p1">Canadians know that mental health is just as important as any physical health concern, but you might be surprised to learn that there is a major problem when it comes to accessing proper care.

Wait times, financial costs, and sometimes even the location of a patient can drastically impact access to therapy. It’s a huge problem that, right now, has no long-term solution.

That’s where Moving Forward Family Services (MFFS) comes in. It’s a non-profit organization that provides free short-term and affordable long-term counselling services to those in B.C. The organization also offers support to Canadians who are unable to find it locally.

Filling in the gaps of our healthcare system

Gary Thandi, founder and executive director (Moving Forward Family Services)

So how does it work? Services are delivered by supervised social work and counselling students in the final months of their training, alongside registered practitioners who offer sliding-scale fees for low-income clients.

MFFS’ mission is to create a world without sorrow, and it never turns anyone away — regardless of race, age, location, gender, or financial status. By removing barriers to care, the organization helps ease pressure on the broader healthcare system, reduce wait times, and most importantly, provide life-saving support.

With many programs available, MFFS can provide inclusive and non-urgent counselling for those struggling with depression, anxiety, substance abuse, couple conflicts, parent-child or family conflict, trauma, grief, loss, stress and anger. The counsellors and students come from diverse therapeutic backgrounds like CBT, narrative therapy, solution-focused, and emotion-focused therapy, among others.

Other services include free coaching programs like Moving Forward Life Skills, substance use management coaching, healthy relationships coaching, and more. All in all, MFFS provides flexible, responsive services not just for individual support but also for extended family and community as well.

This counselling model is one of a kind and doesn’t exist anywhere else, garnering numerous awards for innovation and impact. It represents a local, made-in-B.C. approach that addresses mental health head-on in our community.

The game-changing data

Counselling is available in-person, through online platforms, and even over the phone. So far, MFFS has provided more than 100,000 counselling and support sessions since launching in 2015.

Fun fact: It has also provided over 22,000 counselling sessions in over thirty languages in the past year. Of these, 15,000 were offered at zero cost, while paid sessions averaged between $5 to $7 per session.

Together, students who are required to complete practice hours for graduation can gain firsthand experience, while licensed professionals (including social workers and therapists) open the door to a new wave of accessible care. In practice, that looks like more than 200 students and more than 300 professionals working in action.

Join the cause

Gary Thandi, founder and executive director (Moving Forward Family Services)

MFFS relies primarily on donations to keep running. Every contribution makes a difference — for every $20 donated, one hour of counselling can be provided to someone in need.

On April 10, the Moving Forward Family Services Gala will take place at the Crown Palace Banquet Hall, and it’s the perfect opportunity to learn more about the organization’s accomplishments, support the team, and help ensure the well-being of our community.

Join Moving Forward Family Services to create real change in the lives of our friends, families, and neighbours. Community support and donations have real-life impact, and even a little can go a long way. Purchase your ticket to the Gala on Eventbrite or visit the organization’s webpage to learn more about its game-changing care model.