Frequently Asked Questions

How much does counselling cost?

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

Many extended insurance plans provided by employers pay for a certain number of counselling sessions if they are provided by a  “Registered Clinical Counsellor” (RCC) or a “Certified Canadian Counsellor”.  For example, many employees of the BC Public Service have a certain amount of counselling available through their extended health care plan.  You might not have to seek counselling through the contracted provider but instead  you might be able to select  our own counsellor and as long as the therapist has the required designation, you could be reimbursed up to your yearly limit.  Our Clinical Director can help you sort out if you have such benefits or you can call your insurance provider and find out any details.

At Waypoint, your first 30 minute consultation is free.  Once you begin counselling, your credit card used to book your appointment is charged at the end of each session.

What is Waypoint's "matching and referral" process?

Surfing the internet for a counsellor can be daunting – there are literally hundreds of websites that all offer expert counselling using a wide variety of counselling approaches.  At Waypoint, our Clinical Director can help match you with a counsellor whose experience, style and approach is a good match with the issue you are facing and your own experience and preferences.  This service can be booked online or by calling our Clinical Director at 778-677-1960.

What is a complimentary 30 minute consultation?

Waypoint offers all clients a free 30 minute counselling consultation the first time they meet with a counsellor.  This gives the client an opportunity to come in, meet a counsellor and find out more about their style and approach.  This 30 minute meeting is not “free counselling” but instead is a chance to decide if the counsellor you have met is the person you wish to begin your counselling with. When you arrive for the free consultation, you will be welcomed into one of our four offices and offered tea, coffee or water.  Most of us feel a bit anxious when we come to meet a counsellor for the first time and at Waypoint, it is our goal to help you feel comfortable.  During the consultation, the counsellor will ask you general questions about what issues you are facing, what you hope to get out of counselling, and your past experiences of counselling.  The counsellor will describe their background and their counselling approach and answer any questions you may have.

At Waypoint, we know that finding a counsellor is a very important and personal process.  If you don’t feel comfortable with a counsellor – for whatever reason – the chances of you having good success through counselling is greatly diminished.  If after the 30 minutes, you aren’t sure the ‘fit’ is right and you wish to meet with a different therapist, we are happy to make that happen.

How much time does counselling take?

A typical counselling session is 50 minutes in length, although occasionally people wish to book for 90 minutes at a time. The length of the session and frequency will be jointly decided between you and your counsellor.

Counselling is a highly personal experience and the frequency of sessions can vary.  Often people wish to begin with weekly sessions and then schedule them less frequently as they begin to feel progress.  A “check-in” every month or so is not uncommon.

At Waypoint, it is our goal to work with you to reach your goals in a timely manner.

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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