By Spencer Sterritt

New urgent counselling walk-in clinic opening in Nanaimo

Feb 2, 2017 | 3:37 PM

NANAIMO — A new urgent counselling walk-in clinic hopes to help supplement therapy options in Nanaimo.

The Island Integrated Counselling Society will open the doors for a clinic in the Georgia Avenue Community School on Friday, Feb. 10.

Society co-executive director Ian Gartshore said their clinic will offer quick drop-in sessions, usually lasting 45 minutes. It’s modelled on the Crisis Walk-in Clinic at Brooks Landing, which is operated by Island Health.

“That kind of model, of single session therapy, can be extremely effective getting people unstuck or see something from a new perspective,” he said.

The therapists at the clinic won’t provide just mental health support.

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Gartshore said they’ll assist clients anyway they can, such as helping someone recently divorced discover new resources to put their lives back on track.

He said the “unfortunate reality” is there’s not enough money for mental health and counselling, which leads to issues festering and developing into larger health problems.

To prevent problems from spiralling out of hand, the walk-in clinic is provided free of charge.

Gartshore said their therapists are working pro bono to improve their skills and gain new experiences while the use of the school is being offered for “next to nothing.”

He estimated the clinic will be able to remain open for less than $4,000 a year.

It will be open from 4 to 8 p.m. every Friday.

Spencer.sterritt@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit