Online Therapy and Counselling in British Columbia

When booking in-person counselling in British Columbia, you can expect to see a counsellor in a private office, home office, clinic, centre, or shared office space. However, it is becoming more common to find online counselling in British Columbia, especially after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Virtual appointments allow clients and counsellors to connect via the phone or video chat with more flexibility. Some counsellors use specific digital platforms for online appointments, and others may connect with you via Zoom or Skype. 

To book either online or in-person counselling, you can contact a counsellor’s office directly or you can easily book counselling online with First Session. 

Before you get started, it’s a good idea to check for free counselling consultations in British Columbia. These 15-minute initial meetings let you and the counsellor discuss your needs and goals, and it’s your chance to see if they’re a good fit for you. You can also ask them about their experience, education, specialities and techniques on the call. 

There are also a number of emergency and non-emergency mental health hotlines available for people in British Columbia. You can find them on the HeretoHelp website. 

In British Columbia, three types of therapists are regulated by law—psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers. This means that they must meet certain education and training requirements to practice under those titles, and they must be registered and licensed by the relevant governing body (known as a college) for their designation.

Psychotherapists, therapists or counsellors in BC do not yet have the same regulations overseeing them—regulations are coming soon for the title of Counselling Therapist. Look for titles like Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) or Certified Clinical Counsellor (CCC). These are credible practitioners that belong to self-governed professional associations. There are other titles overseen by associations across BC—take some time to review them and their requirements if you come across other titles. You could also receive psychotherapy or counselling therapy from another regulated practitioner, like a psychologist or social worker. 

First Session carefully vets all therapists and counsellors to ensure they meet requirements in their region and are certified by the correct legal or self-governing bodies.

Psychiatry is a medical field of study. Psychiatrists can prescribe medications. Usually an appointment would require a referral from a doctor and it’s unlikely you will be able to book counselling time with them. 

Psychologists in British Columbia will hold a PhD. Psychologists can either work directly with patients or clients offering counselling or psychotherapy, or they might remain in academia conducting studies and furthering research in the field of mental health. Psychologists can identify and diagnose mental health conditions but they cannot prescribe medication.

It’s a common misconception that social workers in British Columbia are only available via community or social services. Social service workers differ from social workers. Registered Social Workers (RSW) are counsellors. They can work in a variety of settings, like hospitals, or they can be booked directly for counselling therapy, including on First Session. Those with a title of Registered Clinical Social Worker (RCSW) have additional training and certification which allows them to diagnose mental health disorders using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5). 

You can book counselling appointments on First Session with social workers, counsellors or psychologists in British Columbia.

A number one question people have before seeking counselling is: “how much does therapy or counselling cost?”

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. The provincial government does, however, have a resources page available with a number of affordable and accessible mental health care options.

Otherwise, you can expect therapy costs out-of-pocket in the range of $50 to $300+ per session. Your counsellor’s years of experience, their location, level of education and training will dictate their fees. For example, a new counselling therapist might charge $50 or $75 per session, but seasoned psychologists will likely fall into the $200 to $350 range. 

You may be able to access therapy and counselling coverage by workplace insurance benefits to help offset costs. If you have health benefits through your employer, check your benefits booklet or chat with your insurance provider to better understand your coverage. Importantly, your employer is not notified of your usage. Typically you pay for your session first and then submit your bill as a claim to your insurance provider for reimbursement after.

If you don’t have coverage through an employer, costs can be a barrier for many. There are therapists and counsellors who offer affordable and sliding scale therapy to make counselling accessible for more people. Usually, a counsellor will allocate only a certain number of discounted sessions per month. You’ll see clearly on First Session which counsellors offer sliding scale appointments, but you should always feel welcome to ask. If a counsellor cannot provide a discount, they may have other solutions available or can point you to other resources.

Anyone can book an appointment with a counsellor. You do not have to wait until your symptoms are “bad enough” to start looking into counselling. 

