Common questions

These are some of the most common questions that people ask when they contact me:

Is Counselling appropriate for me?

If you have questions or concerns about counselling, feel free to call me at 604-803-2600. Perhaps we can resolve your questions during a live telephone conversation during which you are free to ask whatever you want.

If you are interested in trying counselling out, but aren't quite sure whether it will be helpful to you, then we can meet for a free 30 minute consultation. You'll have the opportunity to meet face-to-face and determine whether professional counselling is what you are looking for.

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Is everything discussed in Counselling confidential?

What you talk about during counselling is completely confidential. This builds trust between us, and will help you to explore difficult problems with a sense of safety.

There are, however, some legal limits to confidentiality that you should know about:

  1. A Counsellor is required by law to report child abuse;
  2. My records can be subpoenaed by a Court, or I may be called to testify;
  3. If your life, or somebody else's life, is in danger then I must take actions to keep you or them safe.

I may also ask you to allow me to confer with other professionals involved in your care in order to develop the best treatment plan for you. You, however, make the decision about whether this can happen or not.

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How is Counselling paid for?

Although counselling fees are not covered under the BC Medical Services Plan, many workplace health benefit plans (like those of Great West Life and Pacific Blue Cross) do include counselling coverage that reimburse you for visits to a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) like me. Your insurance company or Human Resources department will be able to advise you on this.

If you find that RCC visits are not covered under your plan you may want to ask your employer to request a small change to the plan's coverage. This isn't difficult, doesn't cost the employer anything, and at the same time increases employee benefits. Often plans will cover visits to a Doctor of Psychology but not an RCC, and by adjusting the plan to include RCCs your counselling dollars will actually go further.

I am also registered with both ICBC and with the Crime Victim Assistance Program (Victim Services). If you qualify under either of these programs then you may receive funding to cover the cost of your counselling.

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How long does Counselling take?

There is no fixed amount of time that is guaranteed to resolve particular problems. The speed at which you move through the counselling process depends on your own commitment and determination.

Counselling is very much focused on you, and you decide for yourself when you are ready to finish counselling. At rethink counselling services, the door is always open and you can choose to finish, take a break, or return to counselling at any time. It is entirely your decision.

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What does a successful Counselling outcome look like?

When your counselling has been successful it'll feel like something has changed, or something is different. You feel more hope and self-confidence. You are trying out new behaviours and they are working. People may react differently to you, and they may comment that something about you has changed.

You will also likely notice that you are having different results in your interactions with people. In the end, you are the one who makes the decision about whether therapy has been successful.

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What are the different types of Counselling professionals?

What is the difference between a counsellor, a psychiatrist, and a psychologist? If you are confused by the variety of individuals and organizations who offer counselling services the following explanations should help you.

Counsellors

A Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) is (1) a fully qualified mental health professional with a minimum of a Master's degree in counselling psychology or related studies, and (2) a registered member of the B.C. Association of Clinical Counsellors. This association maintains high standards that ensure the safety and well being of clients.

Sometimes called the "talking cure", both counselling and psychotherapy take the form of conversations between the client and counsellor. This is a collaborative process in which the client discusses their concerns, problems, and current challenges. At all times, the needs of the client are paramount. The counsellor's job is to assist the client in understanding and exploring the choices available to them, and to consider new possibilities. Counselling and psychotherapy may take different courses depending on the client's specific situation and needs. For example, counselling tends to have a more here-and-now focus, and can be fairly brief, while psychotherapy tends to focus on deeper, historical problems. Both interventions help clients who find themselves "stuck" and are unable to experience the changes they desire. RCC fees typically range from $85 - $100/hour.

In many cases, people with extended health benefits can receive coverage for counselling costs through their insurance plan. See the "How is counselling paid for?" question on this web page for more details on this.

Surprisingly, there are currently no regulations governing those working in the field of counselling in BC, although this situation is under review by the Health Professions Council. This means that anyone can call themselves a counsellor or therapist without any specialized training. It is important to ensure that the counsellor you are seeing is properly trained, and is part of a governing body that sets standards for education and has a formal code of ethics. You may wish to check to see if he or she is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) with the B.C. Association of Clinical Counsellors, or a Certified Canadian Counsellor (CCC) with the Canadian Counselling Association.

Psychiatrists

Psychiatrists are medically-trained doctors who choose to specialize in psychiatry. They receive additional training in the field, usually through a series of placements in hospitals and medical clinics for one year. All psychiatrists are able to prescribe medication, if they feel it is called for. Many work in hospital outpatient clinics, where they deal with serious mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia and manic depression. Because their services are the only ones covered under the provincial Medical Services Plan the waiting list to see a psychiatrist can often be in excess of six months.

Psychologists

In BC, psychologists must have attained a doctorate degree in psychology. Unlike psychiatry, psychology is a non-medical discipline that is mainly concerned with the normal functioning of the mind, and explores areas such as learning, remembering, and the normal psychological development of children. Psychologists are not able to prescribe medication and so concentrate exclusively on psychological or "talking treatments". They treat a wide range of conditions, including phobias, depression, other individual emotional problems, and family problems. Psychologist's fees are typically in the range of $130 - $150/hour.

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