At COSTI we understand that success means different things to different people. By filling people's lives with opportunities for success, we're helping build a strong and prosperous community.
Meeting the needs of a diverse society since 1952, COSTI Immigrant Services is a community-based multicultural agency providing employment, educational, settlement and social services to all immigrant communities, new Canadians and individuals in need of assistance.
Services Offered
Family and Mental Health Services * Generic Counselling - COSTI's Family and Mental Health Services offers culturally competent and confidential counselling services in a supportive environment to Italian Canadian individuals, couples and families in Toronto and York Region. The centres are staffed with Italian and English speaking skilled professional counsellors who provide help and support with issues ranging from anxiety, depression, and stress management to relationship and family problems, parent/child conflict, parenting, communication, separation, divorce, sexual abuse and childhood trauma, and elder care.
> One-to-one counselling > Couples counselling > Family counselling > Referrals to community supports and services such as the Community Care Access Centre, Community Occupational Therapist Association, etc > Legal aid clinic with Italian speaking lawyers > Case consultation to service providers > Women's Support Group, for women diagnosed with depression > Education and outreach to the Italian-Canadian community on social issues > Family Education Workshops on depression, anxiety, etc
* Violence Against Women - COSTI Family and Mental Health Services Centre offers confidential and culturally competent Italian and English one-on-one supportive and crisis counselling and a support group for women experiencing abuse. The Centre also offers one-on-one counselling to children who have witnessed or experienced abuse.
> One-on-one supportive and crisis counselling to Italian women and children > Safety planning > Referrals to community supports and resources > Legal aid clinics with Italian speaking lawyers > Referrals to shelters and housing programs > Educational and support groups for women experiencing abuse > Telephone counselling > Transitional support worker
Problem Gambling Services COSTI's Problem Gambling Service, uses a model of intervention that is culturally based and linguistically appropriate, incorporating a harm reduction approach, and motivational, cognitive, behavioural and solution focused counselling.
Women's Services * Learning Together Women's Depression Group - COSTI's Learning Together Women's Depression Group is an open psycho-educational support group offered to Italian-speaking women diagnosed with depression. Learning Together offers women support, information on symptom management, and culturally tailored interventions to cope with depression. This gives women the opportunity to develop a support network, learn coping skills and reduce their isolation.
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.
