Free Counselling Consultations in British Columbia
Browse videos, and choose your best match based on availability, and most of all, fit.
Looking to start therapy? Find your next therapist by exploring our directory of counsellors in BC offering free consultations. Take a look at their profiles and watch video clips to get a feel for their therapy style and approach, and schedule a free consultation to see if they’re the right fit for you. The only commitment is to yourself.
Therapists
Rachel Bennett
Registered Psychotherapist
she/her
Borderline Personality Disorder, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Identity and Self-Exploration, Meaning and purpose, Mind-body connection, Highly Sensitive Person, Personal Growth, Depression, Transformative dream work, Complex Trauma (CPTSD), Burnout, Nature-Based Spirituality, Rewilding & Reclaiming the Wild Feminine, Empowerment, Confidence, Reconnection to Lifeforce Energy & Vitality, Befriending the Nervous System, Emotional regulation, Bipolar Disorder, Shadow Work, Negative thinking and ruminating
Borderline Personality Disorder, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Identity and Self-Exploration, Meaning and purpose, Mind-body connection, Highly Sensitive Person, Personal Growth, Depression, Transformative dream work, Complex Trauma (CPTSD), Burnout, Nature-Based Spirituality, Rewilding & Reclaiming the Wild Feminine, Empowerment, Confidence, Reconnection to Lifeforce Energy & Vitality, Befriending the Nervous System, Emotional regulation, Bipolar Disorder, Shadow Work, Negative thinking and ruminating
Virtual Sessions in NU, YT, NT, MB, NL, ON, BC, and SK.
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Hours are listed in EST
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Wendy van Es
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
She/Her
Panic attacks, Social anxiety, Depression, Depression coping skills, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Building Self-Care Routines, Complex Trauma (CPTSD), Childhood trauma, Trauma processing, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Empowerment, Mind-body connection, Self-Criticism, Anxiety, OCD
Panic attacks, Social anxiety, Depression, Depression coping skills, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Building Self-Care Routines, Complex Trauma (CPTSD), Childhood trauma, Trauma processing, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Empowerment, Mind-body connection, Self-Criticism, Anxiety, OCD
Virtual Sessions in ON, MB, AB, SK, and NL.
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Hours are listed in EST
Rebekkah Stainton
Registered Clinical Counsellor
Abuse (Sexual/Physical/Verbal), Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Boundaries and boundary setting, Complex Trauma (CPTSD), Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Blocks in Connecting with Self and Others, Attachment trauma, Building Self-Care Routines, Childhood trauma, Dissociation, Familial and social relationships, Giftedness Issues, Goal Setting, Imposter syndrome, Interpersonal dynamics, Intergenerational trauma
Abuse (Sexual/Physical/Verbal), Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Boundaries and boundary setting, Complex Trauma (CPTSD), Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Blocks in Connecting with Self and Others, Attachment trauma, Building Self-Care Routines, Childhood trauma, Dissociation, Familial and social relationships, Giftedness Issues, Goal Setting, Imposter syndrome, Interpersonal dynamics, Intergenerational trauma
Virtual Sessions in BC.
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Hours are listed in PST
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Katie Harry
Registered Provisional Psychologist
she/her
Anxiety, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Attention and Impulsivity, Blocks in Connecting with Self and Others, Boundaries and boundary setting, Break-up recovery, Building Self-Care Routines, Burnout, Childhood trauma, Conflict resolution, Dating challenges, Depression, Emotional regulation, Grief and Loss, Identity and Self-Exploration, Life transitions, Parental divorce, PTSD, Self harm, Stress, Suicidal ideation, Workplace stress, Family Conflict
Anxiety, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Attention and Impulsivity, Blocks in Connecting with Self and Others, Boundaries and boundary setting, Break-up recovery, Building Self-Care Routines, Burnout, Childhood trauma, Conflict resolution, Dating challenges, Depression, Emotional regulation, Grief and Loss, Identity and Self-Exploration, Life transitions, Parental divorce, PTSD, Self harm, Stress, Suicidal ideation, Workplace stress, Family Conflict
Virtual Sessions in AB.
