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Counsellors - Post-Traumatic Stress After Bike Crash

Anyone looking for a counsellor should have a preliminary talk before beginning any therapy to assess the counsellor and see if they will be a "good fit". It's always a good idea to meet face-to-face.

Some very basic things to look for when choosing a counsellor:

• that he/she fully respects your feelings around what happened, and doesn't focus on the accident in a way that belittles the trauma that it's caused you
• do you feel comfortable with this person, do you feel you can trust him/her?
• can you afford him/her?

A word-of-mouth recommendation from someone who knows you well and who's judgement you trust is often a good way to find an appropriate therapist. There are also a number of centres in Toronto that you can contact, who will listen to your concerns and then make referrals based on your needs.

Here are a few places that we trust to make appropriate referrals:

• Family Services Association of Toronto
  416-595-9618
  • fees are based on income
• The Women's Counselling Referral & Education Centre (WCREC)
  416-534-7501
  • refers women to therapists in private practice, based on their concerns
  • some of the therapists will take clients for free or at a very low rate
  • women only
• College Street Women's Centre
  College & Manning 416-929-1816
  • group of therapists in private practice
  • feminist perspective
  • not free
  • women only
• Regional Women's Health Centre
  790 Bay Street, 8th Floor, 416-586-0211
  • provides group and individual counselling
  • free
  • women only