Kwun'atsustul Counselling
Cowichan Tribes members and their families can access Kwun'atsustul Counselling services for support to build wellness and resilience, and work with a counsellor to complete a referral to residential treatment/detox.
Counselling Services
Kwun'atsustul means 'hand in hand.'
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Substance Misuse and Addictions
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Grief and Loss
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Family, Parenting and Relationships
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Depression and Anxiety
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Trauma Recovery
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Sexualized Violence
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Suicide and Self-Harm
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Residential School
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...and more
Sessions can be based in office, at schools, remotely, or in community.
Talk, play and art-based counselling is available for children and youth.
Mature minors do not require parental consent and have the right to confidentiality.
Daily On-Call Counsellor
If you need urgent support, visit Kwun’atustul’s Facebook page to find the contact number for the Daily On-Call Counsellor.*
*This services is available Monday to Friday, 8:30am – 4:30pm (Closed from 12:00pm – 1:00pm for lunch).
If you need urgent support and the daily on-call counsellor is not available, please contact the Vancouver Island Crisis Line at 1-888-494-3888, available 24/7.
Groups and Programs
Sa'qw'thut Culturally-Grounded Treatment Program
Sa'qw'thut, means (assisting) someone to find out about themselves.
Sa'qw'thut Culturally-Grounded Treatment Program is an inclusive and ongoing therapeutic community that is rooted in Snuw'uy'ulh (Quw'utsun teachings), with Quw'utsun families, on Quw'utsun land.
The program provides an opportunity for community members to access addictions treatment quickly and without needing to leave town. Sa'qw'thut runs 4 days per week, with ongoing intakes throughout the 22-week program.
Create lasting connection, intergenerational healing, positive social connections, land-based healing and harvesting, and a culturally grounded foundation for addictions and substance misuse recovery.
Community members can utilize the group for daily connection, recovery and healing work, to have as a home group before and after attending residential treatment, and to grow in community.
During the program, you will work with providers and collaborations from:
- Local Indigenous elders, healers and teachers
- Mental health counselors at Kwun'atsustul Counselling
- Harm Reduction Team at Ts'ewulthtun Health
- Youth Services team, as applicable
- Peer support workers
- Contracted counsellors, healers and teachers.
Referrals to medical supports, such as substance use, physicians can be arranged.
Sa'qw'thut runs 4 days per week, Tuesday to Friday, 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Intakes are ongoing. join ANYTIME During the 22-week program.
For more information or to register for the program, contact Deanna Thompson at (250) 7323487 or deanna.thompson[@]cowichantribes.com
Mission Statement:
To heal and support community members and their families through Quw'utsun teachings & culture by creating lasting connections, promoting intergenerational healing, making positive social connections, and promoting land-based recovery and healing within a culturally-grounded day treatment program.
We acknowledge your presence today and we are all thankful that you are here.
We strive to support community members and their families to create lasting connection, intergenerational healing, positive social connections, and land-based healing and harvesting within a culturally grounded foundation for recovery from addictions, substance misuse, and trauma.
Duncan, B.C. V9L 5J1
Kwun'atsustul Counselling's
Mental Health and Addictions Team
Front Row (left to right): Natasha Toth, Elizabeth Ibarra, Alwynne Ling, Donna Johnny, Dominique Klees-Themens
Back Row (left to right): Edward Epp, Mathew Davydiuk, Danielle Harper, Jayde Martins, Mellissa Craghtten, Amy Verveda
Not pictured: Joette Antoine, Aaron Moore, Katerina Dreaver, Deanna Thompson, Alexis Cage, Connie Clarke.
Crisis Lines & Supports
Addictions Support
Private, at-home Narcan (naloxone) is available to all members.
Narcan is a safe, life-saving drug that can reverse an overdose.
We are asking ALL members to have Narcan in your household and know how to use it.
Please call the Outreach Team to book a confidential, free training:
Call or text: (250) 732-4326 (Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 4:30pm).
You can also drop by Ts'ewulhtun Health Centre to pick up Narcan and book a private training session. Narcan is also free at pharmacies with your status card.
For help with addiction, treatment, and supports, please contact us:
- Sa'qw'thut Culturally-Grounded Treatment Program: (250) 732-3487
- Kwun'atsustul Counselling (778) 422-3122, or message Kwun'atsustul Counselling on Facebook
- or visit: https://cowichantribes.com/opioid-response.
The Cowichan Teachings
