We had the pleasure of learning more about KW Counselling from Program Manager Dejana Bjelogrlic.

 

Please tell me a little bit about your organization?

 

KW Counselling Services is a multi-service agency providing individual, family, group and outreach supports to the community through counselling, group programs, parenting courses and Multicultural Outreach and Leadership Development programs.

 

Counselling services may be provided as an individual, family or couple covering a wide variety of topics, for example: stress, relationship issues, substance misuse, LGBTQ issues, parenting, trauma, woman abuse/intimate partner violence or domestic violence and adjusting to life in Canada. These services may occur on a scheduled basis or during the weekly

Walk In Counselling Clinic. However, KW Counselling Services provides numerous other

opportunities for services and supports including group programs such as Trusting,

Loving Connections, which is a group program offered in collaboration with Family and

Children’s Services of the Waterloo Region, and is based on knowledge about parent-child

attachment and an understanding of the effects of trauma, including loss, abuse, and

exposure to violence and neglect.

 

Tell me about some of the projects that you’ve worked on that you’re especially proud of at

your organization? Is there something you are currently working on that you would like people

in the Central Region Forum to know about?

 

Strong Moms, Safe Kids is an attachment based and trauma informed group for mothers and

children who have experienced domestic violence in their homes. The program focuses on

the relationship between mothers and their children, recognizing that when a mother

experiences intense times in her life, it is difficult to tune into her children’s needs. The group

provides children with the opportunity to move beyond what happened in their family in a safe

and therapeutic way. By supporting mothers and helping them understand the trauma through their children’s eyes, they are better able to provide the ongoing emotional support their children need.

 

The Walk In Counselling Clinic is another source of pride for the organization as they are able to offer timely and efficient services to the many women they see who are struggling with issues of current and past abuse, violence in their relationships as well as complex trauma, anxiety and depression. Also of importance is that about 50% of clients who use the Walk In service are men, with about 30 % being                                                                      between ages 18-34. By offering accessible services to men, KW Counselling hopes to help reduce                                                              violence against women.

                                                            OK2BME is a unique program in the region that provides services such as LGBTQ-positive                                                                            Individual and Family Counselling, LGBTQ+ Social and Recreational Youth Group, Professional                                                                      Consultation and Collaboration, Public Education and Training and Supporting establishment of                                                                      Gay-Straight Alliances.

 

                                                            KW Counselling is also committed to diversity which is demonstrated by reaching out and                                                                              welcoming newcomers for more than 60 years and offering services in 12 different languages. For a                                                              number of years KW Counselling Services has acted as a “transfer agency” for small multicultural                                                                  groups (intermediary charities) who have no charitable status and who receive grants from United                                                                  Way, KWCF or similar granting bodies. In addition to requiring a registered charity to act as a                                                                          “banker” for funds, these groups often also require coaching in grant and project management. Coalition of Muslim Women is one of the groups that successfully graduated from our program and is now a federally incorporated not- for- profit organization.

 

What are some of the benefits and challenges of working with women and children within your organization?

 

KW Counselling feels that there are many benefits of VAW work, including feeling privileged to witness the strengths and resilience of women and children. They get to see the positive impact of using the trauma and attachment framework in their Safe Mothers, Safe Kids group and positive results of offering walk in counselling to VAW clients.

 

Some of the benefits are also challenges. Staff sometimes struggle with vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue and burnout. Unfortunately, while they all work passionately to serve as many clients as possible they do not have enough funding to timely provide services to all. Working as females in the non-for profit is a challenge given the marginalization of women and marginalization of non-for profits. Collaboration with other service providers is sometimes challenging as well.

 

Do you think feminism as a theoretical foundation/philosophy has shifted within the VAW sector?

 

KW Counselling views feminism within the VAW sector as constantly evolving and maturing. Currently it is focused on collaboration and intersectionality, which is highlighted in their work with other agencies on engaging men. The Walk In Counselling Clinic provides opportunities to involve men in meaningful conversations and engage in preventative work in order to make women and children safer. They agency is also realizing that there are many different ways to meet the needs of women and children. The Conjoint Couples Counselling project is a good example of a differential response to violence against women and a way to reduce the risk of domestic violence.

 

Do you think VAW work is politicized/ political work? 

 

Although the “big picture” VAW work at times is political, there is room for collaboration, engagement and advocacy.

 

What are your hopes for the VAW Forum of Central Region?

 

KW Counselling Services hopes for continuing collaboration, engagement and partnership with Ministry. They are also hopeful and optimistic about the future of the forum.