Therapy offers a safe environment to explore thoughts and feelings. Through the experience of therapy, clients develop new insights, healing, and self-respect. Deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind and their family members go to therapy to work throught various issues such as: grief and loss, trauma, anziety, depression, sexuality, relationships.
The WBP has a signing Child and Family therapist on staff. Some contracted therapists utilize sign language in their sessions, while others require mental health interpreters to facilitate the communication.
We provide interpreters throughout the province who will accommodate the language preferences of individuals or groups. Clients may choose to use ASL/English, Deaf, Gestuno, Deaf-Blind, and oral interpreting. WBP interpreters are trained to interpret in Mental Health and have a minimum of 10 years interpreting experience.
We also provide interpreters for commmunity educational workshops, professional development, psychological assessments, psychiatric assessments, and appointments with the mental health teams.
Confidentiality and impartiality (neutral) are key aspects of interreting for therapy.
All interpreters contracted at the Well-Being Program observe the AVLIC (Association of Visual Language Interpreters of Canada) Code of Ethics and are current members of their provincial association, the West Coast Association of Visual Language Interpreters. For more information regarding the Code of Ethics, see the Association of Visual Language Interpreters at www.avlic.ca.
Support workers provide life skills development, advocacy, case management, community liaison, and supportive counselling both one-to-one and in group settings.
Clients are varied and include those who have:
Mental illness
Cognitive and developmental delays
Recent immigrants or refugees, or
Senior citizens
Staff have expertise in Deaf issues and cultural diversity.
WBP supports various groups such as the Deaf Social Group for deaf individuals with additional disabilities. This group meets weekly on Wednesdays at the CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind) near the Joyce SkyTrain Station, 5055 Joyce Street, Vancouver, to play card games, do arts/crafts, and go on out-trips.
Contact the Intake Worker at the Well-Being Program (604.456.0901 TTY or 604.456.0900 Voice) to discuss your concerns, needs and provide an opportunity to learn more about our program. The intake worker will refer you to the appropriate therapist, support worker, and/or services.
Phone Number: 604.456.0900
TTY Number: 604.456.0901
Toll-free TTY: 1-800-949-1155
Fax: 604.456.0904
E-mail: wbp@vrhb.bc.ca