Most universities and extended health benefits providers cover counselling services rendered by a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC). However, individual plans differ, so please check with your provider to confirm.

We also work with various EAPs and are FNHA approved. These programs cover most, if not all of your counselling costs. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions!

We accept e-transfers to connect@venturouscounselling.com and credit cards. After processing, we’ll issue you a PDF receipt. If our services are covered by your extended health benefits plan, you can submit this receipt to your provider for reimbursement or you can provide us with your insurance information and we can direct bill for you.

To access a list of insurers that generally accept direct billing, click here.

Please note, insurers accept direct billing on an individual plan basis. That means, even if our services our covered, your particular plan may not allow us to direct bill for you. After your first session, we’ll submit a direct bill request and confirm with you whether or not your plan qualifies.

Our counselling rates in Vancouver and Port Moody range from $160-$240 per session, depending on the counsellor and session length. Most sessions are 50 minutes, while EMDR sessions are typically 80 minutes. Each of our practitioners has a community pool of sliding scale rates to ensure that we can support folx experiencing financial barriers. When you access sliding scale, our counsellors will send you a self-qualifying infographic to help you determine what might work best for you and will revisit this conversation at regular intervals. Our community pool of sliding scale rates is dynamic and changes depending on how many folx are accessing sliding scale with us at any given time. Book a free 15-minute consultation to discuss pricing options that work for your budget.

We have a standard 24-hour cancellation policy. That means if you need to cancel or reschedule your session, you need to give us at least 24-hours notice or the full fee of the session will be charged. 

If you are late but are able to attend within the first 15 minutes of your session, you can still use the rest of your time of the session for the full fee. If you are late beyond the first 15 minutes of session, your session will be considered a no show as we’ll have to reschedule to another time. This is to ensure that we have adequate time and space to wrap up our work without you feeling rushed, heightened, or unprepared as you transition out of session.

EMDR therapy sessions are typically 80 minutes long and cost $240 per session. The longer session length allows for proper preparation, processing, and integration of the EMDR work. EMDR is covered by most extended health insurance plans under RCC coverage, and we offer direct billing for most providers. EMDR is also available through our sliding scale community pool for those experiencing financial barriers. Many clients find that EMDR requires fewer total sessions than traditional talk therapy, which can make it cost-effective over time.

Our rates are consistent across all therapeutic modalities – whether you’re receiving somatic therapy, expressive arts therapy, nature-based therapy, or traditional talk therapy. The only difference is session length: most approaches use 50-minute sessions, while EMDR typically requires 80-minute sessions. There are no additional material costs for expressive arts supplies or nature-based sessions. All therapeutic approaches are covered equally by extended health insurance under RCC coverage.

Yes, our virtual counselling sessions across BC are the same cost as in-person sessions. Virtual sessions receive the same insurance coverage and are available through our sliding scale community pool just like in-person sessions. There are no additional technology fees or reduced rates for virtual sessions – you receive the same quality of care and therapeutic support whether you choose to meet virtually or in-person at our Vancouver or Port Moody offices. Many clients appreciate the flexibility to switch between virtual and in-person sessions based on their needs, schedule, or energy levels.

We accept several funding programs to make counselling more accessible. These include CVAP (Crime Victim Assistance Program) for survivors of crime, ICBC coverage for motor vehicle accident-related counselling, WorkBC funding for employment-related support, FNHA (First Nations Health Authority) coverage for Indigenous clients, and Autism Funding for individuals with autism spectrum diagnoses. We also work with some EAP (Employee Assistance Programs) depending on the provider. Each funding program has different requirements and coverage limits, so we’ll help you understand what’s covered and assist with any necessary paperwork during your consultation.

Yes, we offer direct billing to most extended health insurance plans in BC. Look for RCC (Registered Clinical Counsellor) coverage in your benefits package – this is what covers our services. We can bill directly to many major insurance providers including Great West Life, Sun Life, Manulife, Green Shield, Pacific Blue Cross, and many others. This means you don’t have to pay upfront and wait for reimbursement. During your consultation, we’ll help verify your coverage and set up direct billing if available. If direct billing isn’t available with your provider, we can provide receipts for you to submit for reimbursement.

We believe everyone deserves access to mental health support regardless of financial circumstances. Our sliding scale community pool is specifically designed for people experiencing financial barriers. We also encourage you to check your extended health benefits – many people don’t realize they have RCC coverage that would cover most or all of the session cost. Additionally, you might be eligible for funding programs like CVAP, ICBC, or others depending on your circumstances. During your free 15-minute consultation, we’ll explore all available options to make counselling accessible for you.

