Mental health services
Counselling for Immigrants and Refugees on Vancouver Island
VICCIR provides trauma-informed, culturally safe counselling for immigrants, refugees, and newcomer families of all ages.
Request Counselling SupportWho we serve
Immigrants, refugees, and newcomer families of all ages, genders, and immigration statuses after arrival in Canada.
Where we serve
People living on Vancouver Island, with sessions currently available in person and online.
Care available
Individual, couple, child, youth, and family counselling, with trained interpreters when needed.
VICCIR programs and support
Individual, couple and family counselling
Eligibility, service area, counselling formats, and how to request support.
Clinical interpretation and language support
How trained interpreters support multilingual counselling.
Community training and consultation
Support for sponsors, schools, agencies, and community partners.
Counselling services
We look forward to welcoming you to our office, where you’ll have the opportunity to meet our friendly and dedicated team. Before your first session, we will review our moderate fees, which are determined on a sliding scale. As a non-profit, federally registered charity, VICCIR is deeply committed to ensuring that no one is turned away due to financial challenges.
For clients unable to pay, cases will be thoughtfully assessed, and they may be matched with one of our Registered Clinicians, supervised, master-level interns, or health cultural ambassador (HCA). For clients who are employed and require the expertise of a Registered Clinician, a minimum fee will be necessary to support the sustainability of our services and mission.
We work with specially trained interpreters as required. In this way we seek to remove barriers to quality service and care for both individuals and families, whatever their economic or cultural context.
VICCIR’s objectives for all clients are to:
- Reduce the debilitating symptoms of trauma;
- Increase the personal resiliency and self-mastery required to improve quality of life; and
- Help them to find within themselves an eagerness to participate in the communities that welcome each of them
Counselling Fees
- VICCIR charges fees to help cover our operating costs. The fee structure is designed to provide affordability and remove barriers to accessing our services.
- Fees for services are discussed on a case by case basis, depending on the needs and circumstances of the individual and the family.
- Refugee clients who meet the IFHP (Interim Federal Health Program) requirements receive services at no cost during the first year of settlement.
- Please note that fees for services are waived for some clients who match our grant requirements.
- We will discuss fees with you when you contact us. Higher fees may apply for couples and family therapy.
- You pay the fee on the day of your counselling session. If you do not show up to your session and do not cancel, you must pay half of the session fee.
Cancellation Policy
- To cancel, you must call your counsellor or interpreter or the office 24 hours before your scheduled appointment.
- If you miss three sessions without cancelling, VICCIR has the right to cancel further appointments.
Insurance
Some insurance companies may reimburse your fees. If this is the case, VICCIR will provide you with a receipt. The decision to reimburse fees is made by the insurance company and it is your responsibility to follow the steps outlined by the insurance company to receive reimbursement before your first counselling session.
Direct billing may be available for ICBC. Please inform our staff if you have coverage through ICBC and would like us to bill for you.
Counselling
The VICCIR Model
Our counselling services are grounded on the recognition that each individual is unique, and treatment plans are tailored accordingly. Cultural norms are respected as is the value of expressing oneself in one’s own language.
A client-centred approach to treatment. Decisions are made based on the needs of the client and other family members rather than which resources (counselling modalities, availability, time) are available at the time.
Clients are matched with the counsellor who best suits their needs and may work with more than one counsellor.
Trained clinical interpreters are available to enable the client to use their mother tongue if preferred.
A team approach is taken, with a group of counsellors and interpreters often working with a whole family. Team members work in close communication with each other.
Clients are seen as individuals, couples, with individual family members and as a whole family. This includes a significant number of children and teens who are referred to VICCIR from schools.
Clients of all ages, genders and ethnicities are welcomed with no limitation placed upon them because of immigration status or length of time lived in Canada.
Different therapeutic modalities are offered simultaneously to individuals, couples and families, according to their unique individual situations and needs.
No limit is placed on the number of therapy sessions and clients are able to return or continue their therapy over an extended period of time.
“Strong evidence shows that successful interventions for treating mental health problems in refugees use a multidisciplinary approach, are culturally sensitive or adapted for specific groups, use trained paraprofessionals, and are linguistically appropriate.”
Our History
VICCIR was founded in 2015 by Adrienne Carter and Linda McLagan. In more than fifteen years of service abroad as a psychotherapist, trainer and supervisor, Adrienne Carter witnessed the devastating effects of displacement and trauma on the human spirit. Upon return to her Victoria home, Carter was determined to create a safe haven for those immigrants and refugees on Vancouver Island who had lived similar experiences in their countries of origin and were suffering the impact of trauma.
Carter and McLagan’s plans were altered by the Fall 2015 announcement of the arrival of a wave of Syrian refugees to communities in Victoria, the Saanich Peninsula, the Western Communities, Cowichan Valley and north to Nanaimo. There was little doubt that the modest program lacked capacity to provide adequate services to an increased population of children, women and men devastated by unimaginable horrors, including torture.
This was the genesis of VICCIR, and the reason why counselling services are central to the organization’s activities.
VICCIR’s capacity has grown immeasurably since our founding in the Spring of 2015. Over 40 professional counsellors and skilled interpreters have answered the humanitarian call of those fortunate enough to have found shelter here on Vancouver Island from some of the world’s current disasters.
VICCIR is the sole service provider on Vancouver Island for immigrants and refugees who seek relief from the symptoms of trauma, the only centre that trains interpreters to work with informed counsellors.