While some people are referred to counselling, many people begin the search on their own for  individual counselling. Individual counselling means you’re meeting with a counsellor one-on-one. However, group counselling can be beneficial especially if social interactions are part of your treatments. There are also counsellors who specialize in family or couples counselling. 

You can easily browse counsellors on First Session in those categories and more:

• Couples and marriage therapy
• Family therapy
• Men’s therapy
• Group therapy
• Child therapy
• Teen and youth therapy

Finding a counsellor that is focused on your demographic can be effective. For example, there are more counsellors available now who focus on historically underrepresented demographics. First Session lists therapists who specialize in LGBTQ2IA+ therapy or BIPOC therapy, and more. When a counsellor understands your lived experiences, they’re often better able to understand your obstacles and challenges, and can offer insights that are sensitive to those issues—this can be helpful, but not a must. 

Counsellors can specialize in treating mental health conditions and challenges like ADHD, anger, panic and even video game addiction. We know that those who visit First Session are usually looking for anxiety therapy or depression therapy. However, you likely will not know what specialization you need at first, so you can also think about more situational searches, like grief counselling. Counselling is a journey and, regardless of where or how you start, you could uncover more specific or deeper rooted issues for which you want to continue to seek treatment.

Some other popular specialization categories on First Session include: 

• OCD therapy
• Relationship therapy
• Sex therapy
• Trauma therapy
• PTSD therapy

Counselling for mental health challenges and disorders can take many different forms. Counsellors tend to specialize in a core set of techniques for treatment, known as modalities. Some of the most commonly searched modalities are CBT (cognitive behaviour therapy), DBT (dialectical behaviour therapy), EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing), and somatic therapy.

CBT and DBT are both categorized as “cognitive” therapies. They address the process and cycle of thoughts, behaviours and emotions. If you’re starting CBT therapy, you can expect  your counsellor to work with you to get a sense of your thought and behaviour patterns, and they may help you to challenge negative or distorted thinking. CBT usually takes place over a set number of appointments, and often involves some journaling or “homework” between sessions.

DBT therapy is often helpful for those who have more serious impulsive or self-destructive behaviour and heightened emotional responses. “Dialectical” refers to two opposing forces; two things may be true at the same time. For those who struggle with all-or-nothing or binary thinking, DBT can help them acknowledge and accept life’s challenges and keep working on moving forward. There is a social interactions component to DBT and so this often involves group counselling.

Somatic therapy tackles how we carry our mental health and stress in our physical selves. Everyone has that fight, flight or freeze response, but we can easily get stuck in a response when there is no real danger in front of us, especially if we’ve experienced some kind of trauma. This keeps our nervous system revved up and can result in serious mental and physical symptoms. Becoming aware of our nervous system’s response to stress can help us handle cognitive issues we may not even be aware of.

Within the somatic therapy category is EMDR. If seeking EMDR therapy, you can expect to find counsellors who specialize in trauma or PTSD—this is what EMDR was designed for. These counsellors will help guide you through recalling traumatic memories while they direct your eyes to move in certain directions, perhaps with a pen or finger. Research indicates this method helps create new neurological pathways in the brain that helps reprogram traumatic memories to process them in a new and healthier way.

You can search for counsellors or therapists by-modality on First Session, and read about which modalities they use on their profile pages.

To find a qualified online therapist in BC, you can start by searching online directories or using search engines. Look for therapists who are licensed to practice in British Columbia and have experience in the specific areas you need help with, such as anxiety, depression, or relationship issues. 

Yes, online therapy in BC can be just as effective as in-person therapy for many individuals. Numerous studies have shown that online therapy can produce positive outcomes and is particularly beneficial for those who may face barriers to accessing in-person services, such as geographical distance or mobility issues. It's important to choose a qualified therapist and a secure platform to ensure the effectiveness of online therapy.

Many private insurance plans in BC do provide coverage for online therapy and counselling services. It's essential to check with your insurance provider to understand your specific coverage and any limitations. In some cases, government-funded healthcare programs may also cover online mental health services, so it's advisable to inquire with your provincial health authority for more information.