Affordable Counselling
Getting Creative with Affordable Psychotherapy
**Note: I will use the terms psychotherapy and counselling interchangeably in this post**
There’s been an explosion of counsellors in-training and new counsellor grads from online institutions like City U and Yorkville University. Could these institutions be responding to an increasing need for mental health support in our communities? Maybe, but probably not.
I did some quick research and found that Yorkville University is now owned by Birch Hill Equity Partners, an investment firm that boasts it is “…one of Canada’s largest corporate entities with over $8 billion in total revenue and more than 40,000 employees” and it has “… companies in Canada and the United States to build leading global businesses across a diverse set of industries”. It may be safe to say their primary motivation isn’t to help communities with mental health support, but rather to make more billions for their investors. Bummer.
I’ve been a practicing clinical counsellor since 2017, and with the increase of cost of living across BC and Canada, accessing mental health support is more unaffordable than ever. In the same breath, I’ve only got a certain amount of spaces for low-fee clients because I’ve got my own bills to pay. So this begs the question: how can we become creative in building access to affordable (and/or free) counselling? I should add, counselling is just one branch in the tree of community care that is possible to support folks right now.
Here are some ideas!
There are many student counsellors right now who are itching for client hours. Do a google search in your area or for online support; you should be able to find someone to support you for a low-to-no fee.
Did you know there’s actually a free counselling in canada website? I didn’t! But I found it today, here’s the website url: www.freecounsellingcanada.ca
Emily Guinane, a student counsellor who is working with me is offering low-to-no fees! She has a warm, kind and open presence and is accepting new folks into her practice: www.acwcounselling.com/practicumstudent
Pathways Vancouver, through UBC offers low to no counselling support also (https://vancouver.pathwaysbc.ca/programs/2295)
2-1-1 British Columbia: Provides a free, confidential, multilingual service to connect people to helpful and vital resources. Offers information and referral to community, government and social services in B.C. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week:
Call or text 2-1-1 (toll-free)
Community centres and libraries are also wonderful places where there should be resources readily available for you. Check the bulletin boards, say hi to the person behind the desk, say hi to your neighbours, check on that elderly person down the street! There are things we can do to connect ourselves to our communities that will help to build/rebuild webs of connection that we all need for our mental health.
With lots of love and care,
Ari.