Find Support

We have several different ways to support and help you find meaningful connections in your North Shore community.

Counselling

We can help you when life gets hard or you’re experiencing anxiety, depression, bullying, disordered eating, sexual abuse, relationship violence, coming out, gender identity, and more. Our counsellors have the training and experience to ensure you feel safe, comfortable, and supported.

If your parents can’t afford the counselling fees or you don’t want to tell them about your sessions, we can help. Our intake counsellor can tell you more about the ways we can support you.

Get Started

We also provide:

• Free transportation, as needed, to and from our office
• Free drinks and snacks during your counselling sessions

We know you’re busy with school, work, and life in general, so our office is open:

• Weeknights until 8:00 pm
• Saturdays from 9:00am – 4:00pm

Jessie’s Legacy Eating Disorders Prevention and Awareness Program

If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, or disordered eating of any kind, Jessie’s Legacy has education, resources, and inspiration that can help.

We also encourage you to check out Love Our Bodies, Love Ourselves movement. Join the conversation on Facebook , Twitter or Instagram and connect with other B.C. youth who are talking about what it means to have a healthy body image.

Learn More

YouthLAB

The Youth Leadership Advisory Board (YouthLAB) is a Family Services of the North Shore initiative created to address mental health challenges that young people face, from a youth-led perspective. YouthLAB is made up of a small group of North Shore High School students (grades 10-12) who meet throughout the year to learn, discuss and create outreach projects to address mental health topics affecting youth. These topics include anxiety, depression, trauma, gender and sexuality, healthy relationships, and social justice issues.

Please note that YouthLAB has been put on pause for the 2022/2023 year.  We invite you to check back in Spring 2023 for details on the 2023/2024 year, or email youthlab@familyservices.bc.ca for more details or questions.

View YouthLAB Initiatives and Resources below:

• Art book – a creative illustration addressing mental health issues facing young people.  Click here to view and download this book. 
• Video – shared across peer groups in schools across the North Shore, click here to view.
• Website – ‘Youth for You’ website offers reflections and perspectives on wellness, mental health, and social justice.  View youth4you.space.

PROUD2BE

We created our PROUD2BE programs, because we know that those of us who identify as LGBTQ2S+ need a safe place to talk about how that feels – and how hard it can be sometimes. We also offer help to parents and family members if they’re having a hard time, too.

PROUD2BE drop-in groups for youth (in-person)

If you’re aged 16-24 and identify as queer, transgender, two-spirited, and/or questioning, please join us for this free, weekly drop-in group. You’ll connect with other North Shore and Metro Vancouver youth in discussions led by an experienced master’s level counsellor. Share your experiences, ask questions, and explore your identity among people who are here to support you.  Drop-in and join us Wednesdays, from 5:30-7:00 pm at the Family Services of the North Shore office (203-1111 Lonsdale Avenue). Take the elevator to the second floor and watch for the multicoloured heart on our glass doors.  For more details, click here.  If you have any questions please email us.  We look forward to you joining us. 

June 2022 Group Dates and Topics:

May 25 – Outing TBA
June 1 – History of Pride, Marsha P. Johnson, and documentary: Pay It No Mind.
June 8 – Clay exercise – oven-bake clay – polymer
June 15 –  Exit laughing play
June 22 – Games night
June 28 – Beach outing

PROUD2BE drop-in groups for parents & family

Join other parents of gender-diverse youth for safe, judgment-free discussions co-facilitated by two experienced counsellors. This free, weekly drop-in group is a welcoming place for you to connect, ask questions, and learn more about how to support your trans, non-binary, gender-diverse and/or gender-questioning child or teen.  We meet via Zoom on Tuesday evenings from 6:00-8:00pm.  To learn more click here, and to receive the virtual meeting link, please email proud2be@familyservices.bc.ca.  We look forward to you joining us. 

PROUD2BE Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Conference (on pause due to COVID-19)

Each fall we typically host the annual PROUD2BE conference, presented in partnership with West Vancouver Youth Services. This province-wide event brings together youth, parents, and service providers for activities, panel discussions, workshops, entertainment, and clinical services. It’s a thoughtful weekend designed to support and connect our diverse LGBTQ2S+, gender-diverse and allied communities, and is open to children, youth, families and professionals. 

PROUD2BE Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Events 

Our PROUD2BE Events feature speakers with lived experience, professional panel discussions, workshops and support for gender-diverse, gender-questioning, and LGBTQ2S+ children, youth, their families and professionals.  It’s a community where you can learn, ask questions, get support and connect with LGBTQ2S+ folks, families and allied communities.  

For more information email our PROUD2BE team.