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FAQ'S All
Who benefits from counselling?
People's reasons for seeking counselling vary. Some individuals seek counselling out of immediate need, to attend to areas that have lost balance and health in their daily life. Others seek counselling as prevention, to invest in future mental health

When we find it difficult to function in our daily lives, something has to give. It may be depression, stress, anxiety, marital problems, parenting concerns, eating disorders or a variety of other reasons that are causing the distress. At these times we seek the help of a counsellor out of immediate need.

At other times, we may be seeking changes or a particular goal in our life. We often go through times of refocusing to achieve a more purposeful life. We may be motivated to be better parents, more loving spouses or just healthier, more whole people. At these times we seek counselling for preventive work, to invest in future goals.
How will therapy help me?
Research increasingly supports the idea that emotional and physical health are closely linked and that counselling can improve a person's overall health.

There is convincing evidence that most people who have at least several sessions of therapy are far better off than individuals with emotional difficulties who are untreated. Most clients noticeably improve after eight sessions, while a high percentage of individuals in therapy improve by the end of 6 months.

How do I know when I should seek help?
Today's increasingly demanding world presents us with many challenges. Sometimes we are able to handle these difficult challenges on our own, or with the help of family and friends. On occasion, life's stresses and strains become too much to handle. A counsellor is trained to navigate in these times of emotional distress.

Is there a difference between a therapist and a counsellor?
In general, these terms are used interchangeably.

What do counsellors do?
Counsellors are trained to understand and respond, in helping ways, to people with emotional difficulties, behavioral problems, relationship complexities or unattained goals.

Depending upon their particular qualifications and training, they may use: counselling interviews, psychological tests, reading or writing assignments, open group discussions, relaxation exercises, homework assignments, reward systems, or other specialized skills.

What kinds of counselling therapy services are available?
Therapists provide a wide range of services to various types of people.

  • Child Therapy - counsellor interacts with one child

  • Youth/Adolescent Therapy - counsellor interacts with one adolescent

  • Adult Therapy - counsellor interacts with one adult

  • Couple Therapy - counsellor interacts with one couple

  • Family Therapy - counsellor interacts with as many members of the family as necessary

  • Group Therapy - counsellor facilitates interaction between several clients in a group setting (dealing with a topic such as anger, grief, divorce adjustment)

  • Educational - counsellor facilitates interaction between course participants, teaches Course/Workshops and provides educational material around a topic (such as parenting, communication skills, marriage preparation or enrichment, career transition)

Who are qualified therapists?
When searching for a counsellor, always feel free to inquire about qualifications, training and experience.

The requirements for counselling practice vary somewhat across Canada. Generally, counselling therapists have specialized training in counselling, a Masters level graduate degree, are licensed by a professional association to use a professional title (such as: Psychologist, Psychiatrist, Social Worker, Registered Clinical Counsellor, etc.), and subscribe to a professional code of ethics.

Therapists registered with a professional body are legally accountable for wrongdoing within the therapeutic context. Find out which professional body your counsellor belongs to, along with the contact information for this organization, should you have any questions or concerns about your therapist's conduct.

About Clinical Counsellor qualifications:
In the province of B.C., a Registered Clinical Counsellor belongs to the B.C. Association of Clinical Counsellors and is accountable to BCACC.

To become a Registered Clinical Counsellor in B.C., one must possess a minimum of a Master's degree in a counseling-based discipline of study plus several years of supervised training and experience.

Online, you may find links to reputable registering bodies governing therapists in B.C. Most of these sites have a Private Practice Directory of their members.

B.C. Association of Clinical Counsellors
www.bc-counsellors.org/search.htm

College of Psychologists of B.C.
www.collegeofpsychologists.bc.ca

BC Association of Marriage and Family Therapists
www.bcamft.bc.ca

How can I find a counsellor?
Referral services such as the above directories are a good starting point. Also check out www.counsellingbc.com for listings of practicing Registered Clinical Counsellors (RCC) ; Registered Psychologists (RPsych), and Registered Social Workers (RSW)

Many employers make counselling services available to their employees through employee assistance programs (Employee Assistance Programs).

Qualified therapists are also listed in the yellow pages under: Psychologists, Social Workers, Counselling and Social Service Agencies.

Other referral sources include: physicians, professional associations, word of mouth, local paper ads. Often times, qualified therapists can be accessed at schools, hospitals, colleges and universities. In addition, you may ask for a referral from your family physician, minister or for a counsellor recommendation from a personal friend or colleague.

Should I ask my physician for a referral?
It is wise to keep your physician up to date about troubling emotional and physical symptoms you may be experiencing. A referral from your physician is not necessary to begin counselling, however, if you are considering seeing a counsellor, do not hesitate to ask your physician for the name of a therapist he or she would recommend.

What questions can I ask a counsellor without hesitation?
• Where did you receive your training?
• Do you have a counselling diploma/degree?
• Do you belong to a professional counselling association? Which one?
• What will be confidential in our sessions?
• How long have you been practicing counselling?
• Do you have a specific orientation in therapy? Can you explain it to me?
• In general terms, how would you approach my particular situation?
• How long will my therapy plan require?
• What are your spiritual beliefs?
• What are your beliefs about the use of medication?
• Do you keep clinical records?
• Can I invite a support person to all/some of my counselling appointments?

