Help them rise, watch them soar! That's what we do. The Phoenix Centre for Children and Families is a mental health treatment centre for children and youth 17 and under. We are governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and funded by the government of Ontario.
The Phoenix Centre's roots were planted in Renfrew County in December 1975. Noticing a lack of support and suitable resources for children with emotional and behavioural challenges and their families, the community united to make a change.
Walk-In Counselling for Mental Health and Addictions Our walk-in counselling hours offer immediate assistance for youth and children needing assistance across the county. We provide a 1-hour FREE counselling session that suits your needs and that can help make things better! Sessions are for children and youth 17 years and under. No referral necessary.
Family and Child Treatment * Community Based Services - Referrals are accepted from the community for children ages 0 to 18 and their families. A range of outpatient services is also offered, including individual, family and group counselling and/or treatment.
* Early Years - The purpose of this program is to serve children under 6 years of age and their families who are experiencing mental health issues/concerns. The Early Years service offers a range of programs, including: therapy sessions, in-home support, play therapy workshops, and parent/children's groups. Services will be provided within a collaborative, solution focused, cross-sectoral approach.
* Intensive Services - This is an intensive, home-based program that supports parents as they learn to use positive parenting strategies that promote healthy family relationships. Parents work together with a child and family therapist and child and youth counsellor to identify therapeutic goals that best meet their family's needs.
* Attachment Services - "Attachment" is the deep emotional tie or connection that an infant forms with a primary caregiver. It is determined by the responsiveness of the caregiver. Parents with children between the ages of 0 to 8 years are welcome to call the Phoenix Centre directly for a referral to Attachment Services. Referrals may also come from doctors, schools, and/or other community agencies.
* Trauma Services - Referrals are accepted through our intake process for children who are experiencing issues related to a trauma, such as: witnessing abuse or a traumatic event like physical, sexual and emotional abuse, or death. A specialized assessment is completed and an individualized treatment program is developed.
Fees and Payment
Phoenix Centre is funded by the provincial government so that core treatment services can be provided free of charge.
This is a registered charity.
Services Offered To: Adults Teens Children
Special Groups: Bilingual
Payment: Pro-bono
Online Counseling: Yes
Were You Able To Make an Appointment?
One quick last question. Who was seeking counseling today?
Do you know the reason they are not accepting clients?
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.
