Free Counselling Consultations in British Columbia

Browse videos, and choose your best match based on availability, and most of all, fit.

Tiles of headshot of First Session therapists
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Looking to start therapy? Find your next therapist by exploring our directory of counsellors in BC offering free consultations. Take a look at their profiles and watch video clips to get a feel for their therapy style and approach, and schedule a free consultation to see if they’re the right fit for you. The only commitment is to yourself.

Therapists

Margaret Hux

Registered Psychotherapist
Waitlist
Offers In-Person (Burlington, ON)
Virtual Sessions in MB, ON, NB, PE, NS, BC, SK, AB, and NL.
Waitlist
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Margaret Hux

Margaret Hux

Registered Psychotherapist
she/her
$165/session
Aging, Anxiety, Career guidance, Chronic and acute illness, Depression, Depression coping skills, Existential questions, Emotional regulation, Fears and phobia, Familial and social relationships, Health anxiety, Negative thinking and ruminating, Panic attacks, PTSD, Addiction, Workplace stress, Abuse (Sexual/Physical/Verbal), Grief and Loss
Aging, Anxiety, Career guidance, Chronic and acute illness, Depression, Depression coping skills, Existential questions, Emotional regulation, Fears and phobia, Familial and social relationships, Health anxiety, Negative thinking and ruminating, Panic attacks, PTSD, Addiction, Workplace stress, Abuse (Sexual/Physical/Verbal), Grief and Loss

Ahilia Singh Morales

Registered Social Worker
Waitlist
Offers In-Person (Toronto, ON)
Virtual Sessions in ON.
Waitlist
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Ahilia Singh Morales

Ahilia Singh Morales

Registered Social Worker
she/her
$225/session
BIPOC, Complex Trauma (CPTSD), Nervous system regulation, Abuse (Sexual/Physical/Verbal), Addiction, ADHD, Adjusting to a diagnosis, Anxiety, Attachment trauma, Childhood trauma, Burnout, Chronic Illness, Depression, Intergenerational trauma, Highly Sensitive Person, Maternal mental health, Pain management, PTSD, Trauma, Spirituality
BIPOC, Complex Trauma (CPTSD), Nervous system regulation, Abuse (Sexual/Physical/Verbal), Addiction, ADHD, Adjusting to a diagnosis, Anxiety, Attachment trauma, Childhood trauma, Burnout, Chronic Illness, Depression, Intergenerational trauma, Highly Sensitive Person, Maternal mental health, Pain management, PTSD, Trauma, Spirituality

Nicholas Balaisis

Registered Psychotherapist
Waitlist
Offers In-Person (Kitchener, ON)
Virtual Sessions in ON, AB, BC, and QC.
Waitlist
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Nicholas Balaisis

Nicholas Balaisis

Registered Psychotherapist
$155/session
Anxiety, Attachment, Attachment wounds, Building Meaningful Connections, Burnout, Career guidance, Couples Therapy, Depression, Emotional regulation, Existential questions, Familial and social relationships, Identity and Self-Exploration, Masculinity, Insomnia, Infidelity, Intimacy concerns, Meaning and purpose, Men's issues, Performance anxiety, Parenting, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Transformative dream work, Sexuality, Relationships, Spirituality
Anxiety, Attachment, Attachment wounds, Building Meaningful Connections, Burnout, Career guidance, Couples Therapy, Depression, Emotional regulation, Existential questions, Familial and social relationships, Identity and Self-Exploration, Masculinity, Insomnia, Infidelity, Intimacy concerns, Meaning and purpose, Men's issues, Performance anxiety, Parenting, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Transformative dream work, Sexuality, Relationships, Spirituality

Andrew Goldstein

Registered Social Worker
Waitlist
Offers In-Person (North York, ON)
Virtual Sessions in ON.
Waitlist
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Andrew Goldstein

Andrew Goldstein

Registered Social Worker
He/Him
$170/session
Depression, Anxiety, Separation and divorce, Boundaries and boundary setting, Chronic and acute illness, Aging, Adjusting to a diagnosis, Creativity, Family Conflict, Break-up recovery, Familial and social relationships, Identity and Self-Exploration, Vulnerability, Trauma processing, Grief and Loss
Depression, Anxiety, Separation and divorce, Boundaries and boundary setting, Chronic and acute illness, Aging, Adjusting to a diagnosis, Creativity, Family Conflict, Break-up recovery, Familial and social relationships, Identity and Self-Exploration, Vulnerability, Trauma processing, Grief and Loss

