Licensed Registered Social Workers serving Richmond, BC, available online and in person. Watch intro videos, compare bios, and book a free 15-minute consultation directly.
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
The BC College of Social Workers (BCCSW) regulates social work in British Columbia. It says anyone who represents themselves as a social worker must be registered, with exemptions for certain exempt employers.
Full registration gives the right to use the title Registered Social Worker (RSW). According to the College, an RSW may practise within an organization or in private practice, and completes continuing professional development annually.
This page lists Richmond-based RSWs first, followed by RSWs elsewhere in Canada who provide online therapy to BC clients. Profiles on First Session include an intro video and an in-depth bio.
The listings above show who offers what, and Richmond residents can book from either group. The second group lists RSWs based outside BC who are insured to provide online therapy in the province.
Full registration gives the RSW title. Clinical registration is a separate class that gives the Registered Clinical Social Worker (RCSW) title. It requires a master's degree in social work or an equivalent the board approves.
The BCCSW says RCSWs may assess, diagnose and treat mental disorders using the DSM. First Session profiles show the designation, so you can see which one you are booking.
The UBC Psychology Clinic's 2023 guide to full-cost therapy in the Lower Mainland lists two fees. Burnaby Counselling Group charges $150 for a 50-minute session with a Registered Clinical Counsellor or Registered Social Worker. Richmond Counselling & Wellness lists $145 to $175 for a clinical counsellor.
First Session profiles list fees, and receipts are provided for reimbursement. The Government of BC's MSP page names physician, midwife, diagnostic and several supplementary services. Social work counselling is not among the services it names.
Vancouver Coastal Health runs Richmond Mental Health and Substance Use Central Intake at 604-204-1111, with drop-in at Richmond Place on Granville. Intake is offered in English, Cantonese and Mandarin, with free interpreting in other languages.
If a formal assessment is part of your goal, ask whether the therapist is an RCSW. The College says RCSWs may assess, diagnose and treat mental disorders using the DSM. For ongoing counselling, the bio is the better guide to training and focus.
Filter by the issue you want help with, then read each bio for who the therapist works with and which approaches they use. Note one or two details to ask about in a consultation.
Pace, tone and warmth come through on video. Watch two or three videos before you decide and notice which voice you could talk to for 50 minutes.
First Session offers a free 15-minute consultation you can book from a profile. Ask how the therapist works with your concern, how often sessions usually run, and whether they offer evening times or video sessions.
“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.
Both are registered with the BCCSW. RSW is the title for full registration, and RCSW is the title for clinical registration.
The College lists a master's degree in social work as the education for clinical registration, and says RCSWs may assess, diagnose and treat mental disorders using the DSM.
Yes, according to the BCCSW. It states that registrants who provide psychotherapy may continue to do so under the authority of the Social Workers Act. They follow the College's standards of practice and code of ethics.
The College also states that psychotherapy "will be regulated" by the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC from November 29, 2027. Read the BCCSW's statement on psychotherapy for the current wording.
It can, depending on the plan. GreenShield says eligible providers depend on the plan, and that social workers are increasingly covered as a separate category on newer plans. UBC Human Resources lists licensed psychologists, social workers and registered clinical counsellors under its Sun Life extended health plan, up to $3,000 per person per benefit year.
Look for the words "social worker" in your benefits booklet and note the yearly maximum. Profiles show each therapist's designation, so you can match it to your plan before booking.
For adults with depression, anxiety or PTSD, a brief from the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table reports that virtual psychotherapy was as efficacious as in-person care. The brief found inconclusive evidence for severe mental illness and says in-person options should remain available.
Tell a therapist in your consultation what you want to work on, and ask how they run sessions by video.
BounceBack, run by CMHA BC, is a free skill-building program for low mood, mild to moderate depression, anxiety, and stress or worry. It accepts adults 19 and older and youth 13 to 18. Coaching is by phone or online, and you can register on the website.
Vancouver Coastal Health's Richmond services have their own age ranges and referral rules. Some accept self-referral, and others need a referral from a health-care provider. Central Intake at 604-204-1111 can point you to the right one.
The BCCSW takes complaints about registered social workers. The College says complainants must identify themselves, and it does not process anonymous submissions as formal complaints.
The College cannot require a social worker to refund fees or follow a specific treatment plan. Its Verify a Social Worker directory shows whether someone is registered.
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.
