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Blue Cross Therapists in Edmonton

Licensed therapists serving Edmonton, available online and in person. Watch intro videos, compare designations, and book a free 15-minute consultation directly.

Live in Edmonton? Connect with a Blue Cross therapist in-person or online.

Licensed Blue Cross therapists based and insured in Alberta. All therapists on MST timezone unless otherwise noted.

  • Photo of Jasmine Chadha

    Jasmine Chadha

    Canadian Certified Counsellor

    • Offers in-person (Edmonton, AB)
    • Virtual sessions in MB, BC, NL, NT, NS, NU, ON, SK
  • Photo of Cathy Brehaut

    Cathy Brehaut

    Canadian Certified Counsellor

    • Offers in-person (Calgary, AB)
    • Virtual sessions in AB, BC, MB, NT, SK
  • Photo of Katie Harry

    Katie Harry

    Registered Provisional Psychologist

    • Offers in-person (Calgary, AB)
    • Virtual sessions in AB
  • Photo of Natalie Mitchell

    Natalie Mitchell

    Canadian Certified Counsellor

    • Offers in-person (Calgary, AB)
    • Virtual sessions in AB, BC, MB, SK

Online therapy for you in Edmonton.

Out-of-province licensed Blue Cross therapists insured to provide online therapy in Alberta. Timezone availability may vary.

  • Photo of Sanofer Ansari

    Sanofer Ansari

    Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)

    • Virtual sessions in BC, AB, MB, NU, SK, YT, ON, NL, NT
  • Photo of Polina Sabanova

    Polina Sabanova

    Canadian Certified Counsellor

    • Virtual sessions in all provinces and territories.
  • Photo of Laura Grohovac

    Laura Grohovac

    Canadian Certified Counsellor

    • Virtual sessions in BC, AB, YT, SK, MB
  • Photo of Hao Yen Lim

    Hao Yen Lim

    Canadian Certified Counsellor

    • Virtual sessions in all provinces and territories.
  • Photo of Genesis Flores

    Genesis Flores

    Canadian Certified Counsellor

    • Virtual sessions in AB, SK, MB, NL, NT, YT, NU, BC
  • Photo of Linda Ward

    Linda Ward

    Canadian Certified Counsellor

    • Virtual sessions in AB, BC, ON, SK, NT, YT
  • Photo of Flip Smith

    Flip Smith

    Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)

    • Virtual sessions in all provinces and territories.
  • Photo of Jane Whitlaw

    Jane Whitlaw

    Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)

    • Offers in-person (Surrey, BC)
    • Virtual sessions in BC, MB, AB, SK, YT, NL, NT, NU
  • Photo of Shadan Mosavat

    Shadan Mosavat

    Registered Clinical Counsellor

    • Virtual sessions in BC, NU, AB, MB, NL, NT, SK, YT
  • Photo of Richard Tatomir

    Richard Tatomir

    Canadian Certified Counsellor

    • Offers in-person (Langley, BC)
    • Virtual sessions in all provinces and territories.
  • Photo of Areeba Farooq

    Areeba Farooq

    Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)

    • Virtual sessions in ON, BC, AB, MB, SK, NL, NU, NT, YT
  • Photo of Jordan Wiener

    Jordan Wiener

    Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)

    • Virtual sessions in ON, BC, AB, MB, SK, YT, NT, NU, NL

How Alberta Blue Cross Coverage Works for Therapy

Alberta Blue Cross is a separate nonprofit organization from the Blue Cross plans in Ontario, Quebec, and elsewhere. Each of the six Blue Cross plans across Canada operates independently, so a coverage detail true for a Blue Cross plan in another province may not hold here.

Alberta Blue Cross runs two very different kinds of coverage. Employer group plans, the most common route, typically cover psychologists and social workers, with rates and annual maximums set by each employer. The province's own Non-Group plan is far narrower: up to $60 per visit with a registered psychologist, capped at $300 per family each year.

What's on this page reflects what's realistically available, not a promise about your specific plan. The only way to know your exact number is to check your plan documents or call the number on your card, and every First Session profile lists a fee upfront so you can compare it against whatever that number turns out to be.

What to Know About Blue Cross Coverage in Edmonton

Online and in-person

Alberta Blue Cross reimburses online and in-person sessions the same way, coverage is tied to the therapist's designation, not the format.

Any therapist registered in Alberta can see you, including therapists based elsewhere in Canada who are insured to provide online care to Alberta residents. That widens your options beyond whoever has an opening locally, without changing what your plan pays.

Credentials in Alberta

Three designations show up most for Edmonton clients. Registered Psychologists and Registered Provisional Psychologists are regulated by the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP). Registered Social Workers (RSW) are regulated by the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW).

Counselling therapists (RPC) currently register through CPCA, a professional association. Alberta has announced a shift to regulate them under CAP too, though that transition has no confirmed completion date yet. First Session verifies each therapist's current registration at onboarding, so you don't need to track it yourself.

How claims and direct billing work

Alberta Blue Cross offers direct billing for psychology and social work services on many plans, meaning the therapist bills the insurer directly and you pay only the difference. Participation depends on both the plan and the individual provider.

