Yúustway
Health & Wellness

Phone: 604-982-7806
Intake Email: wellness@squamish.net

The team can coordinate various alternative healing and wellness services, including:

• Development of personal wellness plans.
• Referral to alternative healing practitioners.

Phone: 604-982-7806
Intake Email: wellness@squamish.net

The Mental Health Intake Worker provides an initial response and support for community members in North Vancouver and Squamish Valley. Services include referrals to short-term crisis counselling, individual/couples/group counselling, and alternative healing and planning support regarding mental health issues.

The goal is to ensure client safety and provide fair and equitable access to various programs and services.

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Car 22

Car 22 is a program that pairs an RCMP officer and a clinical psych nurse, or a clinician, to attend any mental health or substance use crisis. Car 22 also follows up and ensures the caller is on the right path and offers additional resources.

To access this service, Members can email nvmental_health@rcmp-grc.gc.ca or call the North Vancouver RCMP non-emergency line at 604-985-1311 or the West Vancouver non-emergency RCMP line at 604-925-7300. In case of an emergency, Car 22 can also be dispatched via 911.

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PACT

PACT is a mobile community-led team dedicated to responding to crisis calls associated with mental health and substance use issues on the North Shore. This initiative pairs a mental health professional with a peer worker to offer trauma-informed support to individuals aged 13 and older residing in the North Shore area.

For assistance, please reach out through the following channels:

Call: 1-888-261-7228
Text: 778-839-1831
Email: pact@cmha.bc.ca
Service Hours: Thursday to Sunday, 6:00 pm to 12:00 midnight

Heather Andrew
Heather Andrew, ancestral name is Tli’ichilwet. She serves as the Senior Addictions Counsellor and has dedicated 25 years to working with the community. It has always been her passion to work for the people and assist them on their healing journey of recovery and wellness in sobriety. Heather meets people where they are in their healing journey, guiding the Members on the path of sobriety and recovery as a personalized journey she feels blessed to be a part of. Additionally, she provides cultural support, including brushing off and candling, to holistically support the community in whatever way they need.

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Danielle Hearns
Danielle is a clinical counsellor who believes that everyone has a unique story to tell. Each story is individual and is received with a non-blaming approach. Sometimes, life feels unbalanced, but there is always a place at the table where your voice will be heard.

Danielle grew up on the North Shore, where she established personal and professional relationships within the Squamish Nation community. She considers herself a lifelong learner who has attended Capilano University, Athabasca University, and Stenberg College for her Counselling Therapist Diploma. Combining her education with various workshops such as Choices, work at crisis centres, and humanitarian cultural projects has provided her with a broad perspective and understanding.

In counselling, Danielle focuses on providing a respectful, safe, and empathetic space for sharing and collaborating to find meaningful, attainable, and sustainable solutions. Her approach is grounded in the Narrative Therapy lens while also incorporating other modalities such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), and Gottman Couples Therapy.

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Therapy

About EMDR: Developed by Francine Shapiro, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is internationally recognized as an evidence-based therapy for treating post-traumatic stress disorder and trauma-related symptoms.

About DBT: Dialectical Behavior Therapy was developed by Psychologist Dr. Marsha Linehan at the University of Washington. Initially designed to address para-suicidal behavior, self-harm, and emotion dysregulation, it has proven effective for various other issues, including eating disorders, substance abuse, anxiety, and depression. Dialectical Behavior Therapy integrates elements of classical philosophy (Dialectics), behavioral psychology, and Zen Buddhism.

About Narrative Therapy: Created by Michael White and David Epston, narrative therapy aims to separate the individual from the problem, allowing them to externalize their issues rather than internalize them. It relies on the individual’s skills and sense of purpose to guide them through difficult times.

About Emotional Freedom Technique: Developed by Gary Craig, EFT or Tapping is an evidence-based stress reduction tool that can safely and gently manage anxiety, PTSD, and other conditions. EFT involves tapping acupressure points, sending a calming signal to the brain, allowing balanced energy, and reducing emotional and physical pain.

Phone: 604-982-7806
Intake Email: wellness@squamish.net

Addictions Counsellors offer services to Members in North/West Vancouver and Squamish Valley.

Services include:

• One-to-one counselling.
• Support in completing treatment assessment/referral/application forms.
• Support in coordinating travel to and from treatment.
• Development of wellness plans, including pre- and post-treatment care.
• Prevention and awareness information.
• Support and coordination of community-based services (such as talking circles).

Phone: 604-982-7806
Intake Email: wellness@squamish.net

Harm reduction focuses on the distribution of harm reduction supplies and overdose response supplies – including life-saving naloxone – and developing education, clinical practices, and policies to support harm reduction strategies and services.

Betty Ferguson
Betty (She/Her) is the Harm Reduction Program Lead at the Yúustway Health Services. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Applied Behavioral Analysis with a concentration in Autism and other developmental disabilities as well as a diploma in Social Services and Special Education. Prior to joining the Nation, she was supporting individuals in their healing journey at Saint Paul’s Hospital in the inpatient mental health units. Her approach to harm reduction encompasses a culturally safe approach, spotlighting the importance of meeting people where they are in their healing journey while fostering and promoting an inclusive environment for all. Betty feels honoured to be a part of the Squamish community and to work with the Yúustway team.

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Under the harm reduction program, peer support is a resource for both Nation Members and our mental health and addiction providers, offering emotional support and patient advocacy, promoting health provider relationships that are trauma-informed, and client-centered to meet members where they are at.

Kayla Murdock
Kayla works for Yúustway as a peer support worker based in the Squamish Valley. Kayla has been successful in the recovery process of both mental health conditions and substance use disorders. Kayla’s educational background in social services and community support work has enabled her to empathize with my peers. Kayla feels honoured to be part of the Squamish community and to work with the Yúustway team.

Rick Mitchell
Rick works for Yúustway. He is happy to work within his community, which he considers his home and happy to be on the land he grew up on. Rick applied for this job so he could share his lived experience in a good way and give back in helping Members by connecting them with the resources and services that helped him. Rick started his journey almost four years ago, and before that was a lost, angry, sad, and an unhealthy scared person. Past experiences were rough; however, he did not give up. Rick enjoys helping others with support and ensuring Members know what services and resources are available.