer and gender diverse communities. Our counsellors aim to create a safe, welcoming environment where you can explore whatever is troubling your psychological/emotional well-being.  

• Counsellors can work with many topics; our team of counsellors and practicum students can work closely with you in some of the following ways:
• As we are a community-based counselling program, we provide general counselling services for gay, bi, queer men and women (GBQ) and gender-diverse people to explore areas related (but not limited to) queer experiences. Some of the areas we might be able to support you with include:
  – Assessment and diagnosis
  – The prescription of mental health-related medication
  – Specific/Specialized counselling treatment (e.g., detoxification, ADHD, long-term trauma, career counselling, etc.)

The HIM PVC program consists of 8, 50-minute-sessions scheduled weekly with a brief, solution-focused therapy approach.  

• The process begins with an intake interview (not counting as one of the eight sessions) with a HIM staff or intern. The intake interview is a chance for you to talk about what you want to accomplish in your 8 sessions.  
• After the intake interview, applicants go on our waitlist. The waiting period varies depending on time of the year and capacity, and you will be given an estimate wait time after your intake session (on average it is 8 weeks.)  
• When a counsellor becomes available, applicants are matched with someone who matches their availability and/or preferences (when possible).  
• Once you have made a connection with your counsellor, your sessions will be scheduled and you will be able to start. Sessions can take place at HIM health centres or online. Your process will conclude within 8-10 sessions and your counsellor will help you connect to other services that match your needs if needed. You are eligible for the counselling program once per calendar year.  

HIM’s Professional Volunteer Counselling program is designed to support people who have low annual income or are otherwise marginalized. If your annual income is high(er), we are happy to provide you with a referral to see a counsellor through our HIM Helps Program, or another referral to a well-trusted counsellor in private practice. Our team members conduct the assessment based on your response to our intake questionnaire. [email protected]

If you are in need of counselling sooner than we can offer, there are some programs that might meet your needs. However, please note that most free/reduced cost counselling programs have an approximate 6-month-wait.

• If you are able to pay for counselling, you can use the resource on this website to connect with a counsellor that is connected with HIM.
• Please note that HIM does not provide drop-in or crisis counselling services. If you are experiencing distress, in a crisis, or are in an immediate need for mental health support, please contact one of the resources listed below: Crisis Centre 24/7 phone line 1-800-784-2433

1. Wellness Together (https://www.wellnesstogether.ca/en-CA) 
2. Virtual Mental Health Supports, Organized by the Government of British Columbia (https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/managing-your-health/mental-health-substance-use/virtual-mental-health-supports) 
3. Interligne (www.interligne.co) is a bilingual help and information service based in Montréal, Quebec with a national hotline with chat and text options:  1-888-505-1010 (English & French, 24 hours) 
4.  Trans Lifeline (https://translifeline.org/) is based in San Francisco, California (CA), and has a Canadian-based hotline number: 1-877-330-6366 (English & Spanish 24/7)  
5. LGBT National Help Center (http://www.lgbthotline.org) is another support program based in San Francisco, with hotline, chat and text options and other services for the LGBTQPIA+ community:  1-888-843-4564 (English, Monday to Friday 1pm to 9pm Pacific Time; Saturday 9am to 2pm Pacific Time) 
6. Your local hospital’s emergency department 

We understand the need for flexibility with scheduling. We ask you to respect the time of our volunteer staff by letting us know about schedule changes as early as possible. Missing a session or not providing at least 24 hours’ notice for a schedule change may result in the loss of that session.

It is understandable that you might wish to continue with your counsellor at HIM and your counsellor may provide an additional two sessions if the need is great. The reason that HIM has an 8-10 session guideline is to keep the service available to more people in a year. In some cases, you can continue with your counsellor in the HIM Helps Programs (read below for the program description) or their private practice (if they practice privately).  

You are welcome to make a complaint or give feedback at any time throughout your counselling program without repercussions or consequences. We will do our best to respond to your feedback in a way that supports your needs and preferences. If you would like to make a complaint or provide feedback, please contact the HIM Mental Health Program Specialist(s) at counselling@checkhimout.ca.

You get to choose how much or little you share with your counsellor, though counselling works best when you share fully, openly, and honestly. Our counsellors are skilled at creating a safe and supportive space where no subject is off– limits, and confidentiality is an important factor here. Our counsellors follow the current standards of practice for confidentiality in BC, and any documents about you are filed under a secure filing system. There are a few specific circumstances where confidentiality might be broken. This would happen when: 

• A participant is intending or planning to harm themselves, or another person 
• A participant reports imminent or current harm of a child/ children  
• A participant resports imminent or current harm of vulnerable adult(s) 
• A court issues a subpoena requesting for information