Peer Support Workers (PSW)

Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) operates the Well-Being Program. VCH has a neat service, the Peer Support Worker (PSW) Program! There are several mental health units under VCH, which includes the WBP, that participate in the Peer Support Worker training program.

These programs will send several people to participate in the training. Who does the WBP send? For example, WBP staff gets together to discuss successful clients who have recovered and recommend they take the training. Graduate PSW’s can get a contract to work with different WBP clients.

The Peer Support Workers are matched to the client, perhaps because of similar health or mental health issues.

Interpreting

The WBP works with Deaf and hearing interpreters who have experience in mental health interpreting.

Interpreting is provided in different settings, such as:

  • One to one contracted therapy counselling sessions
  • Meetings with the WBP consulting psychiatrist
  • Individual therapy
  • Group therapy
  • Mental health workshops
  • Drug and alcohol services, including Narcotics Anonymous (NA), Crystal Meth Addiction (CMA), and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
  • Mental health appointments

If you have any questions about interpreting or what the booking process looks like, you can email or call office.

Contact Us

Therapy Groups

The Well-Being Program runs different groups at different times.
Read below for more details on each of the groups and see if it is beneficial for you or someone. If you have questions or want to join, you can contact the office.

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)

WBP offers a type of group therapy called “CBT” What is this group for? It is for learning how to cope with Depression in one’s life.

What does CBT mean? The C stands for Cognitive, which also means thoughts, while the B stands for Behavioral, and the T stands for Therapy.

The expectation is that participants would attend a group therapy session once a week, up to a minimum of 5 months.

There are four (4) modules each to where we teach lessons, and provide training to group members. These are split into: thoughts; activities; relationships; and emotions.

In each module, participants would attend to learn new skills about thoughts and behaviours that both influence emotions and moods and would learn tips to improve their mood and recognize how their thoughts affect their behaviour and that changes in behaviour will improve their mood.

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) Group

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) helps people learn how to better control their feelings, behaviors, and thoughts.

Clients come every week to individual and group sessions for one year.

Clients learn skills, such as mindfulness, relationship skills, how to control emotions, and how to cope with stressful situations.

Anger Management Group

The Anger Management Group helps people learn skills to control their anger.

Clients come to group sessions every week for a minimum of four months.

Clients learn skills to help them better control their emotions and actions, feel less angry and more peaceful, and improve relationships.

Connect Parenting Group

CONNECT is a 10-week program for parents of children with behavioral problems or other mental health issues.

The program helps parents to understand how their child’s behaviour expresses certain needs and emotions and to develop healthy relationship with their children.