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Woman in counselling session

Counselling

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Family Services Durham (FSD) provides individual, couple and family counselling and psychotherapy to people who live or work in Durham Region. We provide help for a variety of problems.

Service is offered in-person, by telephone or by video.

Request service

Call 311 or toll-free at 1-888-721-0622, Monday-Friday 9 am to 5 pm.

Arrangements will be made for you to speak with an Intake worker. They will gather information and assess your situation. If they assess FSD’s services cannot meet your needs, information about other community supports and resources will be provided.

What happens during counselling and psychotherapy

During your first appointment, your counsellor will spend time getting to know you. They will gather information about your situation and work with you to find out what you want to achieve in your sessions.

Each appointment takes about 50 minutes.

Many types of therapy are offered, including:

  • Solution-focused therapy
  • Cognitive behavioural therapy
  • Emotionally focused therapy
  • Narrative therapy
  • Trauma therapy
  • Feminist-informed therapy
  • Dialectical behaviour therapy 
  • Psychoeducation
  • Mindfulness
  • Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing 
Problems we can help with

FSD can help you find solutions to many types of problems that are mild to moderate in severity. These can include:

  • Abuse (past or current)
  • Anger
  • Anxiety
  • Bullying
  • Communication and conflict resolution
  • Couple or family conflict
  • Depression
  • Substance misuse
  • Grief and loss
  • Parenting
  • Relationship problems
  • Self-esteem
  • Self-harm
  • Separation and divorce
  • Sexuality or gender issues
  • Social problems
  • Stress
  • Trauma
Confidentiality

Information you share with intake staff and your counsellor will remain confidential. We will only release it if we are legally required to tell other professionals.

FSD cannot take a position in third-party matters, which may include situations involving:

  • Employers
  • Family members
  • Legal issues
  • Insurance claims
Consent for children to attend service

FSD offers counselling and psychotherapy to parents/caregivers and families with children of all ages. FSD offers direct service to children aged six and older. If parents or caregivers are separated or divorced, they may both need to provide consent.

Children aged 12 and older have the legal right to consent to counselling and psychotherapy on their own behalf. We cannot share information about their service with anyone without their written consent. This includes parents and caregivers.

Our professional credentials

The Canadian Centre for Accreditation (CCA) accredits Family Services Durham.

Our counsellors are:

  • Social workers
  • Psychotherapists

They have Masters-level training. Each is a member of at least one of the following:

  • The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Services Workers (OCSWSSW)
  • The College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO)

We also offer specialized counselling to the following people:

Survivors of abuse or assault
We provide counselling to:
  • Adult abuse survivors.
  • Children and youth who have witnessed or experienced domestic abuse.
  • Survivors of past or recent sexual abuse or assault.
  • Victims of internet child exploitation and their immediate family members.
Individuals with abusive behaviour

We provide counselling to people who use abusive behaviour towards others.

We also offer a Partner Assault Response (PAR) Program for people who are referred by the Crown Attorney's Office, or their probation and parole officer. The PAR program may accept voluntary clients who have no outstanding partner assault charges.

Male survivors of sexual abuse/assault
We provide free counselling to men age 16 and older affected by past or recent sexual abuse or assault. This program also offers support to their partners or family members.

Locations and hours

Daytime and evening appointments are available.

In-person appointments are offered at the following locations throughout Durham Region, with hours varying by location:

  • Ajax
  • Beaverton
  • Bowmanville
  • Cannington
  • Oshawa
  • Port Perry
  • Uxbridge
  • Whitby
Durham Regional Headquarters (main office)

605 Rossland Road East
Whitby, Ontario L1N 6A3
Phone: 311 or toll-free 1-888-721-0622

Hours:

Monday to Thursday: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Ajax

339 Westney Road South, Suite #103
Ajax, Ontario L1S 7J6
Phone: 311 or toll-free 1-888-721-0622

Hours:

Monday to Thursday: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Bowmanville

234 King Street East, Unit #4
Bowmanville, Ontario L1C 1P5
Phone: 311 or toll-free 1-888-721-0622

Hours:

Monday, Thursday and Friday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesday and Wednesday: 1 to 9 p.m. 

