Free Counselling Consultations in British Columbia
Browse videos, and choose your best match based on availability, and most of all, fit.
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
Daisie Auty
Registered Social Worker
Virtual Sessions in ON.
Waitlist
Daisie Auty
Registered Social Worker
she/her
ADHD, Relationships, LGBTQ2IA+, Adjusting to a diagnosis, Anxiety, Assertiveness, Attachment, Break-up recovery, Burnout, Coming out and identity, Complex Trauma (CPTSD), Emotional regulation, Dating challenges, Familial and social relationships, Family issues, Identity, Neurodiversity, Intergenerational trauma, Parenting, Relationship anxiety, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Sexuality and gender issues, Self-Criticism, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Workplace stress
ADHD, Relationships, LGBTQ2IA+, Adjusting to a diagnosis, Anxiety, Assertiveness, Attachment, Break-up recovery, Burnout, Coming out and identity, Complex Trauma (CPTSD), Emotional regulation, Dating challenges, Familial and social relationships, Family issues, Identity, Neurodiversity, Intergenerational trauma, Parenting, Relationship anxiety, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Sexuality and gender issues, Self-Criticism, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Workplace stress
Viktoria Vigh
Registered Social Worker
Virtual Sessions in ON.
Waitlist
Viktoria Vigh
Registered Social Worker
She/her
ADHD, Adjusting to a diagnosis, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Assertiveness, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Blocks in Connecting with Self and Others, Boundaries and boundary setting, Break-up recovery, Building Meaningful Connections, Building Self-Care Routines, Burnout, College or University Coaching, Dealing with difficult or narcissistic personalities, Dating challenges, Decision making, Effective communication, Giftedness Issues, Learning disabilities, Nervous system regulation, Self-Regulation, Sleeping difficulties, Neurodiversity, Attention and Impulsivity
ADHD, Adjusting to a diagnosis, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Assertiveness, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Blocks in Connecting with Self and Others, Boundaries and boundary setting, Break-up recovery, Building Meaningful Connections, Building Self-Care Routines, Burnout, College or University Coaching, Dealing with difficult or narcissistic personalities, Dating challenges, Decision making, Effective communication, Giftedness Issues, Learning disabilities, Nervous system regulation, Self-Regulation, Sleeping difficulties, Neurodiversity, Attention and Impulsivity
Courtney Doherty
Registered Clinical Counsellor
Virtual Sessions in all provinces and territories.
Waitlist
Courtney Doherty
Registered Clinical Counsellor
She/Her
Adjusting to a diagnosis, Aging, Anxiety, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Boundaries and boundary setting, Brain injury, Caregiver burnout, Caregivers, Chronic Illness, Chronic and acute illness, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Trauma, Supervising qualifying therapists, Stress, Sleeping difficulties, Social anxiety, Self-esteem, PTSD, Pregnancy, Parkinson's disease, Depression, Family issues, Anger Management, Parenting, Grief and Loss
Adjusting to a diagnosis, Aging, Anxiety, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Boundaries and boundary setting, Brain injury, Caregiver burnout, Caregivers, Chronic Illness, Chronic and acute illness, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Trauma, Supervising qualifying therapists, Stress, Sleeping difficulties, Social anxiety, Self-esteem, PTSD, Pregnancy, Parkinson's disease, Depression, Family issues, Anger Management, Parenting, Grief and Loss
Imelda Hsieh
Registered Clinical Counsellor
Virtual Sessions in BC.
Waitlist
Imelda Hsieh
Registered Clinical Counsellor
She/her
School challenges, Giftedness Issues, Stress, Christian counselling, Anxiety, Managing ADHD symptoms, Depression, Social anxiety, Intergenerational trauma, Family Conflict, Family issues, BIPOC
School challenges, Giftedness Issues, Stress, Christian counselling, Anxiety, Managing ADHD symptoms, Depression, Social anxiety, Intergenerational trauma, Family Conflict, Family issues, BIPOC
Christy McLeod
Registered Clinical Counsellor
Virtual Sessions in MB, ON, BC, SK, AB, NL, YT, NT, and NU.
