Counselling Connect
Back to school can be stressful for many – and even more so with current uncertainty and safety concerns.
“During counselling sessions with children, youth and parents, we hear there has been an increase in back-to-school anxiety for children and that some parents are struggling to get children back into routines,” said Katrina Hutchingame, a counsellor with Family Services Ottawa who provides counselling to youth and adults.
As parents’ and children’s stress rise, Counselling Connect (www.counsellingconnect.org) reminds parents, youth and children that single session counselling appointments are available in Ottawa and the surrounding region. Some services are available seven days per week, and in English and French. Arabic counselling is available for adults. There is no waiting list.
The phone or video counselling sessions are free.
“There are signs parents should watch for,” said Stacey Karuhanga, a child and family counsellor with Crossroads Children’s Mental Health Centre. “From increased gaming, to long-lasting sadness or irritability, extremely high and low moods, social withdrawal, dramatic changes in eating or sleeping habits, and more. If someone in your life is exhibiting these symptoms don’t hesitate to reach out to talk to a mental health professional through Counselling Connect.”
Counselling Connect services are provided by more than 100 counsellors of diverse backgrounds and experience including Indigenous communities; African, Caribbean and Black communities; other racialized communities; and LGBT2SQ+ communities. Their perspectives and approaches bring a lot of value to clients.
Counselling Connect counsellors are from more than 20 agencies, including community health centres, Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health, Muslim Family Services, Youth Services Bureau, Family Services Ottawa, Crossroads Children’s Mental Health Centre and more.