Tips to help you choose a counsellor

If you want to start therapy, it helps to get clear on the education, personality, experiences, and values you are looking for in a counsellor. Like any practitioner and client relationship, the better the fit the more productive the sessions will be.

To research a counsellor, you can visit the British Columbia Psychological Association, BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC), or Find a Social Worker and select search criteria. You can then research prospective counsellors further by reading their bio and areas of expertise on their websites. Some may offer a free preliminary phone screening to ask questions and find out more about them.

Here are criteria to consider when researching a counsellor (adapted from BCACC), find out:

• If the counsellor you are engaging with is a licensed psychologist, social worker, or registered clinical counsellor as these practitioners are covered by your UBC extended health benefits
• The counsellor’s level of education, certification, and training, as well as the length of time they have been practicing
• The counsellor’s area of expertise and/or lived experience in the area you are focusing on
• The modalities used in sessions (e.g. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, talk therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization Therapy, etc.)
• If they have work hours that fit your schedule
• If their fee is a fit for your budget or extended health benefits
• If they offer phone support or crisis intervention between sessions
• If they practice under a code of ethics that is available for you to read:
  • College of Psychologists of British Columbia: Regulation and Code of Conduct
  • BCACC: Code of Ethical Conduct
  • BC Association of Social Workers: Code of Ethics
  • British Columbia College of Social Workers: Code of Ethics and Standard of Practice
• If they have had formal complaints filed against them:
  • College of Psychologists of BC has a formal complaint process and registered psychologists can be verified here
  • BCACC can be contacted to ask if a counsellor registered with them has had a complaint against them
  • British Columbia College of Social Workers Complaints Department (1-877-576-6740) and Registered Social Workers can be verified here.
• Finally, follow your intuition. When you conduct your interview and trust your first impressions.

Funding for counselling through UBC

If you are enrolled in UBC extended health benefits, registered/licensed clinical psychologists, or registered/licensed social workers, or clinical counsellors are 100% covered to a limit of $3,000 per year per person (previously $2,500). In addition to this, you can also get free counselling through UBC’s Employee Family Assistance Program.

Additional community counselling resources

First Nations Health Authority mental health provider list

Healing in Colour: A directory of BIPOC therapists

References

How To Choose. BCACC. Retrieved May 28, 2021, from https://bc-counsellors.org/find-a-counsellor/how-to-choose/