Dale Bricker

Psychologist
Waitlist
Offers In-Person (Toronto, ON)
Virtual Sessions in ON.
Waitlist
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Dale Bricker

Dale Bricker

Psychologist
He/Him/His
$240/session
Self-Development, Stress, Relationships, Depression, Anxiety, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Boundaries and boundary setting, Career guidance, Conflict resolution, Effective communication, Family issues, Imposter syndrome, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Navigating challenging relationships, Workplace stress
Self-Development, Stress, Relationships, Depression, Anxiety, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Boundaries and boundary setting, Career guidance, Conflict resolution, Effective communication, Family issues, Imposter syndrome, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Navigating challenging relationships, Workplace stress

Stefan Milosevic

Registered Psychotherapist
Waitlist
Offers In-Person (Markham, ON)
Virtual Sessions in ON, BC, MB, SK, AB, NU, YT, and NT.
Waitlist
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Stefan Milosevic

Stefan Milosevic

Registered Psychotherapist
He/Him
$180/session
OCD, Trauma, Anxiety, Addiction, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Stress, ADHD, Attachment trauma, Building Meaningful Connections, Assertiveness, Conflict resolution, Competitive anxiety, Health anxiety, Social anxiety, Phobias, Fears and phobia, Specific phobias, Relationship anxiety, Trauma processing, Childhood trauma, Neurodiversity
OCD, Trauma, Anxiety, Addiction, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Stress, ADHD, Attachment trauma, Building Meaningful Connections, Assertiveness, Conflict resolution, Competitive anxiety, Health anxiety, Social anxiety, Phobias, Fears and phobia, Specific phobias, Relationship anxiety, Trauma processing, Childhood trauma, Neurodiversity

Sasha Lizárraga

Registered Social Worker
Waitlist
Offers In-Person (Toronto, ON)
Virtual Sessions in ON.
Waitlist
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Sasha Lizárraga

Jupiter Vaughan

Registered Psychotherapist
Waitlist
Offers In-Person (Toronto, ON)
Virtual Sessions in BC, SK, MB, ON, NL, YT, NU, and NT.
Waitlist
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Jupiter Vaughan

Jupiter Vaughan

Registered Psychotherapist
$200/session
Anxiety, Depression, Relationships, Addiction, ADHD, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Anger Management, Blocks in Connecting with Self and Others, Borderline Personality Disorder, Boundaries and boundary setting, Burnout, Childhood trauma, Conflict resolution, Effective communication, Emotional regulation, Familial and social relationships, Imposter syndrome, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Men's issues, Negative body image, Panic attacks, PTSD, School challenges, Sexuality, Workplace stress, Abuse (Sexual/Physical/Verbal), Body Dysmorphia, Children/Teens, Grief and Loss
Anxiety, Depression, Relationships, Addiction, ADHD, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Anger Management, Blocks in Connecting with Self and Others, Borderline Personality Disorder, Boundaries and boundary setting, Burnout, Childhood trauma, Conflict resolution, Effective communication, Emotional regulation, Familial and social relationships, Imposter syndrome, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Men's issues, Negative body image, Panic attacks, PTSD, School challenges, Sexuality, Workplace stress, Abuse (Sexual/Physical/Verbal), Body Dysmorphia, Children/Teens, Grief and Loss

Shannon Freud

Registered Social Worker
Waitlist
Offers In-Person (Toronto, ON)
Virtual Sessions in ON.
Waitlist
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Shannon Freud

Shannon Freud

Registered Social Worker
She/Her
$170/session
Addiction, ADHD, Adjusting to a diagnosis, Anger, Anxiety, Attachment, Blocks in Connecting with Self and Others, Borderline Personality Disorder, Boundaries and boundary setting, Break-up recovery, Caregivers, Parenting, Caregiver burnout, Coming out and identity, Dealing with difficult or narcissistic personalities, Eating disorders, Couples Therapy, Depression, Identity, LGBTQ2IA+, Racism, Attention and Impulsivity, Grief and Loss
Addiction, ADHD, Adjusting to a diagnosis, Anger, Anxiety, Attachment, Blocks in Connecting with Self and Others, Borderline Personality Disorder, Boundaries and boundary setting, Break-up recovery, Caregivers, Parenting, Caregiver burnout, Coming out and identity, Dealing with difficult or narcissistic personalities, Eating disorders, Couples Therapy, Depression, Identity, LGBTQ2IA+, Racism, Attention and Impulsivity, Grief and Loss