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Hours are listed in MST
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Mark Peterson
Canadian Certified Counsellor
Addiction, Abuse (Sexual/Physical/Verbal), ADHD, Anger Management, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Children/Teens, Christian counselling, Decision making, Depression, Early childhood, Eating disorders, Life transitions, Phobias, PTSD, Panic attacks
Addiction, Abuse (Sexual/Physical/Verbal), ADHD, Anger Management, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Children/Teens, Christian counselling, Decision making, Depression, Early childhood, Eating disorders, Life transitions, Phobias, PTSD, Panic attacks
Virtual Sessions in MB, AB, BC, SK, NT, YT, NU, PE, and NL.
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Hours are listed in MST
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Sarah Lewis
Registered Clinical Counsellor
She/her
Grief and Loss, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Attachment, Burnout, Caregivers, Caregiver burnout, Adjusting to a diagnosis, Grief Processing, Grief/Loss, Life transitions, Mindfulness, Parkinson's disease, Wellness Counselling
Grief and Loss, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Attachment, Burnout, Caregivers, Caregiver burnout, Adjusting to a diagnosis, Grief Processing, Grief/Loss, Life transitions, Mindfulness, Parkinson's disease, Wellness Counselling
Virtual Sessions in BC.
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Hours are listed in PST
Nisha Thakkar
Registered Psychotherapist
She/Her
Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Anxiety, Attachment wounds, Burnout, Building Self-Care Routines, Complex Trauma (CPTSD), Boundaries and boundary setting, Workplace stress, Anger, Anger Management, Behavioural Issues, Behaviour, Break-up recovery, Childhood trauma, Children/Teens, Coming out and identity, Conflict resolution, Couples Therapy, Cultural Challenges, Dating challenges, Depression, Depression coping skills, Effective communication, Grief and Loss, Mindfulness, BIPOC
Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Anxiety, Attachment wounds, Burnout, Building Self-Care Routines, Complex Trauma (CPTSD), Boundaries and boundary setting, Workplace stress, Anger, Anger Management, Behavioural Issues, Behaviour, Break-up recovery, Childhood trauma, Children/Teens, Coming out and identity, Conflict resolution, Couples Therapy, Cultural Challenges, Dating challenges, Depression, Depression coping skills, Effective communication, Grief and Loss, Mindfulness, BIPOC
Virtual Sessions in ON.
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Hours are listed in EST
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Mohamad Shabib
Canadian Certified Counsellor
Adjusting to a diagnosis, Attention and Impulsivity, Borderline Personality Disorder, Blocks in Connecting with Self and Others, Boundaries and boundary setting, Childhood trauma, Burnout, Familial and social relationships, Empowerment, Depression, BIPOC
Adjusting to a diagnosis, Attention and Impulsivity, Borderline Personality Disorder, Blocks in Connecting with Self and Others, Boundaries and boundary setting, Childhood trauma, Burnout, Familial and social relationships, Empowerment, Depression, BIPOC
Virtual Sessions in BC, MB, ON, NT, AB, SK, YT, NU, and NL.
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Hours are listed in PST
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Alexa Harder
Registered Clinical Counsellor
she/her/hers
Anxiety, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Attachment wounds, Body Dysmorphia, Boundaries and boundary setting, Depression, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Relationships, People pleasing, Perfectionism, Overwhelm, Eating disorders, Familial and social relationships, Fertility, Grief and Loss, Identity and Self-Exploration, Life transitions, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Negative body image, Nervous system regulation, OCD, Building Self-Care Routines
Anxiety, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Attachment wounds, Body Dysmorphia, Boundaries and boundary setting, Depression, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Relationships, People pleasing, Perfectionism, Overwhelm, Eating disorders, Familial and social relationships, Fertility, Grief and Loss, Identity and Self-Exploration, Life transitions, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Negative body image, Nervous system regulation, OCD, Building Self-Care Routines
Virtual Sessions in BC and AB.
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Hours are listed in PST
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Jason Scriven
Pre-Licensed Professional
he/him
Anger Management, Anxiety, Burnout, Career guidance, Co-founder relationships, Workplace stress, College or University Coaching, Effective communication, Family Conflict, Familial and social relationships, Family issues, Imposter syndrome, Infidelity, Masculinity, Men's issues, Motivation, Navigating challenging relationships, Overwhelm, Parental divorce, Performance anxiety, Relationship anxiety, Relationships, Vulnerability, Depression
Anger Management, Anxiety, Burnout, Career guidance, Co-founder relationships, Workplace stress, College or University Coaching, Effective communication, Family Conflict, Familial and social relationships, Family issues, Imposter syndrome, Infidelity, Masculinity, Men's issues, Motivation, Navigating challenging relationships, Overwhelm, Parental divorce, Performance anxiety, Relationship anxiety, Relationships, Vulnerability, Depression
Virtual Sessions in YT, BC, and AB.
