The Resident Wellness Office is thrilled announce our brand-new Community Referral Network aimed at enhancing wellness throughout your residency journey, outside of UBC. In response to resident feedback highlighting the challenges of seeing private counsellors who lack familiarity with residency, and the frustration which comes from explaining it, the RWO recently offered a training to 25 counsellors in the community last month.
This network comprises of dedicated counsellors and social workers from various regions across British Columbia who have undergone a 1-hour training with our Wellness Counsellors. The training aimed to provide insights into residency training dynamics, as well as strategies for effectively supporting residents through personal and professional challenges. The Community Network counsellors come from varied backgrounds and expertise areas which include; BIPOC counsellors, neurodivergent, ADHD/Autism specializations, and counsellors from the LGBTQIA+ community. The goal of this initiative is to provide residents with external, accessible resources and support outside of traditional channels, ensuring the necessary tools to navigate the challenges and stresses that can accompany residency training are available. Our Network has flexible evening and weekend availability to accommodate busy resident schedules.
With the increase in wellness funding from the Collective Agreement, we remind residents, “effective January 1, 2023, fees of a registered psychologist, registered clinical counsellor, and registered social worker up to a combined maximum of $2000 per eligible Resident or dependent per calendar year” are available. All Residents have access to 10 free counseling sessions per academic year through the RWO, and if you are currently using our services for one type (e.g., couples counselling) and seek individual counselling, we encourage you to utilize external support options should our scheduling, wait times, or counsellors not align with your needs. To access our new Community Network, please reach out to the Resident Wellness Office at resident.wellness@ubc.ca to inquire about getting connected.
Thank you to all residents for your continued dedication and hard working contributions to the medical field. We look forward to sharing our Community Referral Network with you to create a healthier and more supportive community for all residents.
