When Jocelyn Danielsen thinks about the generosity of the donors who are supporting new counselling services offered at Communitas, she can’t help but tear up. She is so grateful.

“You are doing far more than funding a new service,” Jocelyn says. “These gifts are removing barriers that have prevented many people from accessing the mental health support they deserve.”

From Dream to Reality

Jocelyn, a registered clinical counsellor with a masters in marriage and family therapy, feels strongly that mental health support should be accessible and tailored to the individual.

For more than 16 years, she has supported people living with developmental disabilities, and their families, in various ways. Throughout her career, Jocelyn has seen how often the mental health needs of the people she serves go unrecognized and untreated because traditional counselling services are not designed to support them. It was what drew her to Communitas’ new service.

“Communitas’ commitment to belonging and inclusion and the desire to support the mental health of the people they serve, are what brought me here,” Jocelyn says. “I was excited by the opportunity to build something new that is going to have a lasting impact.”

New and Unique

Through the support of grants and generous donors, Jocelyn is part of a team that is building counselling services tailored specifically to people living with developmental disabilities who are served by Communitas.

Caleb Wee is the director of service development and has worked with Jocelyn to develop these counselling services. The project was launched because they consistently saw two major barriers that prevented people with developmental disabilities from receiving the mental health support they need.

“First, counselling is often financially out of reach,” Caleb explains. “Second, many traditional counselling approaches aren’t designed with the unique needs of the people we serve in mind.”

Counselling services are not covered by most medical plans or by Persons With Disabilities benefits, (commonly known as PWD benefits.) Mental health support is vital for many of the people served by Communitas. Even so, in rare cases when they have been able to access counselling, the therapies offered are not helpful.

Jocelyn feels that there is a misconception that people with developmental disabilities do not experience mental health challenges in the same way that everyone else does – but they absolutely do.

“The people we serve experience anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, loneliness, relationship struggles, and everyday stress,” Jocelyn says, “but finding the right support can be incredibly difficult.”

Tailored to Fit

Jocelyn is already supporting several people who live with developmental disabilities and receive services from Communitas. Caleb says that it is incredibly exciting to see a service come to life after years of dreaming and planning.

“Knowing that the people we serve are now able to access counselling that has been thoughtfully designed around their unique needs is both rewarding and encouraging,” Caleb says.

From referral to conclusion, each person who receives counselling gets support that fits their unique needs through the creation of personalized therapy goals. At an initial meeting, they work together to talk about strengths and challenges, and to set goals for their time together.

Recognizing that healing often happens within relationships and supportive communities, family members and caregivers can also be involved.

“Mental health care should never be one-size-fits-all,” Jocelyn says. “Every person deserves to be seen, heard, and supported in a way that honours their unique strengths and needs.”

Generosity Makes It Happen

Communitas’ counselling services are filling an enormous gap in the support system of people living with disabilities. The support of donors in this new endeavour cannot be understated. Jocelyn hopes each person who is financially supporting this service knows that they are making a difference.

“The impact of your gift will not only be felt by those receiving counselling but also by their families, caregivers, and the wider community,” Jocelyn says. “I hope that, years from now, we can look back and see how many lives have been changed because people came together to make this possible.”

She takes a moment to compose herself as she expresses her gratitude.

“Thank you for believing that everyone deserves the opportunity to experience hope, healing, and belonging,” she says.