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 $2,500 per year per person. 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/