FEES & FAQs

How much will counselling cost?

  • During COVID-19, counsellors may be offering more sliding scale openings to make sure people get adequate emotional support.

  • Each counsellor at Tree Ring sets their own fees, including some sliding scale work (we adjust according to income).  Please ask!

  • Standard fees for counselling are about $130/hr, as recommended by our professional body (BC Association of Clinical Counsellors).

  • You may qualify for insurance coverage.

  • Many of us offer a free initial consultation.  This gives us the chance to discuss fees -- as well as get a sense of what is on your mind.

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Will my insurance plan cover counselling?

  • It depends on the insurance plan.  Many work plans (called Employee Assistance Plans) cover Registered Clinical Counsellors.  For example, Morneau Shepell covers a certain number of sessions for employees and their family members, if you work for the BC government, are a teacher or doctor, or your private employer has made this part of your benefits. (This is not a complete list -- check your insurance!).

  • ICBC may cover counselling following an accident (depending on circumstances).

  • The Crime Victim Assistance Plan may cover counselling following an assault or a crime (up to 50 sessions).

  • The First Nations Health Authority may cover counselling.

  • UVic student health insurance covers counselling without requiring a doctor's note (up to $700 worth). 

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Do you do sliding scale work?

  • Yes, each of us sets our own rate.

  • Please ask us if you want to discuss fees.  We are used to this, and always discuss fees before treatment begins!

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My doctor says I need CBT for depression and anxiety.  Do you do this?

  • Yes, we do CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy), which is a well recognized treatment for depression and anxiety.

  • We also offer Mindfulness-Based CBT (MBCBT).

  • We create an individualized treatment plan for each person we see, so the therapy is most effective.

  • We support people who are trying to apply CBT to their lives.

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I've tried CBT and it wasn't for me.  What else can you do?

  • We work with many different approaches, depending on what each person is coming for.  These are always client-centred (created with your best interests in mind) and may include mindfulness, a family systems outlook, solution-focused work, psychodynamic work, grief therapy, trauma-informed therapy, feminist therapy, self-compassion work, etc.

  • If you know what works and what doesn't, that is good information for us!  We will co-create an approach for you.

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I've done Bounce Back/a mindfulness course and I still need support. Can you help?

  • Yes, we can help you figure out how to tailor all that information to your life!  Sometimes this takes a bit of figuring out.

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Will you tell anyone what I say to you?

  • We keep what you say utterly confidential.

  • We will discuss the legal "exceptions to confidentiality" with you when we first meet.  These are rare, and have to do with safety considerations.

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How do I choose a counsellor?

  • The most important ingredient is feeling connected and comfortable with your counsellor.  If you meet one and don't feel like there is a good fit, you might want to interview a few others.

  • Your counsellor ideally has experience and training treating people with concerns like yours.

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How often do I need to go?

  • Weekly or bi-weekly is typical, but clients determine this with the counsellor.  

  • Some people want or need a lot of support as they explore change or go through a transition.  Other people may just want to come in every now and then to maintain their changes.  Both are okay, since the needs of the client comes first.

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