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). 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, does not 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.

Doug Elliott is 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.