Waitlist
Christy McLeod
Registered Clinical Counsellor
Anxiety, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Anger Management, Adjusting to a diagnosis, Behaviour, Building Self-Care Routines, Christian counselling, Decision making, Connecting with your Inherent Power, Empowerment, Depression coping skills, Goal Setting, Life transitions, Managing ADHD symptoms, Emotional regulation, Panic attacks, Mindfulness, Men's issues, Meaning and purpose, Identity and Self-Exploration, Overwhelm
Anxiety, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Anger Management, Adjusting to a diagnosis, Behaviour, Building Self-Care Routines, Christian counselling, Decision making, Connecting with your Inherent Power, Empowerment, Depression coping skills, Goal Setting, Life transitions, Managing ADHD symptoms, Emotional regulation, Panic attacks, Mindfulness, Men's issues, Meaning and purpose, Identity and Self-Exploration, Overwhelm
Lindsay Kudlow
Registered Psychotherapist
Virtual Sessions in ON.
Waitlist
Lindsay Kudlow
Registered Psychotherapist
she/her
ADHD, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Assertiveness, Attachment, Boundaries and boundary setting, Break-up recovery, Building Meaningful Connections, Childhood trauma, Confidence, Complex Trauma (CPTSD), Conflict resolution, Effective communication, LGBTQ2IA+, People pleasing, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Empowerment, Familial and social relationships, Relationship anxiety, Dating challenges, Navigating challenging relationships, Relationships, Trauma, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Anxiety, Self-esteem
ADHD, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Assertiveness, Attachment, Boundaries and boundary setting, Break-up recovery, Building Meaningful Connections, Childhood trauma, Confidence, Complex Trauma (CPTSD), Conflict resolution, Effective communication, LGBTQ2IA+, People pleasing, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Empowerment, Familial and social relationships, Relationship anxiety, Dating challenges, Navigating challenging relationships, Relationships, Trauma, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Anxiety, Self-esteem
Elena Maystruk
Registered Psychotherapist
Virtual Sessions in ON.
Waitlist
Elena Maystruk
Registered Psychotherapist
she/her
Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Anxiety, Break-up recovery, Burnout, Couples Therapy, Depression, Intergenerational trauma, Life transitions, Low mood, Neurodiversity, Overwhelm, PTSD, Relationships, Trauma, Workplace stress, Grief and Loss
Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Anxiety, Break-up recovery, Burnout, Couples Therapy, Depression, Intergenerational trauma, Life transitions, Low mood, Neurodiversity, Overwhelm, PTSD, Relationships, Trauma, Workplace stress, Grief and Loss
Anastasia Sutulova
Pre-Licensed Professional
Virtual Sessions in MB, ON, YT, NU, NT, AB, BC, NL, and SK.
Waitlist
Anastasia Sutulova
Pre-Licensed Professional
She/her
Anxiety, Depression, ADHD, Abuse (Sexual/Physical/Verbal), Addiction, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Attachment, Borderline Personality Disorder, Break-up recovery, Boundaries and boundary setting, Career guidance, Childhood trauma, Complex Trauma (CPTSD), Couples Therapy, Decision making, PTSD, Trauma, Emotional regulation, Dealing with difficult or narcissistic personalities, Fears and phobia, Identity and Self-Exploration, Panic attacks, Psychedelic therapy, Separation anxiety, Grief and Loss
Anxiety, Depression, ADHD, Abuse (Sexual/Physical/Verbal), Addiction, Anxiety and Stress Management Skills, Attachment, Borderline Personality Disorder, Break-up recovery, Boundaries and boundary setting, Career guidance, Childhood trauma, Complex Trauma (CPTSD), Couples Therapy, Decision making, PTSD, Trauma, Emotional regulation, Dealing with difficult or narcissistic personalities, Fears and phobia, Identity and Self-Exploration, Panic attacks, Psychedelic therapy, Separation anxiety, Grief and Loss
Taylor Smith
Registered Psychotherapist
Virtual Sessions in ON.
