Oliver EvansLife as we know it always has its ups and downs, and sometimes the downs can be really rough. Everyone has different ways of coping with stress, whether you treat yourself to a spa day or get yourself a foot rub.
But nothing beats a good sit down with someone who cares to just air out your troubles. Unfortunately, as much as we love them, our friends and family aren’t always equipped to handle our troubles, or may need additional guidance: such as from a counselor.
It can be daunting to lay out your problems with anyone, even a professional. With no shortage of counselling services in Vancouver, we took some time to make the rounds and check out the best clinics to get started with for when you’re having a rainy day.
How much does it cost to get counselling services in Vancouver?
Seeing a counselor at a registered counselling service in Vancouver can cost you anywhere from $120 to $250 per session, depending on the length of the session and number of attendants.
1. Women’s Mental Health
Address: 550 W Broadway Unit 533 Vancouver, BC V5Z 0E9
Contact Details: (604) 529-4700; [email protected]
Operating Hours: Monday – Sunday: 8:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Women’s Mental Health is a counselling service provider that focuses on supporting women and gender-diverse individuals through accessible therapy options. They offer both in-person sessions in Vancouver and online counselling across British Columbia, making their services flexible for different lifestyles and needs.
Their core offering is individual counselling, which provides structured one-on-one support for a wide range of emotional and psychological challenges. Clients can work through issues such as anxiety, burnout, depression, and life transitions in a personalized therapeutic setting.
They also place strong emphasis on low-cost counselling, which helps improve accessibility for individuals who may otherwise struggle to afford ongoing therapy. This makes mental health support more inclusive and reachable for a broader community.
A notable specialty is their perinatal counselling service, which supports individuals during pregnancy, prenatal, and postpartum periods. This service is designed to help clients manage emotional shifts, identity changes, and mental health challenges associated with becoming or being a parent.
In addition, they provide couples counselling, which focuses on improving communication, resolving conflict, and strengthening emotional bonds between partners. This service supports relationship stability and helps couples navigate recurring or complex issues together.
Overall, their approach combines accessibility, inclusivity, and professional care delivered by licensed counsellors with advanced training. Their structure makes them a practical option for individuals seeking consistent and supportive mental health counselling in BC.
The director, Lisa, is passionate, knowledgable
“How amazing to have a whole group of counsellors devoted to mental health concerns for women — this is such an important topic to have dedicated and specialized counsellors for. I confidently refer my friends and acquaintances to Women’s Mental Health when they are looking for a counsellor. The director, Lisa, is passionate, knowledgable and committed to creating a great team.”
– Kelsi Wall, Google Review
Great team of kind, compassionate and skilled counsellors.
“As someone who also works in the field of counselling, Women’s Mental Health is one of the main counselling groups in Vancouver that I refer out to. They’ve built a great team of kind, compassionate and skilled counsellors. Highly recommended”
– Kennedy Lewis, Google Review
2. Blue Sky Counselling and Wellness Clinic
Address: 999 W Broadway Suite 590, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1K5
Contact Details: +1 604 428 6046, [email protected]
Operating Hours: Monday to Thursday: 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, Friday to Sunday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Talk about a clinic for a rainy day! Open and honest communication is a must in most relationships both platonic and romantic, and Blue Sky Counselling was quite the recommendation coming from local couples around Vancouver needing counselling.
Our visit got off to a pretty good start as we walked into a clean and well-maintained clinic. The waiting areas were also pretty comfortable, with ample water and coffee readily available to help ease the wait for customers.
We got to chat with a few customers and asked about their experience with the service. Many were happy to praise the team’s professional approach during consultations, taking into account the customer’s comfort and any requests during appointments.
The clinic was also home to plenty of resources and extra materials, especially for couples looking into couples’ therapy and counselling. A few regulars mentioned these being fairly up to date and in-depth, helping couples out even outside the clinic.
That being said, customers did mention that the clinic had strict timetables and policies on their appointments. These could make it a little tricky to reschedule or cancel appointments, even in emergency cases.
Truly listens to you and connects all the learnings
“This clinic is amazing, they have a welcoming receptionist and nice and clean office with free coffee and water while you wait. Kolby Kehr truly listens to you and connects all the learnings to what you’re going through.”
– Ms. Nielshien Kelly Salalila, Google Review
I’ve already seen so much progress
“I’ve already seen so much progress after just 8 sessions, and I’m looking forward to many more. The clinic itself is welcoming and professional, with a really nice atmosphere, which makes the experience even better.”
– Ms. Kali Berhanu, Google Review
3. Thrive Downtown Counselling Centre
Address: 470 Granville St #518, Vancouver, BC V6C 1V5
Contact Details: +1 604 227 0297, [email protected]
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Closed on Saturday and Sunday
One hurdle most folks might face when going for counselling is taking time out of their schedule to attend sessions. With that in mind, we sought out clinics for accessibility and were pleased to find the Thrive Downtown Counselling Centre!
The centre landed on our radar after customers mentioned their reliable online and home sessions, and the latter caught our eye! The center offered mobile therapy for customers who were more comfortable having sessions in their own home.
These were reportedly pretty easy to set up as well, as the team was responsive. They replied quickly when we reached out to ask about their services, and many clients we got to ask mentioned their proactivity with providing details on their services as well.
Of course, it’s always daunting to open up to a counselor for the first time. Fortunately, customers mentioned the center having multiple therapists available, so cistomers can always try out sessions with one and then switch if they don’t feel comfortable.
If you’re planning on reaching out to this center, we’d still recommend either visiting their clinic in-person or trying their phone! A few customers we spoke to mentioned facing longer response times when contacting them online.