Where direct billing isn't available, First Session profiles list the fee upfront and receipts are provided so you can submit the claim yourself. Confirm your annual maximum before booking a series of sessions, since group plans vary widely on that number.

How to Confirm Your Blue Cross Coverage in Edmonton

1Find your plan type

Confirm which kind of plan you have, an employer group plan or Alberta's Non-Group plan, they cover very different amounts. Your benefits card or HR department can confirm which one applies to you.

2Call the number on your card

Ask specifically what's covered per visit and per year for the designation you're considering, psychologist, RSW, or counselling therapist, since Alberta Blue Cross terms vary by employer even under the same policy name.

3Ask about direct billing before you book

If paying upfront and waiting for reimbursement is a problem for you, confirm with a specific therapist whether they're set up to direct-bill Alberta Blue Cross before your first session.

4Match the designation to your plan

If your plan names a designation specifically, filter for that exact one. If it uses a broader term like "mental health practitioner," most designations on this page will likely qualify, confirm with Blue Cross directly if you're unsure.

5Use the consultation for logistics, not just fit

Use the free 15-minute consultation to confirm a therapist's fee and whether they can provide receipts formatted the way Blue Cross requires, before you commit to a paid session.

“I wish I’d known about this platform sooner! I loved the introductory videos–this is what helped me choose the therapist to book an intro consultation with.”

First Session Client, 2025

Helping Every Therapy Seeker Find the Right Fit

Compatibility is the most important factor when choosing a therapist. But finding the right fit isn’t easy. First Session takes the time, guesswork, and emotional labour out of that process.

  • Search a curated therapist network

    Narrow your search to a list of rigorously vetted therapists you’ll actually consider booking. Because finding a therapist shouldn’t involve reading endless generic bios.

  • Assess for fit before you commit

    Decide if a therapist is the right fit for you before booking with interview videos and in-depth bios. No more switching or re-telling your private feelings and story

  • Book directly (and instantly)

    Schedule an available session or free consultation right from the First Session platform. No 3rd party intake calls or back and forth emailing required.

Free yourself from the stress of endless searching and switching

Convenience-first approach to finding a Blue Cross

  • Burnout from endless search results and unhelpful Blue Cross profiles.
  • Disappointment and frustration from generic intake calls and unproductive ‘free’ consultations.
  • Emotional stress from repeatedly revealing private thoughts and feelings to incompatible Blue Crosss
  • Stalled mental health progress because of limited availability, timezone differences, or constantly switching providers
  • Risk of abandoning therapy process altogether because of frustration, exhaustion, or depression

Connection-first approach to finding a Blue Cross with First Session

  • Instantly create a short-list of Blue Crosss qualified to support your journey
  • Get to know a Blue Cross’s personality, approach, and experience before booking
  • Share your private history, thoughts, and feelings only if there’s a connection
  • Save time and minimize stress by finding the right fit without endless switching
  • Make meaningful progress sooner and commit to lasting, meaningful change

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Alberta Blue Cross the same as Blue Cross in other provinces?

No. Alberta Blue Cross is a separate nonprofit organization from the five other Blue Cross plans across Canada, each operates independently in its own province.

A coverage detail you read about Blue Cross in Ontario or B.C. doesn't necessarily apply here. Check your Alberta Blue Cross plan documents specifically.

Do I need a physician's referral to use my Blue Cross coverage for therapy?

It depends on the plan, this is one of the areas where Alberta Blue Cross plans differ most. Employer group plans typically don't require one for psychologists or social workers.

Alberta's Non-Group plan may require a referral for its limited psychologist benefit. Check your specific policy to confirm.

Does Alberta Blue Cross cover Registered Social Workers as well as psychologists?

On most employer group plans, yes, RSWs are commonly included alongside psychologists. Alberta Blue Cross's own direct-billing program currently names psychologists and social workers specifically.

Coverage for counselling therapists (RPC) varies more by plan, since that designation isn't provincially regulated yet. Confirm before booking if that's the designation you're considering.

What does Alberta's Non-Group plan cover for therapy?

Non-Group coverage, the government-sponsored plan for Albertans without an employer plan, includes a narrow psychology benefit: up to $60 per visit, capped at $300 per family each year.

That's roughly five visits, and it applies only to services from a registered psychologist.

Does therapy work as well online as in person, and is it still covered?

Both. A 2021 meta-analysis comparing video and in-person therapy across 36 studies found virtually no difference in outcomes for most concerns.

Alberta Blue Cross reimburses online sessions from an Alberta-registered therapist the same way it reimburses in-person ones, so coverage isn't a reason to choose one format over the other.

Can a therapist direct-bill Alberta Blue Cross so I don't pay upfront?

Sometimes. Alberta Blue Cross offers direct billing for many psychology and social work claims, but participation depends on both your specific plan and whether that therapist is set up for it.

Ask during the free consultation. If direct billing isn't available, every First Session profile lists the fee upfront so you know the cost before booking.

You deserve more from therapy.

You made the courageous decision to reach your full potential. Find the right therapist to help get you there, and make the most of the time and money you’re investing in yourself.