Pay-what-you-can counselling service receives $5,000 from province
A counselling service in the Brooks-Medicine Hat constituency has received provincial funding to help provide affordable assistance.
Lifetalk Counselling Services, serving Brooks and the surrounding area, provides therapeutic counselling for mental, emotional and relational issues.
Murray Denoudsten, executive director, says no client is turned away and each pays what they can afford on a sliding scale.
The organization holds various fundraisers to cover expenses but most have been on hold due to COVID-19 restrictions. The grant funding of $5,000 will help to continue to provide services.
There has been an increased need for counselling due to challenges resulting from the pandemic.
This is one of the reasons the organization applied for grant funding through the mental health and addiction program, said Denoudsten.
“We experienced what we call an initial crisis and now that has gravitated to prolonged crisis mode,” said Denoudsten. “A person or client’s ability to cope is exacerbated by all the goings on.”
This can be in their home or work environment. Others no longer have regular employment. It is also not a short event but something that is ongoing. Coping skills that may have been enough for a short period of time are no longer adequate, he said.
There are three counsellors on staff at Lifetalk.
While Lifetalk assures its counselling staff are Christian in orientation, Denoudsten says, they are committed to working respectfully with clients whether they share this orientation or not.
“About one half of our clientele do not claim regular religious affiliation. Counsellors seek to be there for the client’s benefit and will not impose their beliefs on clients,” said Denoudsten.
You do not need a referral to Lifetalk. Denoudsten says most clients attend because previously satisfied clients referred them. You can call them at 403-362-2210, get more information or even book an appointment from its website:
https://lifetalkcounselling. ca/