An Investment to Expand Subsidized, Quick-Access Counselling in Brantford-Brant
Just in time for Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re excited to share that we received a $597,000 Grow Grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) to help increase access to our subsidized, low-income counselling services.
Thanks to the significant three-year grant, individuals, families and couples experiencing low incomes in Brantford-Brant will be able to more easily access our counselling services.
To help break down barriers and support more people, we’ll also be enhancing our “quick access” therapy model by offering walk-in and appointment-based single-session therapy (SST).
Expanding low-income counselling in Brantford-Brant
Over the past several years, the agency has seen an increase in demand for subsidized counselling in the region. With our waitlist currently exceeding 18 months, this grant will enable us to expand our capacity by hiring two more psychotherapists to increase service capacity.
With additional staff on the team, we’ll be able to focus on seeing individuals who’ve been waiting to speak to someone for far too long.
A leader in the community
Willowbridge has proudly served the Brantford-Brant community for over a century, currently supporting more than 1,500 individuals each year through its counselling services. It’s also one of few agencies in the region to offer subsidized therapy for those in need.
As a long-standing community resource, the agency is proud to reduce barriers to care by enhancing its current services to support more people experiencing low incomes.
Providing barrier-free, quicker access to care
The agency’s “quick access” service was established to help individuals in need speak to someone quicker than traditional counselling models.
Walk-in sessions
By offering walk-in sessions, individuals can speak to a counsellor the same day without the need to book an appointment and wait. This model also reaches people who may not otherwise seek help – nearly half of walk-in counselling clients are men, compared to just 27% in scheduled services.
Alongside walk-in session, SST offers faster, more immediate outcomes compared to traditional models. Single session therapy is a newer approach being adopted by many counsellors, which provides specialized, focused support on one specific issue. In fact, research shows that SST clients experience faster reductions in anxiety and depression, and provides strong results for those facing other complex challenges.
These two services will also help reach populations that are less likely to try traditional counselling.
Helping to alleviate demands on hospitals
For individuals without access to subsidies, counselling can cost up to $200 per session, making it inaccessible to many. As a result, people are left without support during times of crisis, which contributes to worsening mental health, relationship challenges and an increased reliance on emergency services.
In one study, nearly 20% of participants reported they would have gone to the emergency department if walk-in counselling had not been available. By expanding access to community-based care, Willowbridge can help people get support earlier, before a crisis point is reached.
Looking ahead
This investment marks a meaningful step forward for mental health access in Brantford-Brant. With expanded staffing, enhanced training in trauma-informed care and single session therapy, and tools to track outcomes, Willowbridge is building a stronger, more responsive system of care.
The goal is simple: make sure that when someone reaches out for support, help is there.
“Counselling is not a luxury—it is essential to healthy communities,” says Leslie Josling, Executive Director of Willowbridge Community Services. “It allows us to respond earlier, reduce stress, and support people in building stronger relationships and wellbeing.”
Access the support you need
As our agency works to enhance its counselling services, we’ll make sure to keep our clients, participants and community informed. We encourage you to subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn to be the first to learn when we launch our walk-in and single-session therapy appointments.
In the meantime, if you or someone you know is looking for counselling support, visit our website to learn more about our services and book an appointment.