Frequently Asked Questions

How much does counselling cost?

Fees for counselling services follow the Recommended Fees Schedule of the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors:

  • Individual therapy (50 – 60 minutes): $140 – $170 plus GST.
  • Couples or Family therapy (50 – 60 minutes): $140 – $160 plus GST

Many extended insurance plans cover counselling if provided by a  Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC), a Certified Canadian Counsellor (CCC) or a Registered Social Worker (RSW).   You need to check your plan.  We have counsellors with one or more of these designations.  In some cases, we can direct bill your plan if you see one of our RSWs.  Insurance plans in BC do not allow for direct billing for RCCs or CCCs.

How do I find the right counsellor?

You can look through our list of team members and find the therapist who has the right skills and approach that can work for you. Or, we can help match you to the most suitable counsellor for your circumstances and the style that can work for you.  The fit between a person and their counsellor has been shown in research to be the most important factor in getting good outcomes.  We will follow up with you to make sure the fit is working and if it doesn’t, we will work with you to find the right counsellor.

All of our counsellors offer a free 20 minute phone or video consultation to meet with them and see if the fit feels right before starting counselling.

Contact us or call, text or email to learn more.

What is a free consultation?

Waypoint offers all clients a free 20 minute consultation .  This is a way to meet with a counsellor over the phone or video first to see if there will be a fit with their style and approach.  It is not a counselling session but is a conversation about what issues you are facing, what you hope to get out of counselling, and how the counsellor could help.  You can book a consult with more than one counsellor if you are not sure which to choose from.

At the end of the consult, the counsellor will offer to book your next counselling sessions with you.  Or, you can think about it and book a bit later. Either way, one of our team members will check in with you to see how it went.  If the fit didn’t feel right after the consult, we will work with you to find the right therapist.

How many sessions will I need?

You and your therapist will discuss your goals and the length of time needed.  For most people, therapy is the most effective if done weekly for about 12 – 16 sessions.  Some people might require fewer if the problem is short term while others may need more if there are deeper issues that need to be addressed. Either way, following the recommendation of the counsellor is important to learn skills skills such as reducing anxiety and improving communication, and changing bad habits such as negative thinking.  Regular sessions also help to build on what a person learns along the way and reflect on how changes can best be made.  Otherwise, only seeing a counsellor occasionally is not a good use of time, money or effort and lasting change is not possible.

At Waypoint, it is our goal to work with you to reach your goals in a timely manner with the right counsellor for your needs.

Is counselling confidential?

Your counsellor is bound by the Code of Ethical Conduct as outlined by their professional organization, such as the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors.  As such, they are obligated to treat as confidential all information they obtain in the course of their work with clients.

Confidentiality is limited in the following circumstances:

  • There is suspicion of child abuse or neglect
  • There is a risk of self-harm or imminent danger to another person
  • A disclosure is court-ordered
  • The client has provided permission to share information with another person such as a health care provider or family member.

How do I book an appointment?

If you are a new client and do not know which counsellor you wish to see for a complimentary 30 minute consultation, you can either select from one of our counsellors or arrange to talk with our Clinical Director over the phone and he will help match you with one of our counsellors.  To book an appointment, you can:

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