TESTIMONIALS

What Career Outcomes Are Achieved by Graduates of the College?

Many graduates of the Vancouver College of Counsellor Training have found rewarding careers in counselling and related fields, involving government contracts and positions, religious and secular organizations, community service agencies, corporations, and private counselling practice.

Although career success cannot be guaranteed for any applicant or student, we are pleased to provide the following long and short descriptions of career outcomes to inform prospective students who may be considering professional training at Vancouver College of Counsellor Training.

Michael B., RPC
Michael works with youth in custody at the Burnaby Youth Correctional Centre co-facilitating groups where he teaches empathy and communication skills using Reality Therapy, Behavioural Therapy and Cognitive Therapy. He also has a private practice called Harmony in Choices. Michael is running a workshop on Borderline Personality Disorder for Canadian Mental Health Association - CMHA in New Westminster, BC. This will be for the staff and with the hopes of future counselling around workplace stress. He is currently working on a business proposal to identify and find resolutions around workplace stress management

Julie Ann G
Julie has a private practice offering all aspects of counselling to individuals and couples specializing in substance and sexual abuse.

Clara M
Clara works as a Special Service Worker in Prince George with teens and children mostly dealing with foster care life skills, support grief and loss.

Lydia M
Working as a RPC (Candidate) specializing in Family Counselling and loss & grief.

Esther T
Esther works at the Living Through Loss Counselling Society of BC where she facilitates loss and grief drop in groups for children and adults. She also offers individual counselling for children who have experience a loss in their lives.

Brian W
Working with the Brain Injury Society/Vancouver Coastal Health in the outreach program. Planning to open up a private practice.

Sheila P
Sheila works at Mt. Pleasant Neighbourhood House. Shiela's employers were so impressed with her skills and her ability to facilitate groups that they hired her over a candidate with a Masters degree. Shiela is a Coordinator of Common Threads, which is program which assists marginalized who may be leaving abusive relationships or those on income assistance to achieve their career and life goals. She also has a contract with the Ministry of Children and Families to facilitate Empathy and Communication Skills groups in the Burnaby Youth Custody Centre.

Student Testimonials

"Helped me with my personal development growth, problem solving and people skills. Without my training I would not be able to do what I'm doing today."

"I believe my training has enabled me to have better relationships with others and a greater understanding of problem solving."

My training enabled me to develop the confidence to start my own practice and provided the certification and training I needed."

"Enabled me to develop the specific skills I need to deal with issues such as grief, sexual abuse, drug abuse and marriage counselling."

"I am a high school teacher and taking these courses has improved relationships in all aspects of my life. In addition it has increased my people skills, patience and understanding."

"The training increased my understanding of people in general. It is tremendous along with the people skills that I have learned."

"The counselling skills I learned and the current theories were helpful to me, especially those in sexual abuse and family violence."

"My training contributed to my clinical knowledge and augmented my existing management skills."

"My training permitted me to obtain a promotion at work by giving me the empathy and listening skills and also credibility toward my boss and with my clients (this student began as an assistant counsellor and became a counsellor after her training).:

"Not only did my training establish a solid professional foundation, it has had a positive influence on my personal life, fostering growth and insights and improved my ability to communicate."

"Helped me get the job in the first place. The skills and approach in understanding clients and problem solving have been used. Specific VCCT courses that have been most helpful are the Counsellor Training Course, Grief, Chronic Illness, and Multicultural issues."

From A Career Outcome Survey

"I have developed my own company whose goals and philosophy is to use a fun and interactive method to teach children ages 3.5 - 8 the basics of writing and reading."

"I am currently a case manager with Health, Safety and Compensation Commission. In addition I work as a counsellor in a private clinic with a psychologist. I deal with issues such as anxiety, depression, suicidal tendencies, marriage and couple problems."

"I'm currently working on the development of my own private practice and I'm also contracted to do work in the fields of drug and alcohol and marriage counselling."

"I am currently working in a clinic that provides an employee assistance program and run my own private practice for local, national and international organizations and companies."

"I'm presently working in the field of counselling children."

"I currently work in an Aboriginal Safe House and work in the areas of childcare, strategic planning, goal setting and life skills."

"I currently work as a crisis counsellor for sexual assault crisis center."

"I have my own private practice and work as a vocational rehabilitation counsellor."

"I currently work for two agencies -- Abby Therapeutic and MCC Supportive Care Services."

"I currently work as a child advocate for children who witnessed abuse and also I am the Coordinator of the Victim Assistance Program."

"I currently run my own successful private practice. I have contracts to provide support services to government agency clients in new training programs after long-term welfare or unemployment. I also have regular contracts with employers and clients to insure both parties are satisfied with their performance and address stress issues in a preventive way. This is an annual contract with a current caseload of 70 clients and 60 employers. I also provide workshops for business and networks with government and First Nations and receive a lot of positive feedback on my work. I'm presently developing a two-day women's retreat which will provide workshops, confidential and other services."

"For the past three years I have been a career and employment counsellor in a resource center for HRDC."

"I am currently employed with the B. R. First Nations as a social development worker."

"I currently run my own private practice and work with people with issues such a substance abuse and dysfunctional families. Generally I deal with adults and young adult children of dysfunctional families and also work with issues such as abandonment and incest."

"I'm presently providing services for native bands in the areas of adult and youth, substance abuse, sexual abuse, and family violence. I receive referrals from teachers, social service agencies, Chiefs of Native Bands and Council Band Members."

"I work as a counsellor for individuals with issues related to cultural adjustment at the International Center (in Japan). I work with individuals, couples and families with problems such as cultural adjustment, depression, anxiety, and career transitions."