Paula Fernández

Registered Social Worker
Waitlist
Offers In-Person (Toronto, ON)
Virtual Sessions in ON.
Waitlist
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Paula Fernández

Paula Fernández

Registered Social Worker
She/Her
$175/session
Wellness Counselling, Dating challenges, Identity and Self-Exploration, Adjusting to a diagnosis, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Assertiveness, Attachment, Boundaries and boundary setting, Depression, Family issues, Mindfulness Practices, Life transitions, People pleasing, Self-esteem, Relationships, Transformative dream work, Spirituality, Trauma, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Workplace stress, Women's Health, Grief and Loss
Wellness Counselling, Dating challenges, Identity and Self-Exploration, Adjusting to a diagnosis, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Assertiveness, Attachment, Boundaries and boundary setting, Depression, Family issues, Mindfulness Practices, Life transitions, People pleasing, Self-esteem, Relationships, Transformative dream work, Spirituality, Trauma, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Workplace stress, Women's Health, Grief and Loss

Natasha Sandy

Registered Psychotherapist
Waitlist
Offers In-Person (Toronto, ON)
Virtual Sessions in ON.
Waitlist
Show More
Natasha Sandy

Natasha Sandy

Registered Psychotherapist
$180/session
Supervising qualifying therapists, Anxiety, Depression, Relationships, Trauma processing, Attachment wounds, Assertiveness, Blocks in Connecting with Self and Others, Boundaries and boundary setting, Burnout, Building Meaningful Connections, Workplace stress, Break-up recovery, Childhood trauma, Trauma, Mental Decolonization, Connecting with your Inherent Power, Oppressive family dynamics (e.g. emotional, physical or spiritual abuse or neglect), Abuse (Sexual/Physical/Verbal)
Supervising qualifying therapists, Anxiety, Depression, Relationships, Trauma processing, Attachment wounds, Assertiveness, Blocks in Connecting with Self and Others, Boundaries and boundary setting, Burnout, Building Meaningful Connections, Workplace stress, Break-up recovery, Childhood trauma, Trauma, Mental Decolonization, Connecting with your Inherent Power, Oppressive family dynamics (e.g. emotional, physical or spiritual abuse or neglect), Abuse (Sexual/Physical/Verbal)
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Therapy is hard work.

Finding the right therapist shouldn’t be. Over 10,000 Canadians found their new therapist with First Session.

Frequently asked therapy questions

Does every therapist offer free consultations?

It is common practice for therapists/counsellors to provide free consultations, though some therapists may not extend this offer if they're not currently taking on new clients, or they might require a fee for the first consult.

You can book a free initial consultation with nearly all therapists listed in our directory. It can be very helpful to use the time to meet a potential therapist, learn about their approach, and get a feel for overall compatibility.

How long does a free consultation last? Is it online or over the phone?

Free consultations usually take 15 minutes and will use the same platform as you would for full sessions (i.e. online sessions = online consultation).

What should I expect during a free consultation with a counsellor?

A free consultation acts as an introductory meeting rather than a complete therapy session. You’ll discuss your motivations for seeking therapy, alongside understanding the therapist's methods. It also includes practical details such as scheduling, fees, and confidentiality policies.

What kind of information should I be ready to share with the therapist during our consultation?

Be prepared to briefly discuss what brings you to therapy and what you hope to achieve. Sharing any relevant personal history or current challenges can help the therapist understand your needs.

Can I schedule free consultations with multiple therapists to compare, or is that frowned upon?

Meeting with a few different therapists/counsellors to see who feels right for you is totally okay and can be beneficial, especially if you’re brand new to therapy. Think of it as research to find the best therapist to support you on your mental health journey.

What are the next steps if I feel comfortable with the counsellor and want to start regular sessions?

The therapist will likely leave it up to you to book a full-length session after your consultation – you should feel ready to start, and a good therapist will never try to convince you. 

You can let them know on the consult call that you’d like to schedule a full session, or take some time to process before confirming via email.

Is therapy covered by MSP? Can I use my work health insurance?

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.

Otherwise, you can expect therapy costs out-of-pocket in the range of $90 to $200+ per session. You may be able to use your workplace insurance benefits to help offset out-of-pocket expenses. Typically, you pay for your session first and then submit your bill as a claim to your insurance provider for reimbursement after.

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