Employment Assistance Program (EAP; can also be known as EFAP for Employment/Family Assistance Program; there is a similar option for students known as SAP the Student Assistance Program). These are short-term support services that an individual’s place of work or school has organized. People can request short-term counselling services through EAP/EFAP/SAP. These services are fully covered and it is a great way to connect to a counsellor without having to worry about the price tag. Some EAP/EFAP cover immediate family members as well. If you’re interested in this option you should check in with your employer about opting into these services if you haven’t already.

Extended health benefits can be so helpful to cover health needs that provincial health does not (MSP in BC and OHIP in ON). Common uses for our extended health benefits are visiting the dentist, prescription eyeglasses, orthotics, massage therapy, physiotherapy etc. Some known insurance providers are Sun Life, Pacific Blue Cross, Green Shield, ManuLife etc.

People can purchase an extended health benefits plan through multiple means. It can be purchased through your place of work - often employers have access to better plans because many employees are opting in for the purchase. Plans can be independently purchased as well, you can explore with different providers to see what they offer and choose the plan that’s the best fit.

Post-Secondary Students may automatically be enrolled to receive an extended health benefits plan which is covered by student fees. Often these plans are purchased by the Student Union on campus.

Plans tend to differ from one another even if they are given by the same insurance provider so it is always a good idea to check with your manager or HR about details related to your coverage. Students should consider checking in with her Student Union or health clinic/counselling clinic on campus for more information.

Extended health benefits can cover costs for counselling either partially or fully up to a certain limit. This differs from plan to plan which is why it is best to check with your insurance providers before you decide on services you are interested in. Most counsellors (esp. RCCs) cannot directly bill your insurance providers. It is currently common practice to pay for counselling services upfront and submit your receipt to claim reimbursement for your services. Usually the turn around time for this is a few days. If you let your counsellor know they will make sure they have the appropriate information on their receipt for claim submissions.

First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) offers coverage for counselling services for First Nations in BC. They have an approved providers list of counsellors, if you are registered with FNHA you can explore their providers list to work with someone that is the right fit. Many counsellors will have it listed on their website if they are FNHA providers.

Crime Victim Assistance Program (CVAP) offers counselling coverage for individuals in BC who a) Have directly experienced crime b) If they are family members of someone who has directly experienced a crime, or c) If they have been a witness to crime.

Individuals can look into registering with them here. If you are a post-secondary student who has experienced domestic violence or sexual violence you can connect with the Sexual Violence and Prevention Office (SVPRO) on campus to explore your options for a CVAP application.

Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC) offers counselling coverage for individuals in BC if they have experienced injury in a car accident. ICBC provides coverage for 12 sessions if you are eligible.

Sliding Scale

Some counsellors offer sessions at a reduced price for a short period of time. This allows counselling to be accessible to those in need, especially if they don’t have an extended health benefits plan. These differ from counsellor to counsellor and you may be put on a wait list until a spot becomes available. Some counsellors have signed up with Open Path Collective you can check out this website for therapists who are offering sliding scale options.

Free Single Session/Short-Term Counselling

There are some free options for counselling services. In this post I’m sharing some that are available mostly virtually or over the phone. In a future post I hope to share more details on free counselling services available in the community.

Post-Secondary Students

Post-Secondary Students should check out their counselling clinics on campus if they haven’t already. Depending on your needs you can qualify for short-term counselling with the services offered by the university. Some campuses also offer single session appointments that can be available same day.

Post-Secondary Students attending institutions in BC, ON, and Nova Scotia can also use phone counselling services at no cost to them, and you can access this from anywhere in the world (phone charges may apply unless you use the Fongo App - offers a Canadian phone number)

• Here2Talk: 24/7 phone counselling service that connects students with a counsellor for a single session (BC Post-Secondary Students)

• Good2Talk: 24/7 phone counselling services that connects students with a counsellor for a single session (ON and NS Post-Secondary Students). Good2Talk also has a texting line.

*Fongo App: is a free app made by students from the University of Waterloo. It provides you with a Canadian number that you can use over wifi or data.

Services in BC There are various free counselling services available throughout BC, people can check out this link for some options that are best suitable for their needs: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/managing-your-health/mental-health-substance-use/virtual-mental-health-supports

Service Across Canada Since the pandemic Canada has been offering this virutal and phone services to residents of Canada for free

• Wellness Together Canada: offers multiple services 24/7.
  • Get connected to a counsellor over the phone for a single session
  • Self-Guided Psychoeducation material for wellbeing
  • Other Resources

Take a look into these various services and see what’s the best fit for you based on your current needs.