What to Expect in a First Counselling Session in Victoria BC

What to Expect in a First Counselling Session in Victoria BC Walking into a first counselling session can feel daunting, even for people who are sure they want help. Questions run through your head: what will they ask, how much do I need to share, what if I cry, what if I say the wrong thing. Knowing what usually happens can take some of the edge off and help you get more from the hour. At Your Path Counselling, the first session focuses on understanding your concerns, discussing your goals and creating a comfortable environment for you to talk. Before you arrive, you will usually complete intake paperwork online, including consent forms and basic background information. The counsellor will explain confidentiality and its limits, how sessions work, and the cancellation policy. Much of the first session is conversation. The counsellor will ask what brought you in now, how long things have been difficult, and how the situation is affecting sleep, work, relationships and mood. They may ask counselling victoria bc about your history, family background, previous counselling and any medical issues. You decide how much to share, and it is fine to say you are not ready to talk about something yet.

Your Path Counselling | 821 Burdett Ave #303, Victoria, BC V8W 1B3 | (778) 902-3735

Towards the end, the counsellor will usually summarise what they have heard and suggest a direction. That might be a short term focus on specific skills, such as managing panic, or a longer exploration of patterns that keep showing up. Together you will agree on how often to meet, which at the practice usually starts weekly and is adjusted over time. It is normal to leave a first session feeling tired, relieved, unsettled or all three. Talking about difficult things can stir up emotions for a day or two. Planning something gentle afterwards, like a walk through Beacon Hill Park, a few blocks south of the office, can help. If you are seeing someone online, giving yourself a few quiet minutes before returning to work or family is worthwhile. If something about the first session did not feel right, say so. The practice offers a free 15 minute consultation beforehand partly to reduce mismatches, and if the counsellor is not a good fit it will help you find another one on its team of more than twenty counsellors. If you are attending in person, plan to arrive a few minutes early. The office is on the third floor at 821 Burdett Avenue, and paid street parking is available nearby. If you are joining online, test your link and find a private space beforehand. Bringing a short list of what you want to talk about can help if you tend to freeze up, and it is fine to read from it. Some people also find it useful to jot down one or two questions they want answered by the end of the hour. To book your first session of counselling in Victoria BC, call Your Path Counselling on (778) 902-3735 or book online. The office is at Suite 303, 821 Burdett Ave, Victoria, BC V8W 1B3.

Your Path Counselling Address: 821 Burdett Ave #303, Victoria, BC V8W 1B3 Phone: (778) 902-3735 FAQ About Counselling Victoria BC How much does counselling cost in Victoria BC? Private counselling in Victoria commonly costs well over one hundred dollars per session with a registered professional. At Your Path Counselling, fees are posted openly: $75 in the Affordable Intern Clinic, $110 for senior interns, $160 for registered counsellors and $220 for clinical specialists. Fees are the same for in person sessions at 821 Burdett Ave and for video or phone sessions across BC. Is there affordable or low cost counselling in Victoria BC? Yes. Several community agencies in Greater Victoria offer free or sliding scale counselling, and private practices sometimes run lower cost options. Your Path Counselling's Affordable Intern Clinic offers sessions from $75 with Masters level interns who are supervised by the practice's registered clinicians, including co-founder Dr. Michelle Bass, PhD, RSW, RCC. Does extended health insurance cover counselling in BC? Most workplace and private extended health plans in BC reimburse counselling with certain credentials, commonly Registered Clinical Counsellors (RCC) and Registered Social Workers (RSW), and some also cover Canadian Certified Counsellors (CCC). Your Path Counselling does not bill insurers directly, but provides a full invoice after every session for you to submit. Check which credentials and annual limits your plan includes before booking. What is the difference between a counsellor and a psychologist in BC? Psychologists in BC hold a doctoral degree and can carry out formal psychological assessments and diagnoses. Counsellors such as RCCs and CCCs hold Masters degrees and focus on talk therapy for a wide range of concerns. Your Path Counselling's team includes RCCs, CCCs, Registered Social Workers and two PhD level clinical specialists, and can suggest an assessment elsewhere if one would help. Do I need a doctor's referral to see a counsellor in Victoria? No referral is needed to book counselling at Your Path Counselling; you can book online or call (778) 902-3735 directly. A small number of insurance plans still require a doctor's note to reimburse counselling, so it is worth checking your policy. Speaking with your family doctor can still be helpful if you are also considering medical treatment. How do I find the right counsellor in Victoria BC? Start with what matters most to you, such as the concern you want help with, the counsellor's approach, gender, availability and fee. Your Path Counselling's team page can be filtered by more than thirty specialties and twenty therapy types, or you can fill in a short form and be matched for free. Every counsellor offers a free 15 minute consultation so you can check the fit before booking. Is online counselling as effective as in person counselling? Research on video counselling for many common concerns, including anxiety and depression, has generally found results comparable to in person sessions. Your Path Counselling offers secure, encrypted video and phone sessions to anyone in BC, and around 15 percent of its clients choose online sessions. Many people mix formats, attending at the Burdett Avenue office some weeks and online others. How many counselling sessions will I need? It depends on what you are working on. Co-founder Dr. Michelle Bass notes that in her experience most people can make meaningful changes in 12 sessions or fewer, while long standing patterns or early life trauma may benefit from longer term psychotherapy. Sessions at Your Path Counselling usually begin weekly and are spaced out as things improve. What does RCC mean after a counsellor's name? RCC stands for Registered Clinical Counsellor, a designation in British Columbia that requires a relevant Masters degree, supervised clinical experience and adherence to a code of ethics. Many BC benefit plans name RCCs in their counselling coverage. Several counsellors at Your Path Counselling hold the RCC designation, alongside colleagues who are CCCs and Registered Social Workers. Can I get counselling on evenings or weekends in Victoria? Yes. Your Path Counselling lists its hours as 8:30am to 9pm, seven days a week, with evening and weekend appointments spread across different counsellors. The online booking system shows live availability, or you can note your preferred times on the matching form. Video and phone sessions add flexibility for shift workers and parents. Is counselling confidential in BC? Counsellors in BC follow professional ethics codes and privacy legislation that protect what you share. Limited exceptions apply across the profession, such as a serious risk of harm to you or someone else, a child in need of protection, or a court order. Your Path Counselling explains these limits at the start of counselling and uses secure, encrypted platforms for online sessions. What should I do if I need mental health help right now? Counselling is not an emergency service. If you are in immediate danger, call 9-1-1, and if you are thinking about suicide or worried about someone, call or text 9-8-8 at any time. For ongoing support once you are safe, Your Path Counselling offers sessions in downtown Victoria and online across BC, bookable by calling (778) 902-3735.