The Prince George Community Counselling Centre is usually the one providing help but right now they’re asking for some.
The Centre, which is celebrating its 10th year in the community, provides low-barrier, low-cost counselling for those who couldn’t otherwise afford or have access to it.
As a non-profit, they’ve been having a hard time making ends meet and they’re appealing to the community for a little bit of help.
Deanna West, Fundraising Coordinator for the Centre, told MyPGNow that students from UNBC studying their Masters in Counselling get to do their practicums there under supervision.
Clients pay up to $20.00 per session.
“We don’t refuse anyone service because they can’t pay, that’s not our mandate, we want to make sure that counselling is accessible to everybody. At the same time, we get practice so that we can stay in the community and be well trained clinicians after that,” said West.
They’re organizing an event to raise the funds they need to keep their doors open to the 300-500 clients who use their services every year.
“The option was close our doors or reach out to the community to see if they would help us keep our doors open. We’re pretty important to the people who come and use our services and we don’t want to shut down. We’re doing everything that we can to stay open.”
Through the fundraiser, they are hoping to raise half a year’s rent, $18,000.00, a goal that West admits is optimistic.
“It’s a very lofty goal, but if we could get that, it would be amazing,” she said.
The loss of the Centre, which is the only one of its kind in Prince George, would affect more than just those who need counselling.
“Not only would it be a massive hit to the clients, who wouldn’t get services anymore, it would be a hit to the counselling program because we wouldn’t be able to put out as many counsellors who stay in the area,” she said.
For tickets and more information on the Community Counselling Centre, you can follow this link.
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