After housing, access to affordable counselling is one of the biggest concerns for Victoria Brain Injury Society clients.
With that in mind, the society offers a new program providing free, one-on-one counselling to help survivors cope with the emotional and mental health challenges that often come with a brain injury.
"Living with an acquired brain injury can be incredibly isolating, and mental health support is a key part of recovery," executive director Pam Prewett said in a news release. "With this program, we want to provide survivors with the professional support they need to navigate life after injury."
The Victoria Brain Injury Society is a non-profit founded in 1983 and dedicated to empowering individuals with acquired brain injuries by providing personalized and group support, advocacy, education, and housing assistance. The society serves more than 660 clients annually with more than 360 new clients reaching out each year.
Part of the society’s ongoing effort to offer well-rounded support, the program is free for clients and provided by practicum students from the University of Victoria’s counselling psychology program. The students work under the supervision of experienced clinicians to ensure high-quality care. The program also gives future counsellors hands-on experience working with brain injury survivors, a population that is often underserved in mental health services.
This new program is part of the society’s ongoing effort to offer well-rounded support to acquired brain injury survivors and their families. The Victoria Brain Injury Society is also looking at ways to expand the program by bringing in second-year internship students.
For more information and other resources visit vbis.ca or call 250-598-9339.
