Caregiver Support

Family Involvement & Support Program	Support, counselling, information, and referrals to mental health services are available for clients and their friends and family through Vancouver Coastal Health. VCH’s services include mental wellness information, family education and support groups, mental health supports for families, and consults with families.
The Caregiver Network	The Caregiver Network’s mission is to bring caregivers together to share their experiences. They create a community where you can exchange stories with a network of professionals and other caregivers, find supportive communities, and connect with people who truly understand.
Family Caregivers of BC	Family Caregivers of British Columbia is a registered non-profit dedicated to supporting family caregivers. Their website is a hub for resources, events, connection, and support for caregivers. Attend virtual support groups for caregivers, and find resources including their podcast Caregivers Out Loud which highlights and shares the voices of caregivers.
Alzheimer Society’s Family Caregiver Series	The Family Caregiver Series is a five-session education series for family members caring for a person with dementia. Participants will learn about dementia, practical coping strategies, and early planning.
Caregiver Support Line Toll-free: 1-877-520-3267 (Mon-Fri, 8:30am-7pm)	Contact the support line for information and referral to resources, help with healthcare navigation, emotional support, access to support groups, and access to webinars, articles, and resources. For many caregivers, the support comes from simply knowing they are not alone in their experience.
Caregiver’s C.A.R.E. Tool	Caregivers’ Aspirations, Realities and Expectations (C.A.R.E.) Tool was created by Canadian researchers to develop a comprehensive method of evaluating family caregivers’ needs.

End of Life / Hospice

End-of-Life Care

Supportive and compassionate care that focuses on comfort, quality of life, respect for personal health-care treatment decisions, support for the family, and psychological, cultural, and spiritual concerns for dying people and their families. Palliative care is specialized medical care for people with serious illness – whatever the diagnosis. Care can be provided wherever the client is living, whether at home, in hospice, an assisted living residence or a long-term care home. Find out how to arrange for end-of-life care and palliative care services.

Canadian Virtual Hospice

The Canadian Virtual Hospice provides support and personalized information about palliative and end-of-life care to patients, family members, health care providers, researchers, and educators. A safe place to sort through issues related to death and dying. Their “Ask a Professional” feature, gives Canadians direct access to health specialists online. The online serviceis intended to provide information and support to help make sense in times of confusion, compassion in times of isolation, and reassurance in times of anxiety.

Grief and Bereavement Support

Mary Coleman  Docs on the Bay	Mary Coleman is part of the team at Docs on the Bay in Horseshoe Bay. She offers support for Individuals and couples living with serious illnesses, loss and grief, caregiver stress, and traumatic experiences. Mary has specialized in the field of cancer care, palliative care, grief, and loss for over 12 years in a variety of settings. Please contact her at 778-233-4425 or compassionmindedcounseling@gmail.com
Stephen Barker Counselling	Stephen is a Registered Clinical Counsellor resident on Bowen Island who provides support to adults, children, couples, and families. He practices from a client-centred approach and is trained in Family Systems Therapy, Brief Therapy, and Narrative Therapy. Stephen welcomes clients who are experiencing grief, trauma, serious illness, or caregiver stress. He can be reached at 778-230-4783.
ClearHorizon Counselling	Diane Romer, Registered Clinical Counsellor, offers counselling on Bowen Island. During Covid-19 she is working remotely and can be reached at 604-290-6407. Diane works with adults and couples who are experiencing symptoms of anxiety and/or depression, relational conflict, substance misuse, grief, and trauma. By recognizing the meaning of past experience and the impact on present functioning, clients are able to clear away old beliefs and patterns that get in the way of self-acceptance, happiness, and success.
Bowen Island Integrated Health	Dr. Graeme Saruk and Dr. Karla Saruk are Registered Clinical Psychologists who work with clients to address a wide range of issues and concerns, including depression and grief. Counselling, psychology, and mental health services are available by appointment.  Call 604-947-2270.
Rethink Counselling Services	Rethink is a private counselling service run by Doug Elliott. Doug is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) who offers counselling support to individuals and couples on Bowen Island. He specializes in relationship counselling, anger management and conflict resolution, sexuality issues, and addiction. He also helps clients to deal effectively with depression and anxiety, trauma and abuse, and grief and loss.
Coastal Palliative Care’s Bereavement Support	The Psychosocial Patient and Family Support Team includes patient and family support counsellors, providing confidential counselling and support services to the patients and family members (or caregivers) who are connected to the North Shore Palliative and Supportive Care Program.
BC Bereavement Helpline	The BC Bereavement Helpline is a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to the healthy and wholesome recovery of individuals experiencing grief. 1-877-779-2223 or 604-738-9950.

