Moving Forward Family Services is a non-profit charity that offers free short-term and affordable long-term counselling options to folks across British Columbia, as well as to anyone in Canada unable to access local support.
We provide accessible mental health support through counselling, coaching programs, and community education. Services are delivered by supervised counselling and social work students enrolled in recognized educational institutions and work with qualified clinical supervisors while following professional standards of practice.
Professional, compassionate support to help individuals navigate life's challenges, improve emotional wellbeing, and work toward meaningful change. Every counselling journey is individualized and may focus on healing, personal growth, building coping skills, or achieving specific goals.
.svg){kind=small}
Structured, goal-focused programs that combine education, practical tools, and ongoing encouragement to help individuals build confidence, develop new skills, and improve everyday wellbeing. Programs typically run over several weeks and focus on applying strategies to real-life situations.
Workshops, community presentations, professional training, and educational resources designed to improve mental health knowledge, reduce stigma, and build practical skills. We provide learning opportunities for individuals, families, organizations, and helping professionals with the goal of democratizing access to mental health education.
At Moving Forward Family Services, we're challenging the belief that free or low-cost counselling must mean lower-quality care. We invest heavily in training, supervision, and professional development opportunities for our team because everyone deserves access to informed & compassionate mental health support—regardless of their financial circumstances.
Complete our confidential intake form and answer a few questions about what you’re looking for. We’ll review your information to understand your situation and aim to connect you to the services that are the best fit for you.
Depending on the service you're seeking, we'll arrange a complimentary intake call with a supervised student counsellor. Unlike a brief consultation, we'll set aside up to 60 minutes to learn about your needs, answer your questions, explain our services, and help determine the best next steps. If you're seeking support from a registered clinician, a member of our team will instead provide a brief consultation to understand your needs and connect you with the right therapist.
After your initial call, you’ll schedule your first session and begin working with a supervised student counsellor or registered clinician. From there, you’ll begin your counselling or coaching journey with timely, compassionate support designed around your goals.
We believe everyone deserves access to quality mental health care. If cost, long waitlists, limited insurance, or other barriers have made counselling difficult to access, we're here to help.
Low-cost and free counselling for individuals, couples, and families.
Meet online or by phone anywhere in Canada, or in person in the Lower Mainland when available.
Supporting people of all ages, cultures, genders, sexual orientations, faiths, and backgrounds.
Counselling is available in more than 30 languages.
Counsellors with diverse professional backgrounds, lived experience, education, and cultural perspectives.
Public mental health services often involve long waitlists, while private counselling can be financially out of reach. Moving Forward Family Services exists to bridge existing gaps like this.
Our goal is to make quality mental health care more accessible by reducing barriers to care, responding quickly, remaining flexible, and connecting people with the support that's right for them.
We recognize that no single organization can meet every mental health need. We are not a crisis or emergency mental health service, do not provide diagnosis or prescribe medication, and work collaboratively with physicians, hospitals, community organizations, and other healthcare providers to ensure people receive ethical, appropriate care.
A LETTER FROM GARY
That’s why I started Moving Forward. We support everyone, including the most vulnerable in our communities, especially those who may not be eligible for services in the public sector. We know how difficult it can be to find help promptly, especially without an extensive benefits plan. This is where Moving Forward can help. We believe early intervention and prevention can benefit our society as a whole. Shorter wait times mean your needs are addressed quickly, helping you overcome your struggles. Plus, early action can lower resource investment on the other end of the spectrum, such as policing, corrections, or long-term hospitalization. We are passionate about helping people and want to help out any way we can. We have a variety of services offered in over 20 languages meaning everyone is welcome, even you!
For every $20 donated, we can provide up to one hour of counselling services to someone who needs it.
.svg)
.avif)
.avif)
