Social Work Services Overview
At Your Counselling, our social workers bring with them a variety of personal and professional experiences, specialties, and unique perspectives. In our experiences, we have found the social determinants of health, which includes factors like finances, housing, access to community resources, and social supports, play a large role on a person’s mental health. We recognize that there are service gaps in our system which then creates additional challenges and barriers.
The purpose of our Social Work Clinic is to offer holistic and wrap-around care that not only promotes one’s mental health well-being, but also supports other areas of your life. We work with individuals and families to navigate what supports are right for them, through assessment, professional guidance, and clinical support. The conversation begins with a comprehensive assessment to capture all the variables impacting your life.. We utilize this information to create a treatment plan that is individualistic and targets your areas of concern, in a way that is manageable and realistic.
Program Overview
Accessing social work services is often challenging and requires referrals, eligibility screenings, and engagement with varying services. To reduce barriers for clients, Your Counselling’s Social Work Clinic offers accessible and timely appointments to a variety of services that you or your loved ones need. It’s ideal for individuals and families who are unable to access existing community supports, where services are unavailable, or where supports are difficult to access. The program’s goal is to address service gaps and reduce barriers, so that you and your family can access the support that you need. This service is open to anyone who needs support, reassurance, or simply someone to talk to when life feels overwhelming.
Service Area | Description |
| Financial & Benefits Navigation | We help you explore and apply for provincial and federal benefits if you or a loved one: ● Have no or low income |
| Housing Stabilization & Supports | We guide individuals and families through Calgary’s housing system to: ● Apply for affordable housing options |
| Case Management and Assessment | We provide short- and long-term hands-on support, including: ● Coordinated services |
| Family & Life Transition Support | We ease the stress of major life changes by: ● Helping you prepare for transitions (birth, loss, school, health changes) |
| Legal & Planning Support | We assist with situations where extra protection is needed by: ● Guiding families through guardianship, trusteeship, and planning options |
Financial & Benefits Navigation
Objective: Help you apply for, appeal, or explore financial and health benefits.
Examples of Services:
- Income Support
- Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH)
- Disability Tax Credit (DTC)
- Canada Pension Plan Disability (CPP-D)
- Seniors’ finances and benefits
- Medication coverage
Who It’s For:
- People with permanent or temporary disabilities
- Individuals/families facing financial challenges
- Anyone overwhelmed about where to start
- Parents with children or elderly relatives needing support
- People with no income who are struggling to make ends meet
Housing Stabilization & Supports
Objective: Explore housing options in Calgary and support those struggling to maintain their current housing.
Examples of Services:
- Housing needs assessment
- Applications for housing agencies
- Writing advocacy letters
- General supports to maintain housing
- Navigation of housing-related resources
Who It’s For:
- Individuals or families struggling to find/keep housing
- Seniors beginning to struggle with independent living
- Parents planning ahead for children’s housing needs
Case Management & Assessment
Objective: Provide ongoing support by assessing needs, setting goals, and walking alongside you through the process.
Examples of Services:
- Biopsychosocial assessment (understanding strengths, barriers, and needs)
- Developing treatment plans and goals with you
- Identifying what’s working and what can improve
- Navigating and connecting you to resources based on your goals, needs, and wants.
- Coordinating services, building supportive relationships, and advocating with providers
Who It’s For:
- Individuals or families with multiple/complex needs
- Professionals seeking structured support
- Anyone feeling stuck on where or how to start
- Healthcare professionals, and even other social workers!
Family & Life Transition Support
Objective: Support during major life changes that may feel overwhelming.
Examples of Services:
- Preparing for a new child
- End-of-life planning or coping with loss
- Dementia care navigation
- Transitioning into or out of school/post-secondary
- Finding community supports for family wellbeing
Who It’s For:
- New parents
- Families anticipating or coping with loss
- Graduates starting the next stage of life
- People with new diagnoses or health conditions
- Anyone experiencing challenges/barriers with pivotal life moments
Legal & Planning Support
Objective: Help plan for decision-making when someone cannot do so themselves.
Examples of Services:
- Guardianship and/or Trusteeship
- Capacity assessments
- Power of Attorney
Who It’s For:
- Families of loved ones unable to make medical or financial decisions
- Individuals wanting someone to formally manage decisions on their behalf
- Preparing for moments when this may be required, or if further assessment would be beneficial in determining if this might be needed.
How to Access Services
To access the Social Work Clinic, individuals or service providers can contact our reception team at 403-668-7561 or email socialwork@yourcounselling.ca, indicating their interest in social work services.
Once your inquiry is received, our administrative team will arrange a consultation call with one of our social workers. During this call, the social worker will gather initial information, answer questions, and help identify which service areas best align with your needs.
Following the consultation, the social worker will schedule a comprehensive assessment session and send you the required intake and consent forms to complete beforehand. This assessment allows us to better understand your goals and develop a personalized plan to support you in managing your concerns.
What You Get from Your Counselling Ltd – Social Work Services
We recognize that it’s hard to focus on your mental health when external stressors—like lack of resources, financial worries, or housing concerns—are weighing you down. Our social work clinic is here to ease those burdens so you can focus on healing.
Our Approach
- One-stop support: We help with both mental and practical needs, so you and your loved ones feel cared for as a whole.
- Holistic perspective: We see you as a complete person—physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, cultural, and social—not from a deficit focused lens.
- Client-centered: You are the expert of your own life. We walk alongside you, pointing out choices, highlighting strengths, and supporting you in reaching your goals.
- Therapy + social work balance: Therapy allows you to focus on your inner healing and mental wellbeing. Social Work services provide you a space to create change with the external challenges that impact your wellbeing.
For more questions, please contact our Client Services Team to be connected with the social worker for a consultation, in order to better understand your needs.