

FEES & FAQs
How much will counselling cost?
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During COVID-19, counsellors may be offering more sliding scale openings to make sure people get adequate emotional support.
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Each counsellor at Tree Ring sets their own fees, including some sliding scale work (we adjust according to income). Please ask!
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Standard fees for counselling are about $130/hr, as recommended by our professional body (BC Association of Clinical Counsellors).
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You may qualify for insurance coverage.
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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.
Will my insurance plan cover counselling?
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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!).
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ICBC may cover counselling following an accident (depending on circumstances).
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The Crime Victim Assistance Plan may cover counselling following an assault or a crime (up to 50 sessions).
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The First Nations Health Authority may cover counselling.
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UVic student health insurance covers counselling without requiring a doctor's note (up to $700 worth).
Do you do sliding scale work?
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Yes, each of us sets our own rate.
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Please ask us if you want to discuss fees. We are used to this, and always discuss fees before treatment begins!
My doctor says I need CBT for depression and anxiety. Do you do this?
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Yes, we do CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy), which is a well recognized treatment for depression and anxiety.
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We also offer Mindfulness-Based CBT (MBCBT).
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We create an individualized treatment plan for each person we see, so the therapy is most effective.
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We support people who are trying to apply CBT to their lives.
I've tried CBT and it wasn't for me. What else can you do?
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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.
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If you know what works and what doesn't, that is good information for us! We will co-create an approach for you.
I've done Bounce Back/a mindfulness course and I still need support. Can you help?
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Yes, we can help you figure out how to tailor all that information to your life! Sometimes this takes a bit of figuring out.
Will you tell anyone what I say to you?
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We keep what you say utterly confidential.
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We will discuss the legal "exceptions to confidentiality" with you when we first meet. These are rare, and have to do with safety considerations.
How do I choose a counsellor?
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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.
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Your counsellor ideally has experience and training treating people with concerns like yours.
How often do I need to go?
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Weekly or bi-weekly is typical, but clients determine this with the counsellor.
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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.


