Understanding Mental Health

Mental health refers to a person’s psychological and emotional well-being. It affects the way we think, feel and behave. A mental health problem can affect our ability to deal with life events.
Read MoreAbout the Services
The ECC provides counselling services to children, youth and their families. The ECC approach to counselling respects a client’s views, beliefs and experiences. We recognize that each child, youth and family has a unique background, history and culture that is important to who they are as individuals and families. We believe that clients and their families also have unique strengths, abilities and resources that are important to include in the counselling process.
These services are delivered by qualified therapists who are trained and skilled in a number of strength-based counselling methods informed by research and evidence.
Eligibility
The ECC provides counselling services to children, youth and their families living or going to school in West Toronto. Counselling services are available for children and youth from 0-18 years of age.
A child or youth 12 and over may seek counselling without parental or legal guardian approval. If parents or legal guardians have a joint custody arrangement, The ECC may request permission from both parents/legal guardians to provide mental health counselling. The ECC does not provide custody or access assessments and does not provide service for the purpose of court proceedings.
Common Presenting Issues
Counselling Services are helpful to those children, youth and families where a child/youth is experiencing issues that are affecting their well- being or the well-being of their family members. Examples of the kinds of issues a child or youth may experience include, but are not limited to, the following:
Accessing Counselling Services
Intake
To access our counselling services the first step is to attend our Walk-in Clinic. Often young people and families only need one or two sessions to make the needed changes in their lives and we want clients to experience the differences these changes can make as soon as possible.
Following a walk-in session, we can connect you to additional services, if needed, by contacting our Intake Coordinator. Clients can also return to the walk-in as needed.
Once you speak with the Intake Coordinator, you will be placed on our waitlist for our appointment-based counselling service.
Other Counselling Services include Intensive Child and Family Services (ICFS), Art Therapy, and Psychological and Psychiatric Consultation. These services are only available to registered clients through an internal referral from your assigned Service Coordinator/Counsellor.
Length and Location of Counselling Services
Counselling sessions are generally about 60-90 minutes long. The frequency and length of counselling services are discussed and negotiated based on clients’ needs.
The ECC Walk-in Clinic is located at our satellite office site at 200 Ronson Dr, Suite 401 (Martin Grove and Dixon).
Some counselling sessions take place the main office located at 65 Hartsdale Dr. (Kipling & Eglinton).
For information regarding rights and responsibilities, risks and benefits of counselling and more, please click here for a copy of the Client Orientation Package.
Mental health refers to a person’s psychological and emotional well-being. It affects the way we think, feel and behave. A mental health problem can affect our ability to deal with life events.
Read MoreResearch suggests that children with autism are able to form attachments. However the way they express attachment can be unusual and it may seem as if they are disconnected.
Read More