About Us
About Social Workers
What is a social worker?
Social workers assist individuals, families and communities to resolve problems that affect their day-to-day lives. People consult social workers when they are going through a difficult period in their personal, family and/or work life. Social workers help identify the source of stress or difficulty, make assessments, mediate between conflicts, offer various forms of counselling and therapy, and help people to develop coping skills and find effective solutions to their problems. Social work is unique among the helping professions because it focuses on people's problems within the context of their families, communities and workplaces.
The social workers listed in this directory are members of the British Columbia Association of Social Workers and have declared that:
- they are Registered Social Workers (RSW) as designated by the British Columbia College of Social Workers.
- they carry professional up-to-date liability insurance.
- they adhere to the profession's code of ethics.
Are social work services covered by the BC Medical Plan?
The social workers listed in this directory are self-employed and work alone or with others in providing services privately to the public. This means that they charge an hourly fee for their services. These fees are not covered by BCMP, but they may be covered under a private health plan or employee group benefits plans.
Social Workers also work within a wide array of publicly-funded organizations such as community agencies, social service programs, family service associations, etc. To access public services, check your local telephone listings for organizations in your area. To access a list of community information and referral services in the Lower Mainland, contact Inform Vancouver at (604) 875-6381 or visit www.communityinfo.bc.ca For provincial government programs such as child welfare or health services, contact Enquiry BC at (604) 660-2421 and they will assist you to connect to the program or service you are seeking.
Social workers are the largest group of mental health service providers in North America, and more and more insurance companies consider social work services to be a standard benefit. If social work is not currently on the list of professional services covered in your insurance plan, ask that it be added.
Do I need a referral to see a social worker?
No, you can contact a social worker and make your own appointment.
