Vancouver Black Therapy & Advocacy Foundation

Are the forms used in your practice inclusive of various sexual orientations and gender identities (e.g., opportunities to fill in pronouns, etc.)?

—Yes

Yes, our intake forms all ask folks their preferred name and pronouns.

Do you collect and use preferred names (rather than legal names) for all communications?

—Yes

Yes we do.

Do you and your colleagues have experience providing services that support clients with navigating gender dysphoria*? *TransCareBC describes gender dysphoria as a term "intended to describe the distress some trans people experience with relation to their gender identity, particularly if they would like to transition but have not yet done so".

—Yes

Yes. We contract approximately 10 counsellors, and several of the counsellors (Jasmine, Thoko, Nadine, Maedean) identify as queer and/or queer competent and specialize in supporting folks in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community - myself included.

Please tell us how equipped you feel to support a client in determining if/when their mental health symptoms are related to their gender-related experiences or other factors? Please describe your response choice below.

—Very confident

As mentioned, many of our counsellors specialize in supporting folks from the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and thus would absolutely feel comfortable in supporting clients with this specific need. Clients in our free counselling program are able to choose from either our list of contracted therapists or a therapist in the community, so they would have the ability to select one that specializes in this area/population.

Do you/your colleagues understand the difference between gender dysphoria and mental health conditions/symptoms that are unrelated to gender dysphoria or distress?

—Yes, to some extent

Those of us who specialize in supporting the 2SLGBTQIA+ community understand this, yes.

Do you and your colleagues have experience working with people who identify as living with a disability or chronic illness? Please tell us more about your experience and any training you have received.

—Yes, to some extent

I do not personally, but several of our counsellors do.

Are you and your colleagues comfortable asking relevant questions about gender identity and sexual orientation?

—Yes, to some extent

Those of us who specialize in supporting the 2SLGBTQIA+ community certainly are, yes. In addition, we do ask clients pronouns and whether they have any preferences for the sexuality of their counsellor (for our low-cost program) to ensure they are matched appropriately.

Do you offer Indigenous 2S/LGBTQ+ specific resources, for example Indigenous Elders or Knowledge Keepers?

—No

No, we do not as we primarily support the Black community.

Do you and your colleagues ask clients about pronouns and use them appropriately?

—Yes

Yes, we do ask this on their intake form.

Are you and your colleagues aware of what specific barriers may exist for Two-Spirit, queer, or trans Indigenous individuals accessing your services?

—Yes, to some extent

While many of us are aware of this, we primarily support the Black community.

Are you and your colleagues aware of what specific barriers may exist for LGBQ individuals accessing your services?

—Yes

Yes, we often consider the intersectionality of Black LGBTQ+ folks and reflect on this to make our program more accessible and inclusive.

Are you and your colleagues aware of what specific barriers may exist for trans individuals accessing your services?

—Yes

Yes, we often consider the intersectionality of Black trans folks and reflect on this to make our program more accessible and inclusive.

Does your practice have gender-neutral washrooms?

—Not applicable (please explain why this is not applicable)

We do not have an in-person space. Some of our counsellors do have an office space to meet clients at, but this may depend on individual counsellor's access to facilities.

Are there clear anti-discrimination policies that include gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation in your organization or practice?

—Yes, to some extent

While we do vet all counsellors and team members to ensure that they have experience and comfort with support the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, we are in the process of creating specific policies to ensure this.

Are all individuals involved in service provision actively engaged in decolonizing their practices and/or organization? If yes, please type below what actions you and/or your organization are taking.

—Yes

Absolutely, we vet all of our counsellors and team members to ensure that decolonizing their practice is a priority in their work. Some of the initiatives we are taking are contracting with counsellors who do not solely provide Western forms of mental health care, recognizing the impact of intergenerational trauma, prioritizing counsellors that practice cultural-competency, making our services as low-barrier and accessible as possible, etc.

Are all individuals involved in service provision actively engaged in anti-racist practices, policies, and systems in their care model?

—Yes

Yes, absolutely. This is exactly what our foundation sets out to do, and it informs all of our work.