Counselling services in Peel

The Alzheimer Society of Peel is ready to offer trained, professional counsellors to help navigate the process of dementia.

Friendly office welcoming a client.

Ready to connect with a counsellor?

  • Contact: 289-632-2273 ext. 307 (Choice 1)
  • Ask your health professional to make a First Link referral

 

Counselling

Trained, professional counsellors are available to respond to inquiries from persons diagnosed, family members or the general public. Support and advice can be provided at no cost. You do not need a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or any special referral to access our services.

Individual support

If you or a family member are newly diagnosed, we strongly recommend that you reach out to your local Alzheimer Society office for information about counselling, programs and services, and support.

To help you navigate through the changes, whether you are a person with dementia, a family member, or caregiver, we have several brochures with details about what to expect, by connecting with your chapter the following resources can be shared with you and discussed.

If you are newly diagnosed:

  • First Steps outlines a step-by-step plan to help people who are newly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.
  • What to Expect gives an overview of the stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
  • Shared Experiences: Suggestions for Those With Alzheimer Disease is a brochure with advice written by people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.

If you are a family member or caregiver:

  • First Steps: For Families of Those Recently Diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease outlines steps family members can take to prepare for the Alzheimer’s journey ahead.
  • Reducing Caregiver Stress provides suggestions to support caregivers in giving the best possible care and also to take care of themselves
  • Ways to Help: Assisting People Living With Alzheimer's disease gives suggestions for helping people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers.

For people living with dementia:

Heads Up for a Healthier Brain: This brochure will explain how the person with dementia can keep their brains healthy and active.

Counsellors

First Link counsellors

First Link is a referral program where individuals are connected with the Alzheimer Society Peel by a Health Care Professional. It is a free support, guidance, and education program. Services provided include:

  1. One-to-one dementia-specific counselling sessions, which can be in office, at home, or over the phone,
  2. E-mail correspondence,
  3. First Steps Education (recently diagnosed individuals and their CarePartner),
  4. Resource information and
  5. Referrals to community services.

First Link Support Counsellors are specially trained in dealing with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias but are not therapists.

Outreach counsellors

Outreach Counsellors offer free support, guidance, and education.

Services provided include:

  1. One-to-one dementia specific counselling sessions, which can be in office, in home, or over the phone,
  2. E-mail correspondence,
  3. Caregiver support groups,
  4. Support Groups for the Person with Dementia,
  5. Bereavement Support Groups,
  6. First Steps Education (recently diagnosed individuals and their CarePartner),
  7. Resource information and
  8. Referrals to community services.

Outreach Counsellors are specially trained in dealing with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias but are not therapists.

Behavioural Supports Ontario outreach counsellors

The Behavioural Supports Ontario Outreach Counsellors role is to support individuals, and their family members, when responsive behaviours, mental health issues, and/or intensive needs are present, in the Mississauga Halton Local Health Integration Network.

Caregiving issues surrounding a person with a cognitive disease are unique and complex. Our role is to help people gather information, navigate the system to access community services, and provide emotional and practical support.

Support can be provided in the form of a one-on-one home or office visit, over the phone, or assistance in reaching out and connecting with other services in the community.

Contact information

  • For new users: Contact 289-632-2273 ext. 307 (Choice 1)
  • For current patients: Contact 289-632-2273 ext. 307 (Choice 6)

 

First Link®

First Link allows health care professionals and community agencies to refer their patients and/or clients to receive additional support.

Learn more
An Elderly Black woman wearing a yellow dress and red scarf, sitting on a couch with an elderly Black man in a pink button-up, who has his arm around her. They are speaking with a light-skinned blonde counsellor.

Behavioural Supports Ontario

The Behavioural Supports Ontario project helps improve the lives of people with challenging mental health, dementia or other neurological conditions pursue a life of independent living.

Learn more
Older couple, both with light olive skin, laughing and embracing outdoors. One of the women is wearing a pink sweater and has short silver hair, and the other has short dark hair and is wearing a light-coloured jacket.