Moving Forward Family Services

What Moving Forward Family Services does

Moving Forward Family Services Society is a Canadian non-profit charity registered in British Columbia (Charity #760671891RR0001) that delivers free and affordable counselling to underserved populations, with its headquarters and in-person clinic located in Surrey, BC. Founded by Gary Thandi (an MSW with 20+ years post-Bachelor and 13 years post-Master experience), the organization bridges the gap between restrictive public mental health services with long wait times and expensive private therapy by leveraging a supervised student intern model: 150–275 interns per semester from social work and counselling programs across Canada deliver services under nearly thirty weekly group supervision sessions. In its most recent disclosed year the agency provided over 22,000 counselling sessions, of which 15,000 were offered at no cost and the remainder at an average fee of $5–$7, with services available in 20+ languages via in-person, online, and telephone channels. The portfolio spans free short-term counselling, affordable long-term sliding-scale therapy, free coaching programmes (Life Skills, Healthy Relationships, Substance Use Management, Mindfulness, Seniors Support, Parenting), the LIFT Program and Cyndi's Centre for Children and Youth, and the Veteran Wellness Program.

Revenue mechanics combine four streams: (1) donations and sponsorships through CanadaHelps and PayPal (including designated gifts for therapy sessions, bursaries, workshops, or operations); (2) low-cost paid sessions at $5–$7 average, subsidizing the 15,000 free sessions; (3) corporate and individual sponsorship programs (e.g., $20/hour therapy sponsorships, child therapy sponsorships); and (4) a fee-for-supervision service for interns, including external qualified supervisors. Disclosed institutional funding to date is limited to a November 2019 grant from the BC Ministry for Mental Health and Addictions and a CAD $200,000 grant from Veterans Affairs Canada in 2023. The organization operates without a traditional hierarchy or dedicated government funding base, relying instead on community support, sub-contracts, donated space, and the in-house administrative and client-progress platforms developed specifically for the supervised-intern delivery model.

Name

Moving Forward Family Services

Legal name

Moving Forward Family Services Society

Website

https://movingforward.help

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Moving Forward Family Services is a BC-based non-profit charity that delivers free and low-cost counselling to underserved Canadians through a supervised student intern model, operating in-person in Surrey and via online/telephone channels nationally in 20+ languages.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Mental Health Counselling Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Family Coaching, Parent-Mediated & Home Visiting EI Services (EDACAFAJ), Home Visiting & Parent Coaching Programs (EDACALAC)

Keywords

• Community counselling services
• Affordable mental health
• Sliding scale therapy
• Clinical supervision services
• Nonprofit mental health

Headquarters

HQ city

Surrey

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Sponsorships: Registered charity relying on community donations through CanadaHelps and PayPal. Accepts sponsorships where donors can specify where their contribution goes - therapy sessions, bursaries, community workshops, or general operations.
2. Low-cost counselling sessions: Average fee of $5-$7 per session for paid sessions. Services primarily free with paid sessions subsidizing free counselling for low-income clients. $5 donated can provide 15 minutes of counselling.
3. Sponsorship programs: Corporate and individual sponsorships available - companies can collaborate on fundraising events, individuals can sponsor therapy sessions ($20/hour), or sponsor a child's therapy. Sponsors receive taxable receipts and recognition.
4. Fee-for-supervision service: Supervisors (including external qualified supervisors) available as a fee-for-supervision service for interns.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Moving Forward Family Services delivers free short-term and affordable long-term counselling to underserved Canadians, provided by supervised social work/counselling interns and registered therapists on a sliding scale. Services are offered in-person in the Vancouver Lower Mainland (Surrey) and online or by telephone nationally, in over 20 languages, supplemented by free coaching programs, specialized initiatives (LIFT Program for children/youth, Veteran Wellness Program), community workshops, and a fee-for-supervision service for interns.

