Counselling FAQ

No referral is needed to access counselling services. You can book directly with us at any time.

Yes, we offer a free 15-minute consultation so you can ask questions, share what you're looking for, and see if the counsellor feels like a good fit.

Finding the right fit matters. You're welcome to browse our team profiles by location and areas of focus, or reach out to our admin team. We're happy to help match you with someone who feels like a good fit. We also offer a free 15-minute consultation so you can connect with a counsellor before booking.

There's no special preparation required. You might spend a few moments thinking about what's bringing you in or what you'd like support with (some people love to bring in a notebook!), but it's also okay to figure that out together in session. Just come as you are.

Your first session is a chance to get to know your counsellor and share what's bringing you in. You can go at your own pace — there's no pressure to share everything right away. Together, you'll begin to explore your goals and what support might look like moving forward.

When parents are separated or divorced, both guardians generally have the right to be informed about their child's counselling and to make their own decision about consenting to treatment. Before your child's first session, we ask the parent arranging the appointment to show us that the other parent has been informed — the easiest way is to send them an email letting them know and CC'ing our admin team. This ensures both parents have the opportunity to be part of the decision. If your family's situation is more complex (for example, if a court order affects guardianship or decision-making), please reach out to our admin team and we'll walk you through what's needed.

A team-based approach like ours works perfectly for this. We have enough counsellors with enough specialties to offer each of your family members their own personal fit — so everyone gets the support that's right for them.

Fees vary depending on the counsellor's level of training, experience, and designation. Payment is typically processed at the time of your appointment. Some counsellors offer direct billing, while others provide receipts for reimbursement. If you have questions about fees or coverage, our admin team is happy to help you find the best option.

Some of our counsellors offer direct billing, but not all. Direct billing depends on the counsellor's registration status, years of experience, and which insurance providers they are approved with. If direct billing is important to you, we recommend reaching out before booking so we can help match you with the right counsellor.

Yes. We offer reduced-fee options through our student counsellors and clinical interns. Some of these sessions are at a set rate of $70, and many offer a pay-what-you-can basis to support accessibility. Our interns and students are closely supervised and committed to providing thoughtful, high-quality care.

Most sessions are 50 minutes. Some counsellors may offer longer sessions depending on your needs and the type of therapy being provided.

We ask for at least 48 hours' notice for cancellations or changes. Late cancellations or missed appointments may be subject to the full session fee. If something unexpected comes up, please reach out — we understand that life happens and will always do our best to support you.

Yes. We offer secure virtual counselling sessions for clients located anywhere in British Columbia.

Our administrative team supports all of our locations and may not always be physically on-site at the office where your appointment is booked. Your counsellor will be there to greet you at your scheduled appointment time. If you arrive early, you're welcome to wait in the designated waiting area (if available), or your counsellor may meet you at the door. If you need support before your appointment, our admin team is always available by phone or email.

That's completely okay. Finding the right fit is important, and we're happy to help you connect with another counsellor on our team. You can reach out to our admin team for support with this process.

Our admin team would be happy to help with continuity of care. This might mean helping set you up with a file transfer to follow your existing counsellor, or if they are not available, matching you with someone similar in our practice.

Yes. Your privacy is very important to us. Everything shared in counselling is kept confidential, with a few legal and ethical exceptions (such as risk of harm to yourself or others, or concerns about the safety of a child). Your counsellor will review confidentiality with you in your first session.

This varies from person to person. Some people attend for a few sessions to address a specific concern, while others prefer longer-term support. You and your counsellor will check in regularly about your goals and what feels helpful.

We support children, youth, adults, couples, and families. Our team has a range of experience and approaches to meet different needs across all ages.

These are different professional designations for trained mental health providers in Canada:

• RCC (Registered Clinical Counsellor) — Registered with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors
• CCC (Canadian Certified Counsellor) — Certified through the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association
• RSW (Registered Social Worker) — Registered with the BC College of Social Workers

All are qualified to provide counselling services, though their training and approaches may vary.