Waitlist
Taylor Smith
Registered Psychotherapist
She/her
Addiction, Anxiety, Boundaries and boundary setting, Anger, Burnout, Conflict resolution, Dating challenges, Decision making, Emotional regulation, Depression, Familial and social relationships, Health anxiety, Fears and phobia, Interpersonal dynamics, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Mindfulness, Navigating challenging relationships, Neurodiversity, People pleasing, OCD, Relationships, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Self-esteem, Trauma, Grief and Loss
Addiction, Anxiety, Boundaries and boundary setting, Anger, Burnout, Conflict resolution, Dating challenges, Decision making, Emotional regulation, Depression, Familial and social relationships, Health anxiety, Fears and phobia, Interpersonal dynamics, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Mindfulness, Navigating challenging relationships, Neurodiversity, People pleasing, OCD, Relationships, Understanding & Regulating Emotions, Self-esteem, Trauma, Grief and Loss
Shauna Burns-Thomson
Registered Clinical Counsellor
Virtual Sessions in BC, SK, MB, PE, NL, YT, NU, and NT.
Waitlist
Shauna Burns-Thomson
Registered Clinical Counsellor
She/Her
Sex therapy, Trauma, LGBTQ2IA+, Addiction, ADHD, Attachment, Blocks in Connecting with Self and Others, Building Meaningful Connections, Building Self-Care Routines, Burnout, Coming out and identity, Couples Therapy, Intimacy concerns, Dating challenges, Identity and Self-Exploration, Infidelity, Intergenerational trauma, Men's issues, Mind-body connection, Sexuality and gender issues, Sexual issues, Sexuality, Stress, Separation and divorce, Abuse (Sexual/Physical/Verbal), Neurodiversity, Couples
Sex therapy, Trauma, LGBTQ2IA+, Addiction, ADHD, Attachment, Blocks in Connecting with Self and Others, Building Meaningful Connections, Building Self-Care Routines, Burnout, Coming out and identity, Couples Therapy, Intimacy concerns, Dating challenges, Identity and Self-Exploration, Infidelity, Intergenerational trauma, Men's issues, Mind-body connection, Sexuality and gender issues, Sexual issues, Sexuality, Stress, Separation and divorce, Abuse (Sexual/Physical/Verbal), Neurodiversity, Couples
Andras Lenart
Canadian Certified Counsellor
Virtual Sessions in all provinces and territories.
Waitlist
Andras Lenart
Canadian Certified Counsellor
Relationships, Self-Development, Social anxiety, ADHD, Anger, Blocks in Connecting with Self and Others, Motivation, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Dating challenges, Meaning and purpose, Couples Therapy, Emotional Numbness, Anxiety, Decision making, Deep connections, Fears and phobia, Existential questions, Men's issues, People pleasing, Perfectionism, Productivity, Sexuality and gender issues, Psychedelic therapy, Personal Growth, Emotional Fluidity
Relationships, Self-Development, Social anxiety, ADHD, Anger, Blocks in Connecting with Self and Others, Motivation, Low Self-Esteem and Self Worth, Dating challenges, Meaning and purpose, Couples Therapy, Emotional Numbness, Anxiety, Decision making, Deep connections, Fears and phobia, Existential questions, Men's issues, People pleasing, Perfectionism, Productivity, Sexuality and gender issues, Psychedelic therapy, Personal Growth, Emotional Fluidity
Caitlin Black
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Virtual Sessions in ON.
Waitlist
Caitlin Black
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
She/Her/Hers
Self-Development, Couples, ADHD, Borderline Personality Disorder, Dating challenges, Family issues, Mindfulness Practices, People pleasing, Postnatal Care, Separation and divorce, Neurodiversity, Grief and Loss
Self-Development, Couples, ADHD, Borderline Personality Disorder, Dating challenges, Family issues, Mindfulness Practices, People pleasing, Postnatal Care, Separation and divorce, Neurodiversity, Grief and Loss
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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