Walk-In Counselling (WIC)

The walk-in offers same day sessions with a single session model. It does not allow to book future appointments and isnot an on-going counselling program. In-person sessions are at 815 Danforth Ave on Tuesdays.

Virtual sessions are offered on Wednesdays, call 416-645-6000 ext 1900. Registration starts at 4pm both days, until 6:30 or until spots arefull. If you are unable to have a same-day session because you need an interpreter, call the number above to coordinate.

You are not limited to just one session, however if you have a session on Tuesday we ask that you wait until the following week to request another session to allow other members of the community to access the service on Wednesday.

If you do request a session as a returning client, you may be turned away on a busy night as the WIC prioritizes new clients that have not accessed the service before.

New clients are prioritized as the Walk-in is a solution-focused single-session model to be utilized on an as-needed basis and not meant to be an ongoing counselling program. Returning clients are still accommodated if the capacity allows for it, after scheduling new clients.

Returning clients that have not been to the WIC for a long period of time may be accommodated over another return client who had a recent session. A client is classified as new if it has been over a year since the last session.

Being a new client does not guarantee a session as the WIC is still first come first served. Registrations start at 4pm and end at 6:30pm, but the spots can get filled up before 6:30.

Keep in mind that spots are limited, although new clients are prioritized over returning clients on a busy night, it is still best to complete the intake close to 4pm to secure a spot if you are registering for a virtual session, the time you called in on Wednesday will be noted as it may take some time to return the call if the intake worker is on the other line.

Be sure to leave a voicemail with your name and phone number.

The start and end time of your session is based on your time of intake and where you are on the night’s schedule. Each counsellor typically sees two clients a night, starting their first session close to 5pm and the start time of their second session is dependent on when they wrap up with their first client.

Clients in the first round of sessions start around 5pm while those in the second round can start anytime between 6:30-7pm, earlier if the counselor’s first session ends early.

If you are in the second round and start late due to an unexpected circumstance, it will not affect the length of your session. Sessions can go until 8:30-9pm depending on the start time. You will be notified during intake which round you are in, but you may be moved from the second round to the first if someone scheduled before you cancels their session.

The session will generally be an hour in length. Partway through the session there will be a brief 10-15-minute break so that the counsellor can consult the team and the supervisor to gather any ideas, resources, or feedback that may be helpful for you. This break is part of the walk-in model and a part of every session. After the break, the session will continue and wrap-up.

The Walk-In Counselling service provides single-session counselling to address a wide range of concerns, such as anxiety, depression, anger management and difficulties with work, school or relationships.

The counsellors work with clients to identify their most pressing issue and discuss strategies that can lead to positive change. There are limits to confidentiality, which are mentioned on the welcome form and the counsellor will go over them again before the session begins.

The counsellors are registered professionals (social workers and psychotherapists) who are volunteering their time to provide free counselling for the community. Though they are volunteers, the WIC does choose qualified counsellors through an interview process, and trains them after they join the team.

All new volunteers go through a training period, regardless of how experienced they are, to ensure the quality of the program. All counselling sessions are further supervised by the WIC supervisor through the break the counsellors take during each session.

Upon your consent, your session may have two counsellors. One of the counsellors, the main counselor, will be leading the session. The second will be acting as a shadow. The shadow might just be listening in and observing, or might be participating depending on where the counsellor is in the training process.

The shadow is a counselor that is new to the Walk-in, they are professional counselors but are just going through a training period. You can request to have just one counsellor. The WIC will try to accommodate the request if there are more counsellors than shadows on the schedule.

The WIC keeps a file for each client with client information and session notes. The file is confidential and stored in a digital client record platform. If you are participating in a session in-person, you may see the counsellor making notes on paper.

The paper will be shredded after the notes are added to the digital file. If you would like to have a copy of any or all of your session notes, you can request them. If you would like them to be sent to a lawyer or another counsellor, you will need to provide a signed release.

Please call 416-645-6000 ext 1990 or email [email protected] for note requests.

If you are returning to the WIC, the counsellor you’re paired with will be briefed on the content of your last session using the session note. This is simply a way for the counsellor to have some context before your session so you don’t need to repeat yourself. Since the counsellors at the WIC are volunteering their time, there will always be different counsellors on the schedule.

If a counsellor you were paired with before happens to be on the schedule again, the WIC will not take any requests to pair you up with them in order to avoid it becoming ongoing counselling instead of a single-session model.

Yes! Let your counsellor or the intake worker know you need a letter and provide either an email or a mailing address.

If you need a letter for a past session, call 416-645-6000 ext 1990 or email [email protected]. Please allow a few days for the letter to be sent. If the letter is sent via email, it will be password protected and the password will be shared with you by either the counsellor or the intake worker. If you are unable to open the email, call the above number.