Information and Referral

Caring Circle Health Resource Centre	Connecting individuals on Bowen Island to health services, social programs, and each other. The centre offers health and wellness information, and personal health navigation for those having difficulty accessing the health services they need. Contact the program director at 604-947-0232 or 604-250-1977.
Community Mental Health Services	Vancouver Coastal Health’s services include the Geriatric Psychiatry Outreach team, which provides comprehensive geriatric psychiatry assessment and treatment. The program is intended for patients over 65 and suffering from dementia, delirium, disruptive behaviour, incontinence, and failure to thrive.
bc211	bc211 is a British Columbia, non-profit organization that provides a free, confidential, multilingual service that links people to resources for help, where and when they need it. They provide information about and referral to support for seniors who are looking for counselling, health care, mental health help, home support, and more.

Mental Wellness

Birch Wellness	Wellness clinic located in Artisan Square on Bowen Island. Provides acupuncture, massage therapy, naturopathic medicine, and counselling. They can be reached at 604-338-5001.
Bowen Island Integrated Health	Counselling, Psychology, and Mental Health services are available by appointment with Dr. Graeme Saruk and Dr. Karla Saruk on Bowen Island. They are Registered Psychologists who provide individual counseling and assessment services. Both have worked extensively with children, adolescents, adults, and families from a wide variety of ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
ClearHorizon Counselling	Diana Romer is a Registered Clinical Counsellor on Bowen Island. Her practice is relationally centred, body oriented, and mindfulness based. She works with adults and couples who are experiencing symptoms of anxiety and/or depression, relational conflict, substance misuse, grief, and trauma. During Covid-19, Diane is working remotely and can be reached at 604-290-6407.
Rethink Counselling Services	Rethink is a private counselling service run by Doug Elliott. Doug is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) who offers counselling support to individuals and couples on Bowen Island. He specializes in relationship counselling, anger management and conflict resolution, sexuality issues, and addiction. He also helps clients to deal effectively with depression and anxiety, trauma and abuse, and grief and loss.
Docs on the Bay	Mary Coleman is part of the team at Docs on the Bay in Horseshoe Bay. She support for Individuals and couples living with anxiety, depression, family distress, serious illnesses, loss and grief, caregiver stress, and traumatic experiences. Mary has specialized in the field of cancer care, palliative care, grief, and loss for over 12 years in a variety of settings. Please contact her at (778) 233-4425 or compassionmindedcounseling@gmail.com
Talkshop Counselling	Kevin Rose and Katrina Rose are registered professional counsellors located on the North Shore. They employ an integrated approach to counselling practice, using client-centred therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), somatic awareness/experiencing therapy, emotionally focused therapy, transpersonal therapy, Gestalt and family systems therapy. Contact them to set up an appointment: 604-961-0653 or talkshopcounselling@shaw.ca
Be Counselling	Brooke Evans is a Bowen resident and registered counsellor in West Vancouver, whose passion is holistic addiction and mental health recovery. She offers gentle, holistic counselling support that treats the whole person and considers the connection of the mind/body/spirit. Counselling and guidance can support your journey back to wholeness. 604-781-3987 – brooke@bccounselling.ca
Ruta Yawney	Ruta is a psychotherapist and a registered clinical counsellor, located in North Vancouver. She specialized in helping with anxiety, depression, grief and loss, trauma and life transitions. She believes that even loss and change can be catalysts for growth, and counselling is a time to listen to your heart. Call for a free phone consultation, 604-928-0883
Vancouver Coastal Health Kelty’s Key: Online Therapy	A new evidence-based treatment option for people struggling with depression, anxiety and other mental health concerns. It’s therapy with flexibility – no need to book appointments or commute for a session. Kelty’s Key offers the flexibility to get tailored treatment from an online therapist, or work through self-help resources at your own pace.

Peer Support

Seniors Keeping Young (SKY)	An organization on Bowen Island that caters specifically to seniors and works to create community by offering weekly programs. Programs include exercise sessions, speaker series, educational and entertaining ‘adventure’ trips. S.K.Y. also takes part in community events like Bowfest, Steamship Days, the Christmas Market & Raffle. S.K.Y. meets at Bowen Court, 1070 Miller Road; for more information, call Susan Nelson at 778-886-3600. S.K.Y. events are temporarily suspended during COVID-19.
Seniors Helping Seniors	Telefriend Program Volunteers provide a friendly telephone visiting service to lonely or isolated seniors, who share similar interests and concerns; call 604-925-7281
North Shore Neighbourhood House’s Senior Peer Support	Connect with others, receive emotional support, and learn about available resources. If you are facing loneliness, isolation, health problems, or other issues and challenges, NSNH can connect you with a trained volunteer who is a good listener and able to suggest activities that match your needs. Please contact Lorna at lharding@nsnh.bc.ca or call 604-315-2084 to join. Or participate in Friday Zoom Lunch and Learn sessions where they discuss important topics and have fun. To join contact Zheni at zgazdova@nsnh.bc.ca
Senior Peer Counselling of BC	A non-profit provincial organization that addresses the wellbeing of aged persons by promoting and supporting community-based peer counselling services. Peer counselling is a helping process designed to support and enhance the social and mental well-being of individuals who are facing life transitions and challenges. Senior Peer Counselling services provide confidential, no-cost, one-to-one support with the help of trained volunteers.