'It's always been the plan'
Community Counselling Program in Fort Smith to relocate to renovated health centre in June
Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Published Monday, March 31, 2014
THEBACHA/FORT SMITH
The Fort Smith Health and Social Services Authority maintains it has always been the plan to move the Community Counselling Program to the health centre.
The authority is responding to concerns by a couple of residents of Fort Smith about relocating the program from the Jack Taylor Building.
"None of this is new information, if you will," said Phyllis Mawdsley, the authority's CEO. "It's just that now the move will probably take place around June, so we're just getting a little closer to it."
Mawdsley noted the program has been at the Jack Taylor Building since 2004, when it first became the responsibility of the health authority.
The program would have moved to the health centre at that time, but there was not enough space. Instead, it went from Uncle Gabe's Friendship Centre to private rental space at the Jack Taylor Building.
Mawdsley said the health centre, as a result of extensive renovations, will now have new space for the Community Counselling Program, which is often inaccurately called the wellness program by community members.
The space at the health centre was specifically designed for the program, she said, noting staff members were even involved in selecting furniture.
"I think it's quite exciting," she said. "It's a great opportunity for this program to come into the primary care area and have its own new digs, and very comfortable, clean space designed specifically for this program."
Mawdsley believes the public will be quite pleased with what they see in the new space.
Community resident Clayton Burke had expressed concern about confidentiality at the health centre.
"The big problem is the personal counselling service will not be confidential, meaning that, if you go to the hospital, it's going to be very, very obvious that you're going for counselling for personal problems or whatever reasons," Burke said, arguing the Jack Taylor Building offers more confidentiality.
However, Mawdsley said confidentiality will be strictly adhered to at the health centre, just as it is at the Jack Taylor Building.
"Confidentiality is a key, fundamental principle for all programs delivered from the Fort Smith Health and Social Services Authority, and certainly the Community Counselling Program is no exception to that," she said.
As for concern about access to the health centre, Mawdsley noted it is staffed 24 hours a day. "So there are always people there if someone needs to get in."
The Community Counselling Program primarily offers mental health and addiction counselling, as well as individual, group and family counselling.
A 10-week outpatient addiction treatment program called the Matrix is also offered.
The counselling program consists of two mental health therapists, a clinical supervisor and two community wellness workers.
Although the numbers vary, it is not uncommon for the program to serve over 100 people a month.
The independent self-help groups AA and Al-Anon meet at the Jack Taylor Building, but are not officially part of the Community Counselling Program.
Mawdsley said AA and Al-Anon will still be welcome to meet at the program's new space at the health centre.
