WESTVILLLE - A new counselling centre in Westville will provide low-cost services to the people who fall between the cracks.
Christian Ministries Counselling Centre is a not-for-profit service that aims to fill the gap in the current system, says Joe Van Buskirk, a member of the finance committee for the organization.
"This service is something that fits in between pure public and pure private counselling," explained Van Buskirk. "If people went the public route, through Mental Health, they wouldn't have to pay but there would be a long wait to get in. If they went private, they'd have to pay high fees, but there's no wait."
The centre offers affordable counselling to anyone who needs it on a sliding scale, which allows people to access their services while paying what they can. No one is refused for lack of payment ability - because the service is not-for-profit, it has a financial committee behind it to fundraise for the centre.
Done in an intimate setting for one to three people, the sessions remain private.
The counselling provided isn't just for Christians, either, he added, while that is available as well. All people will be treated respectfully regardless of their belief system and lifestyle choices, Van Buskirk said, and there will be no attempts to force clients to change their belief systems to a Christian view.
The service is also more accessible to clients.
"You don't need a doctor or a minister to refer you," Van Buskirk said. "You can call up and say, 'I have a need, can you see me,' and we can arrange a session."
Counselling is provided two days a week in pretty much every area, ranging from gambling addictions to marital counselling.
No prescriptions are available, however, as there are no psychologists on site to dispense them.
The program is a satellite office for the Truro-based organization, which has been running for 15 years now with four full-time counsellors. Locally, one counsellor will work two days a week to get the program off the ground.
"People travel from Guysborough to access the service in Truro - we're just trying to make this more accessible," Van Buskirk said.
In Truro, he added, the public system isn't able to accommodate couples counselling, which is automatically referred to the Christian Counselling Ministries office there.
A satellite office has already opened in Sackville with great success, Van Buskirk said.
"We're not even breaking new ground here," he said.
It's hoped that eventually, the Pictou County program will expand to offer additional youth services in the area, similar to what's being done in Truro.
So far, he said, county residents seem to be supporting the program.
"We had more than 40 people attend the opening - we had representatives down from Truro and they said they'd never had this kind of response before," he said.
The centre is located at 1905 Main St., Westville, across from Lawton's, and is wheelchair accessible.
Anyone interested in accessing the service can visit the website at www.ccmin.ca, call the office and leave a message at 695-3590, or fax a request to 695-3591.
FUNDRAISER
Because the Christian Ministries Counselling Centre offers counselling at a cost county residents can afford, fundraisers are currently being planned to offset the costs.
The first event planned is a sit-down dinner at the Holiday Inn Express in Stellarton, says Joe Van Buskirk, a member of the finance committee for the organization.
The evening will be held just in time for Valentine's Day, on Feb. 13, and will also feature a silent auction during the dinner. A jazz band will provide entertainment during the evening.
Tickets are $35 each and are available through the manager of the Holiday Inn or by calling Van Buskirk at 752-5193.
