Free Counselling Consultations in British Columbia

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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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.

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.