Product overview

Moving Forward Family Services is a non-profit charity organization offering a unified suite of counselling and mental health services, primarily free short-term counselling delivered by supervised students in social work and counselling programs, supplemented by affordable long-term counselling through registered therapists on a sliding scale. The organization provides various free coaching programs (Life Skills, Healthy Relationships, Substance Use Management, Mindfulness, Seniors Support, and Parenting), specialized programs (LIFT Program for children and youth, Veteran Wellness Program), and community groups and workshops. All services are available in over 20 languages and delivered in-person (lower mainland BC with minimal fees), online, or by telephone.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cyndi's Centre for Children and Youth: Services for children and youth offered under this brand in honor of Gary Thandi's late wife Cyndi.
• LIFT Program
• Veteran Wellness Program

Products and services

• Free Short-Term Counselling
• Affordable Long-Term Counselling
• LIFT Program
• Veteran Wellness Program
• Internship Program
• Free Coaching Programs
• Community Groups and Workshops
• Fee-for-Supervision Service

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 22,000 counselling sessions provided annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and supporting.

• Magik MomentsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Photo Booth Rental in Vancouver joining Moving Forward at Coldest Night of the Year 2025 event to capture fun and memories with their photo booth available throughout the evening from 4pm to 7pm.
• EMDR Advanced Training & Distance LearningcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining partner offering Moving Forward Family Services' current students and alumni heavily discounted rates for EMDR training and distance learning programs. Provides specialized therapy training essential for serving clients who may not have access to these services otherwise.
• Scaling Up EMDRcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining partner providing discounted EMDR training programs for Moving Forward interns and alumni. Part of the network of training partners ensuring financial barriers do not limit access to essential training opportunities.
• Radical Compassion InstitutesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining partner offering courses through Tara Brach, providing Moving Forward students and alumni access to compassion-focused training at discounted rates.
• The Knowledge TreesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining partner providing discounted counselling-related workshops and professional development for Moving Forward students and alumni.
• PESIsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining partner offering professional development and continuing education for mental health professionals at discounted rates for Moving Forward students and alumni.
• Steve Frankel GroupsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerTraining partner providing specialized clinical training opportunities for Moving Forward students and alumni at reduced rates.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA): National umbrella non-profit providing mental health promotion, support services, and advocacy across Canada. Comparable as a charity delivering community-based mental health programs, though CMHA operates at much larger national scale rather than focusing on the intern-delivery niche.
• Wellness Together Canada: Government-funded portal offering free mental health and substance use support to Canadians. Comparable as a free, low-barrier counselling resource competing for the same underserved population Moving Forward serves.
• YMCA BC: Large BC non-profit delivering community programs including youth and family services. Comparable as a multi-service charity serving similar Lower Mainland populations with overlapping family-support programming.

Direct peers

• Family Services of Greater Vancouver: BC-based non-profit offering counselling and family support services on a sliding-scale basis. Directly comparable in mission, geography, and target population (low-income families and individuals seeking affordable mental health care).
• Kids Help Phone: Canada-wide charity providing free e-mental-health service to young people via phone and online channels. Comparable as a no-cost, volunteer/professional-staff-supported counselling charity, though focused on youth.
• Pacific Community Resources Society (PCRS): BC non-profit providing counselling, youth services, and family support across the Lower Mainland. Comparable as a community-based social services charity delivering mental health programming in similar geography.
• MOSAIC (Multilingual Orientation Service Association for Immigrant Communities): BC non-profit serving immigrant and refugee communities with settlement, counselling, and multilingual programs. Comparable in BC geography, multicultural/multilingual service delivery, and non-profit family services focus.
• S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Major BC non-profit delivering multilingual social services including counselling and family support to newcomer communities. Comparable in BC geography, charitable model, and multilingual service orientation.

Regional players

• Family Services Toronto: Ontario-based non-profit offering counselling, settlement, and community support services on a sliding scale. Comparable model and mission to Moving Forward but serving the Greater Toronto Area rather than BC.
• Family Services Ottawa: Ontario-based non-profit offering sliding-scale counselling and community support. Comparable in service model (sliding-scale, charity-based family counselling) but operating in a different province.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/movingforwardfs?lang=en
• Facebookfacebook.com/movingforwardfamily
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/moving-forward-family-services
• Instagraminstagram.com/movingforwardfamilies/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Moving Forward Family Services