Absolutely! Here at Venturous, each of our pratitioners has a community pool of sliding scale rates to ensure that we can support folx experiencing financial barriers. When you access sliding scale, our counsellors will send you a self-qualifying infographic to help you determine what might work best for you and will revisit this conversation at regular intervals.

Our community pool of sliding scale rates is dynamic and changes depending on how many folx are accessing sliding scale with us at any given time. If you are no longer in need of sliding scale, please make sure to let your practitioner know so that we can offer that spot to your community members.

While we don’t offer formal payment plans, we work flexibly with clients to ensure financial barriers don’t prevent access to support. Our sliding scale community pool is our primary way of supporting clients with financial constraints. We also offer the flexibility to space sessions further apart if needed to manage costs, and we can work with you to find a session frequency that fits your budget while still providing effective support. Some clients choose to use a combination of insurance coverage and moving to sliding scale after funding is used, or alternate between full-rate and sliding scale sessions based on their monthly budget.

Thank you for wanting to support our shared community through generous rates! Please let your practitioner know the rate at which you’re comfortable with us charging and we’ll set it up for you on the backend. Your generous rates go 100% towards subsidizing lower-cost services for your community members in need.

Absolutely. Please head to our booking page and click the “buy gift card” option at the bottom of the left navigation bar. All gifted sessions must be used within 6 months of purchase. After 6 months, the monetary value of any unused sessions will be donated to mutual aid efforts in so-called BC.

Direct billing means we submit your insurance claim directly to your provider, so you only pay any deductible or co-pay at the time of service rather than paying the full amount upfront. To set up direct billing, we need your insurance card information and will verify your RCC coverage limits and deductible. We’ll handle all the paperwork and submit claims electronically, usually within 24-48 hours of your session. You’ll receive a copy of the claim for your records. If your claim is denied for any reason, we’ll work with you to understand why and help resolve any issues. Direct billing is available for most major insurance providers in BC.

Session frequency depends on your individual needs, goals, and circumstances. Many clients start with weekly sessions to build momentum and establish the therapeutic relationship, then may move to bi-weekly or monthly sessions as they progress. Some people prefer intensive work with multiple sessions per week initially, while others work best with sessions spaced further apart. We’ll work together to find a frequency that supports your healing goals while fitting your schedule and budget. You can always adjust session frequency as your needs change throughout your therapy journey.

That depends on many factors such as what your goals are, what you’re hoping to get from therapy, and whether or not you and your counsellor are a good fit. Clients who work with us for personal growth reasons tend to continue their counselling relationship with us for a longer period of time when compared to folks who are looking to solve a specific problem.

The first appointment is to get to know you and your situation better. Through the process, we get a better sense of what you’re looking for and what best supports you. We also make sure you understand the process of therapy and what your rights are. Usually, by the end of the session, we’ll have talked about a rough plan of how we can approach your goals. Sometimes folks feel anxious in the first session; the most important thing to remember is that you don’t owe me your story – you can tell me as much or as little as you want and there’s literally no way for you to do your first session “wrong”!

Registered Clinical Counsellors are trained in a variety of areas and at minimum, have a Masters degree and have passed an extensive practicum experience. Some counsellors even pursue extra, more specialized training to broaden their effectiveness. Social workers usually offer more practical support such as connecting you with housing, jobs, or other services, but some do decide to focus on therapeutic work. Finally, Psychologists holds either a PsyD or PhD. Because of the extra training, they are able to do assessments and support in obtaining a diagnosis. 

To be honest, I might not be! Counsellors are like shoes, just because they’re the right size, doesn’t mean they fit. The best indicator of whether or not a counsellor is a good fit is how YOU feel when you talk to them. Do you feel heard, understood, and respected? Did we work on what you wanted to work on? Did the approach feel helpful to you? Are you experiencing positive change in your life? 

If after our sessions you feel that we are not a good fit, let us know! We’re more than happy to support you in finding a counsellor who would be a better fit for you.

Well, that depends on you! Our work varies depending on what’s going on in your life. Most times, my clients find counselling to be a helpful space for gaining clarity, finding solutions to problems, and removing harmful narratives that keep you from achieving your goals and/or having great relationships.

Online counselling works very similarly to in-person counselling, except no travel time is required. To prepare for your online counselling sessions, make sure your device is charged, that you have access to the internet, and that you are in a quiet, secured place where you won’t be interrupted. Clients who prefer integrating art into our work also tend to have their favorite art supplies nearby.