The Lower Mainland Purpose Society is a non-profit social service agency whose mission is to deliver a continuum of social, health, educational and residential services.
These services are designed for individuals, youth and families, who are subject to personal and/or societal distress, marginalization and alienation.
Services Offered
Family Programs * Family Therapy - The Purpose Society provides brief, professional therapy to assist families in identifying critical issues that may interfere with their ability to make creative and effective choices. Presenting issues may include parental coping, relationship concerns, family integration, anger management, family dynamics, or historical abuse affecting parenting.
* Links Family Therapy - The Purpose Society provides brief, professional outreach therapy to assist families in addressing the complexities of parenting and family interactions when there are mental health or behavioural issues present or emerging. Presenting issues may include parental coping, relationship concerns, family integration, family dynamics, or behavioural concerns.
Integrated Youth Services Youth and Family Development Work - Purpose Society provides the Youth and Family Development Work funded by the Ministry of Children and Family Development for New Westminster. The Society has delivered youth services in New Westminster since 1988, initially under the Reconnect program, and then since 2004 under the Youth and Family Development program.
This program encompasses four areas of youth work: > Transition to IndependenceYFD Workers provide support to youth on Youth Agreements or other forms of independent living means. They assist them with housing, lifeskills and the development of social/emotional supports, in order to facilitate a healthy and productive transition to independence.
> Family Support and ReunificationYFD Workers provide support and guidance to youth and their families. They assist family members in addressing family dynamic challenges that affect the youth/parent relationship, as well as issues relating to mental health, complex behaviors and/or addiction.
> Youth JusticeYFD Workers work with youth involved in the youth justice system. This includes: Providing Intensive Supervision and Support (ISSP) Monitoring probationary curfews Overseeing Community Work Service
> Sexually Exploited YouthYFD workers engage with youth who are at high risk of becoming sexually or actively involved in sexual exploitation.
A community counseling agency is a group therapy practice that offers affordable mental health services. Most are independent non-profit agencies, state agencies, or publicly-funded agencies. A few may restrict who is eligible for services, so it is a good idea to check when you call.
Community counseling agencies are generally more affordable than other therapy providers, but how much more affordable they are will depend on whether you qualify for a discount or sliding scale fee (or if they accept your insurance). Many, but not all, have a policy that they won't turn away anyone due to inability to pay. You should ask about their fees when you first call.
Expect to talk to kind people who want to help you find the care you need. Most community agencies strive to connect you with a live person within 24 hours, if not immediately. If you're asked to hold or leave a message, don't give up; just leave a message and wait. You should hear back pretty quickly.
Most agencies try to set up an initial assessment appointment within a week (some do within 24 hours), though the waitlist to start therapy is usually longer—about a few weeks on average. If you're not eligible or if the agency is not right for you, it's usually still worth it to call or drop in, because staff are knowledgeable about local options and can often refer you to one.