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Hours are listed in PST
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Michelle Mammoliti
Registered Psychotherapist
she/her
Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Abuse (Sexual/Physical/Verbal), Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Relationships, Attachment, Boundaries and boundary setting, People pleasing, Attention and Impulsivity
Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Abuse (Sexual/Physical/Verbal), Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Relationships, Attachment, Boundaries and boundary setting, People pleasing, Attention and Impulsivity
Virtual Sessions in ON, SK, and BC.
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Hours are listed in EST
Maria Chaplick
Registered Psychotherapist
she/her
Anger Management, Anxiety, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Assertiveness, Behavioural Issues, Boundaries and boundary setting, Building Meaningful Connections, Building Self-Care Routines, Burnout, Break-up recovery, Effective communication, Emotional regulation, Empowerment, Family Conflict, Fears and phobia, Grief and Loss, Habits, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Meaning and purpose, Mindfulness, Motivation, Negative thinking and ruminating, Navigating challenging relationships, Stress, Understanding & Regulating Emotions
Anger Management, Anxiety, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Assertiveness, Behavioural Issues, Boundaries and boundary setting, Building Meaningful Connections, Building Self-Care Routines, Burnout, Break-up recovery, Effective communication, Emotional regulation, Empowerment, Family Conflict, Fears and phobia, Grief and Loss, Habits, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Meaning and purpose, Mindfulness, Motivation, Negative thinking and ruminating, Navigating challenging relationships, Stress, Understanding & Regulating Emotions
Virtual Sessions in ON.
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Hours are listed in EST
Therapy is hard work.
Finding the right therapist shouldn’t be. Over 10,000 Canadians found their new therapist with First Session.
Frequently asked therapy questions
Does every therapist offer free consultations?
It is common practice for therapists/counsellors to provide free consultations, though some therapists may not extend this offer if they're not currently taking on new clients, or they might require a fee for the first consult.
You can book a free initial consultation with nearly all therapists listed in our directory. It can be very helpful to use the time to meet a potential therapist, learn about their approach, and get a feel for overall compatibility.
How long does a free consultation last? Is it online or over the phone?
Free consultations usually take 15 minutes and will use the same platform as you would for full sessions (i.e. online sessions = online consultation).
What should I expect during a free consultation with a counsellor?
A free consultation acts as an introductory meeting rather than a complete therapy session. You’ll discuss your motivations for seeking therapy, alongside understanding the therapist's methods. It also includes practical details such as scheduling, fees, and confidentiality policies.
What kind of information should I be ready to share with the therapist during our consultation?
Be prepared to briefly discuss what brings you to therapy and what you hope to achieve. Sharing any relevant personal history or current challenges can help the therapist understand your needs.
Can I schedule free consultations with multiple therapists to compare, or is that frowned upon?
Meeting with a few different therapists/counsellors to see who feels right for you is totally okay and can be beneficial, especially if you’re brand new to therapy. Think of it as research to find the best therapist to support you on your mental health journey.
What are the next steps if I feel comfortable with the counsellor and want to start regular sessions?
The therapist will likely leave it up to you to book a full-length session after your consultation – you should feel ready to start, and a good therapist will never try to convince you.
You can let them know on the consult call that you’d like to schedule a full session, or take some time to process before confirming via email.
Is therapy covered by MSP? Can I use my work health insurance?
In British Columbia, the types of counselling covered by provincial healthcare plans (MSP) include psychiatrists via doctor referral, or receiving counselling directly in a medical setting such as from your family doctor or in a hospital.
Otherwise, you can expect therapy costs out-of-pocket in the range of $90 to $200+ per session. You may be able to use your workplace insurance benefits to help offset out-of-pocket expenses. Typically, you pay for your session first and then submit your bill as a claim to your insurance provider for reimbursement after.
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