Mental Health Counselling and Support Services - For Refugees and Newcomers

Immigrant and Refugee Services, Mental Health - Adult, and Mental Health - Child & Youth

Provided by Vancouver Association for the Survivors of Torture (VAST)

Trauma-focused psychological counselling and support services for refugees and newcomers in one-on-one and group settings.
VAST uses psycho-education, emotional self-regulation, and information sharing to prepare clients for short-term refugee claim and long-term settlement processes. It works with refugees from over 100 countries in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America.
Services Include:

Individual Counseling:VAST one-on-one counselling is delivered by experienced clinicians in-person and online. Individual counselling is available in English, Spanish and Farsi; additionally, interpretation is available in 23 languages. To register, see the application form below.

Group Support: VAST provides trauma-focused psychological group counselling in hybrid mode. Psycho-education, emotional self-regulation and information sharing prepare VAST clients for the short-term refugee claim and long-term settlement processes. Click here to check for available groups.

Psycholegal Documentation:Upon a lawyer's request, the client's eligibility is assessed, and if approved, qualified mental health and medical professionals led by VAST's Clinical Supervisor produce assessment letters. The documentation is provided only upon careful consultation with clients. Click here for Psycholegal Documentation Request Form.

778-372-6593

Public email: referrals@vast-vancouver.ca

Website: https://www.vastbc.ca/#vast-services

VAST Vancouver Office - 2610 Victoria Drive, Vancouver, British Columbia, V5N 4L2

Vast Surrrey Office - #301, 10334 152 Street, Surrey, British Columbia, V3R 4G8

Service is available in Arabic, English, Farsi, French, Mandarin, and Spanish.

Interpreter available upon request.

Cost: No cost

Supplementary Forms
Associated Programs/Services

Also offered by Vancouver Association for the Survivors of Torture (VAST):

Availability

Service area: Surrey, Vancouver + show cities

Service area cities: Surrey and Vancouver

Service Types Provided
Immigrant and Refugee Services
Mental Health - Adult
Mental Health - Child & Youth
Ways to Access
  • Provided 1:1 in-person
  • Provided at a single location
  • Provided in a group in-person

The listing of this service in Pathways is not a recommendation or endorsement by Pathways.

Pathways does not provide medical advice. If you have an emergency please call 9-1-1. If you require assistance navigating services please call 8-1-1.

For general inquiries or for assistance, please email us:

community-services@pathwaysbc.ca

If you are requesting clinical access to medical Pathways, please provide the following information via the email above:

  1. First Name
  2. Last Name
  3. Email
  4. In which city/town do you work?
  5. What is your role? E.g. Family Physician, Office Staff, Medical Resident
  6. Employer Name (for office staff)
  7. Office Phone

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