Social Work & Counselling

Social workers are trained to assist you, and those close to you, in dealing with practical problems, or the social and emotional changes caused by arthritis. Social workers can help you regain a sense of control over your life. As each individual’s experience of their arthritis is unique, counselling is provided based on a person’s identified needs, and the way in which the person with arthritis wants their concerns addressed. Through their support the social worker hopes to provide a person with arthritis with the tools and confidence to achieve and maintain an improved quality of life.

Social workers attached to the Mary Pack Arthritis Program are counsellors who have a Master of Social Work degree from an accredited university School of Social Work. A social worker can be contacted by phone at 604.875.4111 extension 68812. This service is available for any person with arthritis in BC. No referral is required. A social worker may be able to help a person with arthritis to achieve the following goals:

• Understand and access appropriate community resources
• Improve communication with their health care team
• Create financial stability
• Overcome bureaucratic or institutional barriers
• Manage a specific crisis
• Live successfully with chronic illness
• Obtain emotional support
• Obtain support for pre-surgery concerns
• Improve relationships with spouse, partner or family members
• Create a new life plan

Vocational Rehabilitation Counsellors address the employment challenges encountered by people who have disabilities and support persons with physical and cognitive disabilities to explore their employment potential. Clients are assisted to develop a vocational plan, such as returning to a previous position or the learning of new job skills through education and training. A vocational rehabilitation counsellor may be able to help a person with arthritis to achieve the following goals:

• Develop a vocational action plan
• Facilitate a graduated return to work
• Liaise with employers and insurance companies
• Refer for funding for job accommodations and disability-related workplace supports
• Provide a vocational assessment and assistance with career decision-making
• Refer to government programs for vocational assessment, education, and training
• Refer to government programs for job placement and assistance with self-employment
• Provide education about disability discrimination rights in relation to employment

For further information visit: http://www.bcasw.org

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