How do I find the right therapist for me?
Finding a good counsellor for yourself is ultimately based on relationship. You must feel comfortable and sense that the therapist is someone you can trust. In order to safely share intimate details about your life, it is important to know your counsellor is professionally qualified.

Once the therapist's credentials and competence are established, assess your level of personal comfort with him or her. A good rapport with your therapist is critical. Clients often claim that they feel their therapy has been successful based on the quality of their relationship with their therapist. It is the trusting, healthy therapist/client relationship that is the key factor in helping people to achieve their desired goals.

Recognize that the main difference between this relationship and others in your life is that it is one-way: the therapist is there for you and the relationship is focused on helping you work through issues that are of importance to you only.

What if I don't feel comfortable with my therapist?
The therapeutic relationship is similar in some ways to other intimate relationships that you have - you want to build a relationship with someone you can relate to, trust in, and laugh with.

Whatever skills the counsellor uses with you, you should feel accepted, appreciated and affirmed for who you are and the issues that you bring. You should at all times be respected and treated as an equal in the process of your counselling.

If, at any time, you don't feel that you have a good match, let your counsellor know. If you cannot work with your therapist your goals will be jeopardized.

It is tough to start over, but don't give up. All counsellors are not the same, and if you've put in the effort to find a counsellor and begin therapy, then the issues at hand deserve attention. Try again.

What can I expect during a first contact?
Contact your counsellor to ask some basic questions about their academic credentials, professional membership, years of experience in dealing with your particular issue, fees and availability. The counsellor will typically keep telephone consultations quite brief. An appointment may be booked at this time.

What happens in a first session?
Your counsellor may invite you to arrive early in order to complete an 'Intro sheet'. Your first session will involve meeting your counsellor, describing your reasons for seeking counselling and briefly discussing what you hope to happen as a result of your counselling.

How will I know if the therapy is working?
As you begin therapy, you should establish clear goals with your therapist. For example, you may be trying to overcome feelings of hopelessness associated with depression or working through the grief of an ended relationship. Remember, certain goals require more time to reach than others. You and your therapist should decide at what point you might expect to begin to see progress.

What is it like to be in therapy?
Like so many things in life, what you put into your therapy will largely determine what you get out of it. It requires hard work to push through some of the difficult emotions. At the same time, there is great relief in making progress towards a better future… there is hope! It can be difficult to give up old ways of thinking and coping. At times it may feel you are not the same person you used to be, and not quite sure of the new person you are learning to be… that is what transition and healing are like. It can also be exhilarating to discover new pathways … that is the joy of finding freedom and new life.

Are there risks involved in counselling?
People often feel a wide variety of emotions during counselling. It is difficult discussing painful and troubling experiences. At a time like this extra self-care is required - set aside time for personal reflection, renewal or stress-relief (such as exercise, journaling, hobbies). Clients often schedule 'unwind' time following counselling sessions to reflect and recharge before heading home or back to work. The personal challenges raised in counselling can cause one to want to 'quit' or short circuit the deeper work. With patience with yourself and the accountability of your counsellor you can make it to your goal.

How often are sessions scheduled? How long do sessions last?
Most counselling sessions last about 50 minutes. One session per week is common though this is not always the most effective way of responding to every problem. In some situations, sessions are scheduled more frequently; and in others less frequently.

How long will my counselling last?
The period of time that an individual, couple or family remains in counselling tends to vary with the seriousness of the problem and the approach taken by the therapist. However, most situations require 10 sessions or fewer. Some difficulties take extra time and attention over several months to obtain the goal.

Oftentimes, clients will book sessions for a few months and then decide to take a break and resume counselling sessions later, as needed. Life is not easy at the best of times and life transitions (like a birth, a death, a new job, ending of a relationship, family crises, retirement, etc.) can be especially taxing. It is helpful to have a therapist there for support and guidance when these events occur.

How do I persuade my spouse or family members to join me in counselling?
If family members are resistant to joining you in counselling, just get started alone. Uninterested family members often do get involved in the therapy later if there is at least one motivated person attending. Do not put off starting counselling because of this.

Is there a no-show fee?
 A no-show fee will be charged for appointments missed and not cancelled 24 hours previous to appointment.
May I utilize insurance or other financial assistance to help pay for my counselling?
If you have "extended health care insurance" inquire whether your policy includes psychotherapy services. Some plans pay, in full or in part, for the services of a counsellor. Many plans in B.C. cover Registered Clinical Counsellors and Registered Psychologists for a set dollar value. For example, some clients have 10 sessions at $100 per hour coverage. With most of these policies it is necessary to pay the fees as you go and submit a receipt to the insurance company to claim your benefit. It is important to be certain of the details before contracting services.

Some employers offer Employee Assistance Plans (or EAP's), in which case, your employer has contracted a counselling service to provide confidential therapy services to it's employees. You can call the EAP company directly (confidentially - only non-identifiable statistics are reported back to the organization) and they will assign you a counsellor. In these situations, you will typically be offered short-term, solution-focused counseling with a maximum of 6-10 sessions.

The services of some therapists, (e.g. Psychiatrists) may be covered by your general Health Care Insurance (e.g. BC Med.). Some funded agencies provide counselling services without passing on any of the costs to you. (Duncan Mental Health and Nanaimo Mental Health in Ladysmith)

Some agencies use a "sliding scale" which means that the fee you pay is determined by your income.