Frequently asked questions

Yes. Westpeak Wellness is currently accepting new clients across British Columbia. The best first step is a free 15-minute consultation, where we can see if we're a good fit before you commit to anything.

Yes. Westpeak Wellness is a fully virtual practice serving clients anywhere in British Columbia. Sessions take place over a secure, confidential video platform — all you need is a private space and a stable internet connection. Online sessions follow the same ethical, legal, and privacy standards as in-person therapy.

Book a free 15-minute consultation. It's a relaxed video call to ask questions, share a bit about what's going on, and see whether working together feels right — no commitment required.

For most practical purposes in BC, yes. A counselling session is a health-care appointment for sick-leave purposes — the Employment Standards Act's sick days cover attending to your health, and you never owe an employer the detail. For taxes, fees paid to a Registered Clinical Counsellor qualify as a medical expense on the federal return for BC residents. What it is not: an MSP-billed physician visit, which is why payment runs through you or your extended health plan rather than your CareCard.

Sessions are paid by credit card at the time you book, not at the end of the hour. Cancel with at least 24 hours notice and the fee is refunded in full. Inside that window, or for a no-show, 50% of the fee is retained — the time was held and cannot realistically be filled at that notice. The client portal sets out the whole process, including what happens if something unavoidable comes up.

Most extended health plans in BC that include Registered Clinical Counsellors (RCC) will cover sessions at Westpeak Wellness — commonly Pacific Blue Cross, Manulife, Sun Life, Canada Life, and Green Shield. Coverage amounts and per-session limits vary by plan, so it's worth confirming your specific benefits. Note that BC's public MSP does not cover counselling. Virtual sessions are covered the same as in-person by nearly all plans.

BC has a substantial amount of free and low-cost mental health support that many people do not know about — health authority services, Foundry for anyone under 25, Here2Talk for post-secondary students, employee assistance programs through work, and university training clinics. Those are worth exploring, and it is a reasonable thing to raise on a consultation call.

Individual sessions are $140 for 50 minutes, couples are $170 for 50 minutes (or $340 for a 110-minute extended session), and EMDR intensives are $190 for 90 minutes. There is no GST on RCC counselling in BC. Full details are on the Fees page.

Not directly — psychiatric referrals in BC route through a physician or nurse practitioner. What a counsellor does in practice: recognises when psychiatric assessment is needed, says so plainly, writes a summary you can hand your doctor (there is one already written), and with your written consent communicates with them directly. The referral letter carries more weight when the GP can see months of documented counselling behind it, so the counsellor is often the reason the referral happens — just not the signature on it.

Yes. Sessions are available in Punjabi, English, or a mix of both. Some things land better in your first language, and you won't have to translate your cultural context to be understood.

Sessions are 50 minutes. Most people start weekly or biweekly to build momentum, then space sessions out as things improve. There's no set number of sessions — you're always in control of the pace.

The first session is about your story — what brought you in, what you're hoping for, and what "better" would look like. It's also a chance to get comfortable with how your counsellor works. There's no pressure to have everything figured out; that's what the work is for.

Because soliciting testimonials from counselling clients is prohibited under BCACC advertising standards — someone inside a therapeutic relationship cannot give uncoerced consent to be used as marketing. What this practice publishes instead, and how to check a counsellor's registration on the public register yourself, is set out in full on the reviews and references page.

Yes. It is built to WCAG 2.1 AA and tested for colour contrast, keyboard navigation and touch-target size. The accessibility page sets out what has been done and how to report anything that does not work for you. Those reports are welcome and are treated as defects rather than complaints.

Yes. Everything you share is confidential and protected under BCACC's code of ethics and BC privacy law. There are a few legal limits — such as a risk of serious harm to yourself or someone else, or a court order — and your counsellor will explain these clearly at the start of your work together.

Westpeak Wellness is not a crisis service. If you're in distress, call or text 9-8-8 (Canada's suicide crisis line, available 24/7) or the BC Mental Health Support Line at 310-6789. If you're in immediate danger, call 911.