We are proud to share with you the exciting success of a new program model that JFS is currently piloting!
Accessible mental health care is a core service provided by JFS. High-quality mental health services are essential for all people, yet they can often be out of reach for people experiencing poverty.
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered our lives and society, leading to a substantial increase in demand for affordable support through JFS' counselling programs. As more individuals sought assistance, waitlists for both the intern counselling program and registered counsellors were established and lengthened to 6-12 months, and JFS stopped advertising the program.
Long waitlists persisted through the end of 2023, but in January 2024, the counselling team, in collaboration with JFS leadership, implemented a new program model. By June 2024, we were able to connect all of the clients who were still in need of counselling to a therapist and, as of November 2024, there is no delay for services for new clients!
Leeya Schachter, JFS Manager of Counselling Services, attributes the success to two interrelated factors: a high-quality intern program and a shift to contracting registered counsellors instead of employing them full-time.
The JFS Counselling Intern Program
Counselling interns are in the last stages of their Master’s programs. Three times a year, a new cohort of 3-5 interns joins JFS for eight months of hands-on experience with clients. Each intern has a caseload of 10-12 clients, totaling around 20-25 clients during their eight-month internship.
The internship program offers a high-quality experience to counselling students, who are well-supported by the team of registered counsellors and receive weekly supervision. The comprehensive training offered by the counselling team attracts skilled and dedicated students, who value the training and experience they gain.
Many of the students express a desire to stay on with JFS to continue to give back to the community once they finish their degree and registered counsellor certification. For Leeya, this opened opportunities to address staffing gaps at JFS.
Contracted Registered Counsellors
From January to June 2024, JFS began transitioning to hiring registered counsellors on 6-month renewable contracts. This shift has provided better flexibility for both clients and counsellors, allowing them to schedule sessions outside of typical office hours, and more flexibility for JFS to adjust the number of contract employees as needed.
An advantage of this contract model is that JFS can offer opportunities to interns who wish to stay on after completing their internship. Currently, all five counsellors who finished their internship in May 2024 have chosen to remain with JFS on a contract basis. As a result of their increased capacity, the counselling team has managed to keep waitlists at bay and have begun actively advertising for their programs once again.
“Paid Volunteerism”
JFS counselling service fees are determined on a sliding scale: $15-25 per session for intern counselling and $40-110 per session for registered counsellors. Even at the highest end of the scale, these rates are considerably lower than average for a registered counsellor in BC.
Part of what allows JFS to offer these reduced rates is the dedication and commitment of the contracted registered counsellors to JFS’ mission and values, and the desire to continue working with and giving back to the community.
Leeya compares the flat rate paid to registered counsellors per session to a form of “paid volunteerism” — lower than what those counsellors would earn in private practice but still a sufficient living wage for Vancouver. She anticipates that contractors will likely remain with JFS for 1-2 years, gaining experience while giving back, and simultaneously building their careers in private practice or with the health authorities. These contract positions can then be offered to newly graduated interns, creating a sustainable model for clients, counsellors, and JFS alike.
As always, funding from dedicated community supporters and donors continue to be a key component that allows these programs to continue training highly-qualified counsellors and offering compassionate, affordable care to people who may otherwise be unable to access therapy.
Interested in Counselling Services?
If you or someone you know is looking for counselling services from these dedicated and skilled counsellors, you can find more information about JFS counselling services or fill out our online intake form.