Lucky to find such a dedicated team of professional therapists
“I’ve been so lucky to find such a dedicated team of professional therapists here at Thrive. In particular, my sessions with Serena have been a revelation, helping me address issues either long-forgotten or deeply buried.”
– Mr. Paul Matson, Google Review
She is very genuine and warm
“Giulia responded to my reach out quickly, which means a lot to me because I was in a bad condition. She is very genuine and warm, she listens to the patient and provides different approaches to help the patient go through the tough times.”
– Ms. Ren Ellen, Google Review
4. Vancouver Counselling Clinic
Address: 11th Floor – 1200 West 73rd Ave, Vancouver, BC V6P 6G5
Contact Details: +1 604 343 4357, [email protected]
Operating Hours: Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Closed on Saturday and Sunday
Well, the name really says it all! The Vancouver Counselling Clinic rose to popularity for its accessibility and as a good starting point for those looking for detailed, informative care, and with that kind of reception from Vancouverites, how could we not visit?
The first thing we heard about the clinic was their offer of free consultations. These consultations could be held online or over the phone, saving on the hassle of traveling to the clinic to get matched with a therapist.
These consultations were a highlight among customers we chatted with as well. The clinic offered detailed assessments that could help clients get a better understanding of their troubles and any conditions, which could better inform their treatment plans.
We also especially appreciated the support for non-English speakers available at the clinic. Their therapists could support various languages such as Mandarin, Punjabi, and even Hindi.
One point of improvement a few customers let us know was the scheduling, however. Some reported cases where their appointments could get rescheduled on short notice, so we’d recommend always confirming the appointment dates just in case.
She was the type of person who is present in the moment
“From the moment I met Jocelyn, I knew she was the type of person who is present in the moment, has the beautiful ability to hold space well, actively listens, and truly sees you as you are.”
– Ms. Nellie Kim, Google Review
I value her gentle approach
“Jocelyn is simply amazing! She’s kind, intelligent, and incredibly friendly. I value her gentle approach during our sessions, which always leave me feeling uplifted and at ease. I highly recommend her for anyone seeking guidance and support!”
– Ms. Ashley Bilach, Google Review
5. Stewart & Associates Counselling Services
Address: 1118 Homer St Suite 227, Vancouver, BC V6B 6L5
Contact Details: +1 604 687 7171, [email protected]
Operating Hours: Monday to Thursday: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Closed on Friday, Saturday and Sunday
A particular appeal to getting counseling is the idea of having an organized space to clear the air and work through your thoughts. As it turns out, Stewart & Associates was quite the top pick for a local spot to do exactly that!
Given how much trust a customer puts in their therapist, the first thing that struck us was the ease of requesting specific therapists. We found this pretty handy for regulars with preferred therapists, or even new ones seeking someone to match with.
In addition to that, we also noted the various approaches the team adapted for their counseling. These included classic cognitive behavioral therapy to other avenues, such as keeping journals and writing letters to track one’s mental health.
When we got to ask customers about the quality of the sessions, many were happy to report that these tended to be quite organized. The team was reportedly thorough with keeping the discussions on track without making customers feel uncomfortable.
That being said, we do have to note that the pricing per session at the center was on the higher side, even compared to other counselling clinics in Vancouver. We’d definitely try one session before committing to further ones.
She stood by me through the devastating time
“When I first started seeing Ruth-Ann, I was anxious and depressed and didn’t know how to cope. She encouraged me to write letters to my family when I couldn’t face them in person, and she stood by me through the devastating time of losing my mom.”
– Ms. Kelsey Brown, Google Review
Taught me critical skills I can use on my own to navigate
“She has provided me with a safe space I can go to for support and has taught me critical skills I can use on my own to navigate through challenging life stages, emotions, and exhaustion. Karen is truly an angel that I feel lucky to have found.”
– Ms. Robin Arora-Desilet, Google Review
6. Sana Counselling
Address: 2078 W 4th Ave #101, Vancouver, BC V6J 1M9
Contact Details: +1 604 809 2438, [email protected]
Operating Hours: Monday to Tuesday: 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Wednesday: 9:00 AM to 7:30 PM, Thursday to Friday: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Saturday: 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM, Sunday: 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Comfort is a big deciding factor for customers getting counseling, which can make it intimidating to find a counselor that fits you just right. Fortunately, locals were happy to point us to Sana Counselling as a good, cozy place to start exploring the service.
It wasn’t hard to see why. Our visit went pleasantly quick, as we didn’t have trouble finding the location of the clinic at all. There was also ample parking at the location, even during busy times!
While there, we got to chat with the team and regulars. A favorite at the clinic was their personable approach to most therapies, explaining the details in easy to understand terms to help customers get a better understanding of what to expect.
Even without an appointment, customers also mentioned the wealth of readily available resources at the clinic for those looking to better their mental health. These included emergency numbers, support groups, and several book recommendations.
That said, the clinic was on the smaller side with a limited team, so many customers advised us to settle in for a wait. Some mentioned there being long spans of waiting time between one appointment to the next due to their packed schedule.
Super down to earth and personable
“I didn’t know how counselling would be at first but she is super down to earth and personable, offering a great natural environment to hear you out and help guide you through all sorts of challenges that come up in life.”
– Mr. Andrew Mantione, Google Review
She has been so lovely to work with
“I have worked with the counsellor Kristine R for a while, and she has been so lovely to work with! I have grown so much as a person since I started my appointments with her. The location is also super convenient.”
– Ms. Kayla Woodruff, Google Review
