The fastest way to find the Registered Social Worker in Nanaimo you need for meaningful change. See if a social worker is the right fit before you book with in-depth social worker videos and bios. Then, instantly schedule a free consultation from the First Session platform.
Licensed Registered Social Workers based and insured in British Columbia. All Registered Social Workers on PST timezone unless otherwise noted.
Registered Social Worker
Registered Social Worker
Registered Social Worker
Registered Social Worker
Out-of-province licensed Registered Social Workers insured to provide online therapy in British Columbia. Timezone availability may vary.
Registered Social Worker
Registered Social Worker
Registered Social Worker
Registered Social Worker
Registered Social Worker
Registered Social Worker
Registered Social Worker
Registered Social Worker
In British Columbia, a Registered Social Worker is a social worker registered with the BC College of Social Workers (BCCSW). The college says nobody may use the title to describe their services unless they are registered or exempt.
RSWs offer counselling, and the college says they may provide psychotherapy under the Social Workers Act. A bio on First Session describes the approaches a social worker uses and the concerns they work with.
An intro video shows how the social worker speaks and listens, so you know the feel of a session before you book one.
Nanaimo residents can see a Registered Social Worker in person or by video, and the listings above show who offers what.
Video sessions also open the door to social workers based elsewhere in Canada who are insured to provide online therapy in British Columbia.
The Government of BC says BCCSW regulates social workers under the Social Workers Act. The Health Professions and Occupations Act replaced the Health Professions Act on April 1, 2026.
Registered Clinical Social Workers (RCSWs) must pass the ASWB Clinical exam. The college says they may assess, diagnose and treat mental disorders based on the DSM.
First Session's BC guide puts private counselling at $100 to $200 per hour on average. The BC Association of Clinical Counsellors recommends $140 to $225 per 50-minute session for Registered Clinical Counsellors, depending on experience and specialization.
Manulife names social workers as an example of the mental health practitioners an extended health plan may include. Coverage depends on your plan, and a receipt follows each session.
Island Health runs Nanaimo Mental Health & Substance Use at 203-2000 Island Highway North, a single access point for adults. Call 250-739-5710 to book an intake appointment, offered from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Use the filters to narrow the list to your concern, such as trauma, ADHD or addiction. Then read how each social worker describes their training and their way of working with it.
Each profile shows the designation. Look for RCSW if you want a social worker who may assess and diagnose, according to the college.
Play the intro video on two or three profiles. Notice pace, tone and warmth, then shortlist the social worker you could picture talking with regularly.
The free 15-minute consultation is a chance to ask how they would approach your concern, whether sessions run online or in person, and how cancellations work.
Fees appear on the profile before you book. Compare them with your plan's per-session limit, and ask your insurer whether social workers are named as covered providers.
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“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
Compatibility is the most important factor when choosing a social worker. But finding the right fit isn’t easy. First Session takes the time, guesswork, and emotional labour out of that process.
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.
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
Schedule an available session or free consultation right from the First Session platform. No 3rd party intake calls or back and forth emailing required.
It can. Manulife says an extended health benefit may include mental health practitioners such as clinical counsellors, psychologists and social workers.
Sun Life says social workers sit under shared maximums on its standard plans. Sign in to your insurer's member site, or ask your benefits administrator, to see the exact limit.
After each session you receive a receipt to submit to your insurer.
Yes. The listings above show who offers online sessions, and the online listings add social workers based elsewhere in Canada.
First Session's online therapy guide cites a Scientific American report on a study of over 25,000 patients. It found online talk therapy as helpful for anxiety and depression as in-person therapy.
Try a first video call through the free consultation to check sound, privacy and fit.
Yes, VIU says counselling is free for currently enrolled students. Call 250-740-6416 or visit building 200, room 308, Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Island Health lists drop-in crisis counselling in Nanaimo, open until 5:15 in the afternoon. Pathways BC lists it at no cost, with no appointment. The number is 250-739-5710.
A private Registered Social Worker suits you if you want to pick the person and choose your own times.
An RCSW can. BCCSW says RCSWs may assess, diagnose and treat mental disorders based on the DSM. The clinical registration requires a board-approved master's degree in social work or an equivalent.
Check the designation line on the profile to see which title the social worker holds.
If a diagnosis matters to you, ask in the consultation how the social worker handles assessment.
Pick a profile and book from the calendar. First Session says therapists keep their calendars updated in real time, so you see open times.
Prices appear tax-inclusive. You can start with the free 15-minute consultation or go straight to a full session.
According to BCCSW, the new psychotherapy designation does not prohibit RSWs or RCSWs from providing psychotherapy. From November 29, 2027, psychotherapy as a profession falls under the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC.
BCCSW says RSWs and RCSWs may continue to provide psychotherapy under the Social Workers Act, and it calls the new model complementary to the current framework.
The profile lists the designation, and the free consultation is the place to ask how a social worker practises.
You made the courageous decision to reach your full potential. Find the right social worker to help get you there, and make the most of the time and money you’re investing in yourself.
