Online Counselling in Vancouver

Online counselling in Vancouver (sometimes called virtual therapy) allows you to connect with a licensed therapist remotely using secure video or phone sessions. It's a convenient and private way to access therapy from the comfort of your home. Online counselling can help with with anxiety, stress, trauma, overwhelm, relationship issues and much more.

If you have health insurance (sometimes referred to as group benefits through your workplace), there is a very good chance that online counselling in Vancouver will be covered. Common insurance companies in BC include:

• Pacific Blue Cross
• Sunlife
  
• Manulife
• Canada Life
• Chambers of Commerce

Once you know who your insurance provider is, look under your coverage for the type of therapist you're covered for. It might say "Registered Psychologist", "Clinical Counsellor", "Social Worker", "MSW RSW". You'll want to filter by the designations you're covered for on First Session's main find a therapist page.

For more information on how to navigate your insurance covereage, see our guide on how to find a therapist covered by insurance in Canada.

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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. The provincial government does, however, have a resources page available with a number of affordable and accessible mental health care options.

In Vancouver, most therapists offering online counselling are:

• RCCs: Registered Clinical Counsellors (regulated by BCACC)
• RSWs: Registered Social Workers (regulated by BCCSW)
• Psychologists: Regulated by the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC

Compare these therapist credentials here. You can also get updated on any regulatory changes for psychotherapy and counselling therapy in BC here.

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Therapy is unique to every individual. What makes a good therapist can often be highly subjective, but there are certainly criteria that you'll want to look for depending on your unique situation, and what you're hoping to get out of therapy.

Look for therapists who specialize in your specific concerns. On First Session, you can filter therapists by areas of focus, availability, language, cultural background, and more.

Yes. Numerous studies have shown that online therapy can be just as effective as traditional in-person sessions for a wide range of mental health concerns. Read more in our guide to online therapy.

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Just about all therapists on First Session offer free 15-minute video or phone consultations so you can get to know them before committing to a full session.

Uou can expect therapy costs out-of-pocket in the range of $75 to $250+ per session. Your counsellor’s years of experience, their location, level of education and training will dictate their fees. Typically a Registered Psychologist (R.Psych) will be the most expensive. A newer clinical counsellor $75 per session.

If you don’t have coverage through an employer, costs can be a barrier for many. There are therapists and counsellors who offer affordable and sliding scale therapy to make counselling accessible for more people. Usually, a counsellor will allocate only a certain number of discounted sessions per month. You’ll see clearly on First Session which counsellors offer sliding scale appointments, but you should always feel welcome to ask. If a counsellor cannot provide a discount, they may have other solutions available or can point you to other resources.

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Most online counselling occurs over secure video platforms such as Zoom, Jane Video, or Doxy, whch can typically be accessed on a browser or a phone without downloading an app. If you're concerned about privacy, ask your counsellor whether their tools are PIPEDA compliant.