For a complete list of office locations and hours, please call 311 or 1-888-721-0622 (toll free).

Counselling fees

OHIP does not cover fees for counselling or psychotherapy.

The fee for service is set during the Intake process based on your household income.

Fees for in-person sessions are due at the beginning of each appointment. Fees for remote sessions are due upon receipt of your invoice. Payments can be made by cash, cheque, e-transfer, or debit where available.

Receipts are provided for payment. You can claim counselling fees as a medical expense on your income tax return. Some private health insurance plans also cover counselling fees. Registered Social Workers and Psychotherapists are considered medical practitioners for the purpose of the Medical Expense Tax Credit.

Philosophy, mission, vision and values

Philosophy statement

To provide a caring, compassionate environment where people can recognize and develop their own capacity for change.

Our philosophy is the foundation upon which we strive to:

  • Improve the well-being of our community.
  • Contribute to our field of practice.
  • Promote our expertise and reputation in the community.
  • Encourage continuous quality improvement and learning.
Vision
Strong people, caring communities, our future.
Mission
Supporting people to realize their own capacity for growth and change.
Values

Our service philosophy, vision, and mission are guided by the following values:

Client-focused

  • Creating a positive and satisfying service experience by focusing on individual needs and strengths, promoting self-reliance and individual empowerment.

Professional

  • Maintaining high service standards, including confidentiality and ethics.
  • Using evidence-based/informed approaches, and measuring client satisfaction to ensure responsive services.

Respect

  • Recognizing the inherent value and worth of each individual.
  • Promoting open communication, mutual and shared understanding, and commitment.

Excellence

  • Inspiring people to be the best they can be.
  • Maintaining service excellence for our clients and our community.

Continuous learning

  • Encouraging creativity, learning and growth, and sharing specialized knowledge and expertise with others.

Accountability

  • Following responsible and ethical practice, and making efficient use of resources.

Quality

  • Focusing on continuous improvement by monitoring and evaluating how services make a difference for clients and the Region.

Inclusiveness

  • Embracing diversity and providing responsive services in meeting client needs.
  • Providing services to all residents and employees of Durham Region regardless of income or ability to pay.

Collaboration

  • Working together with community partners to support client and community well-being.

FSD is accredited and registered

FSD is accredited by the Canadian Centre for Accreditation. It meets the certification requirements of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW), and the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO). FSD is a member of Family Service Ontario, Family Service Canada, and Family Services Employee Assistance Programs (FSEAP).

FSD is part of the Social Services Department, which was awarded the Order of Excellence from Excellence Canada in 2015. This accomplishment is a result of staff engagement surveys, cross-divisional work groups, and a demonstration of positive service outcomes for our clients.

FSD is comprised of:

  • Staff skill, expertise and attitude, which contribute to the organization's vitality and strength.
  • Management oversight and monitoring that ensures FSD is accountable and resources are used to maximum benefit.
  • Programs that respond to community needs and input.
  • Servant leaders who want to help others be the best they can be.

Guiding principles of FSD

Family Services Durham's guiding principles focus on caring, integrity and responsibility. 

Caring: Show compassion and empathy for others.

Integrity: Ethical, reliable and genuine.

Responsibility: Accountable for making good decisions.

Resources and Information

  • Resources for Crisis and Mental Health Support
  • Resources for Basic Needs and Community Connection
  • Intimate Abuse - Information and Safety Planning Resources
  • Depression Information and Resources
  • Anxiety Information and Resources
  • Understanding and Coping with Stress
  • Strategies for Healthy Communication
  • Understanding and Coping with Grief
  • Understanding and Coping with Grief Due to Violent Crime
  • Supporting Grieving Children and Youth

More information about mental health

To Express a Concern About Our Service

To express a concern about the service you have received, first speak with your counsellor/worker. If you are not comfortable doing so or your concern is not addressed, call 311 or 1-888-721-0622 (toll free) and ask to speak with a Family Services Durham (FSD) Manager. If your concern remains, you can contact the FSD Director’s office at 905-668-4113 ext. 2775. If your concern is still not addressed, you may appeal to the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers or the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario, based on the counsellor’s professional association.

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