Our therapists are highly qualified Registered Social Workers, Psychologists and Mediators with many years of practical experience in their respective fields. Elgin Counselling & Mediation Centre has been serving the community since August 1996.
We are located at 19 Queen St (corner of Queen St & Centre St) St Thomas, Ontario. At the present time we are under contract by the Ministry of Children and Youth, Youth Justice Services to provide counselling and mental health services for youth 12-17 on probation. This treatment encompasses individual, relationship, family and group counselling as dictated by client need.
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Services Offered
Counselling Services * Individual, Relationship and Family Counselling - is available for: > Anxiety > Depression > Low Self Esteem > Coping with Chronic Illness > Grief and Bereavement > Post Traumatic Stress > Stress Management > Addictions > Eating Disorders > Anger Management > Sexual Assault Survivors > Systems Relationships > Conflict Management > Conflict Resolution > Separation/Divorce Counselling > Parent/ Teen Relations > Effective Parenting > Life Skills Management > Life Styles Management > Leisure Awareness
* Group Counselling - Groups are run for: > Anger Management > Sexual Assault Survivors > Self Awareness for Women > Marriage Preparation > Marriage Enrichment > Photovoice (See Youth Justice Services for more information)
* Traumatic stress and post-traumatic stress - Elgin Counselling & Mediation Centre provides a team of mental health professionals trained and experienced in dealing with traumatic stress and post traumatic stress.
Our team provides five levels of response: > Stress and Traumatic Stress Education > On-scene Support > Post event Debriefings/Defusings > Individual Counselling > Follow-up support for individuals and their families
Fees and Payment
Fees are NOT covered by OHIP.
Hourly sessions have a fixed rate. Social work interns are available to see clients at a considerably reduced rate. Extended Health Care Benefits can cover a portion of the fees depending on individual policies. In some instances it is possible for us to bill directly on behalf of clients.
Many of the therapists at the Centre are affiliated with external Employee Assistance Programs in addition to the in-house program operated out of the Centre. These Employee Assistance Programs may cover a portion of the cost of counselling, often on a short term basis.
Non-Insured Health Benefits for Canada's First Nations and Inuit Health Branch may also cover the cost of counselling for a prescribed period of time. We have several social workers that work with the non-insured health benefits program.
Services Offered To: Adults Teens
Special Groups: Bilingual
Payment: Sliding Scale
If You Call, Please Let Us Know How it Went:
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.