Yorktown Family Services is a vital community resource for thousands of children, youth, women and families in Toronto's west end. We strive to empower individuals and families to enjoy healthy relationships and community life. We deliver our services through Yorktown Child and Family Centre and Yorktown Shelter for Women.
Services Offered
Child and Youth Mental Health Services * Child and Youth Mental Health Services - Yorktown Child and Family Centre (YCFC) offers a full continuum of mental health services for children and youth from birth to eighteen years of age and their families or caregivers. Professionally qualified mental health staff work within a multi-disciplinary framework to ensure a comprehensive and holistic approach to child, youth and family needs. Clinicians use evidence-informed practices and a range of therapeutic skills and counselling modalities, to address diverse social, emotional, and behavioural challenges that children, youth, and families present with. The length of counselling depends on client needs and what the child, youth or family want to accomplish collaboratively as a result of counselling. All situations are unique and services are individualized to address a family's specific situation.
* what's up walk-in - Immediate mental health counselling for children, youth, young adults and their families, and families with infants is available at the what's up walk-in clinic.
* Specialized Groups - An early intervention program for children who witness or are exposed to woman abuse. The program provides group opportunities for children 4 to 16 years and their mothers to explore the effects of violence on the child and family. The program runs for 10 weeks and is offered 3 times a year.
Violence Against Women Services * Here to Help Program - Here to Help is a treatment and prevention program that serves to break the cycle of violence. The program treats mothers who have been abused, as well as their children who have experienced the trauma of witnessing and/or experiencing violence at home. The program focuses on: improving communications between mother and child; developing effective parenting and problem solving skills that benefit both mother and child; and, decreasing the prevalence of isolation that exists amongst families that have experienced violence.
Fees and Payment
Services offered are free of charge.
This is a registered charity.
Services Offered To: Adults Couples Teens Children
Special Groups: Bilingual LGBTQ
Payment: Sliding Scale Pro-bono
Online Counseling: During COVID-19
Could You 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.
