Fund helps remove barrier to counselling

Spectrum and KW Counselling Services partner to provide free counselling to LGBTQ community

WATERLOO REGION — Free counselling will be available to the local LGBTQ community. The Waterloo Region LGBTQ organization Spectrum and KW Counselling Services partnered to provide no cost and subsidized counselling to transgender and gender diverse people.

It’s being paid for by a fund started by Spectrum in memory of a board member who died by suicide early this year.

“She wasn’t able to tell us that she was hurting,” said Cait Glasson, Spectrum president.

The tragic loss brought home the great need to offer help to people dealing with the constant pressure and worry that comes with being LGBTQ2+ in society, Glasson said. “It’s that kind of background extra stuff that you have to deal with.”

The fund was started with a grant from the 100 Men who Give a Damn. Donations can be made to ourspectrum.com to support the program.

“It’s an exciting opportunity. We’re trying to make this an ongoing thing going forward,” Glasson said.

Counselling will be through the OK2BME program at KW Counselling, which has been providing counselling services, public education and consultations on LGBTQ issues since 2005.

People can refer themselves by calling KW Counselling Services at 519-884-0000. Counselling will be offered on a sliding scale, with the fund covering whatever is needed.

Glasson said they encounter people who can’t even afford a sliding scale for counselling at Spectrum, which offers programming, social groups, special projects, research, events and resources along with a space where people can connect.

“We wanted to remove that barrier,” Glasson said. “Once the bills start rolling in, we’ll know we’re helping people.”