Frequently Asked Questions

Financial hardship should not be a barrier to accessing mental health services! Counselling is an investment but if you’re struggling to access counselling due to the costs, we offer a “sliding scale” to a limited number of clients. Inquire with your counsellor about some options that will be more manageable for you. Contact us

Individuals can be referred for Counselling for just about anything, and a lot of the time it’s to help them get through a stressful event or period in their life. There is a difference between being diagnosed with a mental illness and experiencing symptoms of mental illness. For example, someone can be diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) while another person experiences symptoms of anxiety or depression.

Registered Clinical Counsellors don’t diagnose mental health disorders. That is typically done by a Registered Psychologist or Psychiatrist. However, registered clinical counsellors complete specialized training certifications to offer advanced therapeutic techniques and may treat clients with specific diagnoses. If you’re having periods of low mood after a relationship breakup or experiencing anxiety about an upcoming event, a Master’s level Registered Clinical Counsellor would be appropriate.

Life is busy! Not everyone can take time away from their daily responsibilities to attend a counselling session. For folks who have limited availability or who struggle to find a time that fits with their schedule, I offer Counselling sessions outside of my available times on a first-come, first-serve basis. If you work long hours or don’t have time during the week, I am happy to figure out a time that fits with your schedule, however, may not be able to accommodate all requests.

Aside from free consultations and initial sessions, standard counselling sessions are 50-minutes long. Why? We use the extra time to make brief notes of what was accomplished or addressed during the session, or any new concerns that you’d like to address in the next session. The notes don’t contain extensive details about each and every session but allow for better continuity of care and ensure we accomplish your goals for therapy. See our Privacy Policy or ask your counsellor for more information if you have any concerns. 

Joey (or any other dog) would only be in the office during your session if you’ve made prior arrangements with the therapist. If you have concerns about allergies or phobias, please let us know and we’ll ensure we meet you individual needs! Contact us

Great question, it can be really confusing because right now in BC, anyone can call themselves a “counsellor.” There are a variety titles, credentials, and professional designations that mental health professionals use, but the key ones typically differentiate between education level. Here’s a brief description of some of those differences. 

“Registered Clinical Counsellor” (or RCC) is a designation that indicates that the counsellor/therapist is a member of the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC). The BCACC sets the standards of practice and code of ethics for counsellors. The minimum education required to become an RCC is a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology or Social Work. An RCC has also completed a minimum of 100 hours of clinical supervision, on top of required clinical hours for their education programs (i.e., clinical internships). The therapist might have MC, MACP, MA, MEd degrees, all of which meet the standard to register. You can check to see if your counsellor is registered with the association here. An RCC doesn’t diagnose clients, nor do they prescribe medications, but will support their clients by connecting them with the appropriate resources and professionals. The rates for RCC’s are typically lower than a Psychologist and aren’t covered by MSP or all extended benefits providers.

“Registered Psychologist” (or RP) is a term used for therapists who have completed a Doctorate (PhD or PsyD) degree and use “Dr.” as their title. Their extensive education, training, and clinical research experience allows them to do higher level assessments (e.g., neuropsychological, psychoeducational) as well as offer mental health or psychological diagnoses. However, they do not prescribe medication. Some Psychologists focus on clinical research, some work in public health (e.g., hospitals), while others offer therapy in private practice. Psychologists conduct Evaluations that are required when applying for some insurance benefits or support programs. Costs and rates to see a psychologist vary and are sometimes covered under MSP or extended benefits.

“Psychiatrist” is a term for a medical professional who holds a medical degree (or MD). They are trained physicians who have specialized in Psychiatric medicine. These Physicians can offer diagnoses and prescribe medications to treat mental health diagnoses (e.g., mood stabilizers, anti-depressants) but don’t necessarily see their patients on a regular basis for typical therapy sessions. A referral to a Psychiatrist would be covered under MSP.

Other terms you might see is “Psychotherapist” which is often used interchangeably with “Counsellor” or “Therapist” by mental health professionals who engage in talk therapy, which usually refers to individual, couples, or group therapy sessions. It is important to recognize that “Counsellor” is not yet a protected title in BC. Some professionals use “Registered Professional Counsellor,” “Licenced Professional Counsellor,” or “Certified Life Coach” however, they may not have a graduate degree in Counselling.

If you’ve been referred for “Counselling” you will most likely see a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) or a Registered Psychologist (RP). It’s important that you do your due diligence and ask for their qualifications before starting to work with someone! The most important piece is that you find a qualified and skilled therapist that you feel comfortable and safe with.

Unfortunately, no. Although there are some overlapping skills, techniques, and knowledge domains, the overarching goals are different. Additionally, VR and Counselling use different approaches and interventions, and have different governing bodies (Associations) that set the conditions for offering services. 

It would be considered a “dual relationship” to begin clinical counselling sessions if we are already, or have previously engaged in VR services. If you find that you might benefit from a different service, I can help connect you to someone who can support you.