Counselling & Therapy in Burnaby & Vancouver
Talk therapy for anxiety, depression, trauma, and life transitions. Sessions available in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese.
Clinical Counselling at Phoenix Rehab
Clinical counselling provides a safe, supportive space to address life's challenges, improve coping strategies, and strengthen mental health. At Phoenix Rehab, our Registered Clinical Counsellors (RCCs) use research-informed approaches to help clients process difficult emotions, build resilience, and create meaningful change.
Whether you are struggling with anxiety, stress, depression, trauma, or relationship concerns, counselling can help you move forward with greater clarity, confidence, and balance.
At our Burnaby clinic, your counsellor works alongside physiotherapists, chiropractors, massage therapists, and other practitioners โ all under one roof. Because mental and physical health are deeply connected, having integrated support means we can address the full picture of your well-being when it matters most.
Registered Clinical Counsellors (RCC)
Fully regulated and credentialed therapists
Confidential & Safe
A private, non-judgmental space for every session
Individuals, Couples & Families
Support for every stage of life
What Concerns Does Counselling Address?
Our clinical counsellors provide care for a wide range of emotional, psychological, and relational challenges.
Anxiety, Depression & Stress
Developing healthy coping skills for overwhelming thoughts and emotions that impact daily life. Your counsellor will help you identify patterns that fuel anxiety or low mood, and teach practical techniques โ like cognitive restructuring, grounding exercises, and behavioral activation โ that you can use between sessions.
Trauma & PTSD
Safe, trauma-informed support for processing traumatic experiences at your own pace. Our trauma-informed counsellors use approaches like EMDR, somatic experiencing, and narrative therapy to help you process painful memories without being re-traumatized โ always moving at a pace that feels safe for you.
Couples & Relationship Issues
Improving communication, rebuilding trust, and deepening connection between partners. Whether you are navigating conflict, infidelity, emotional distance, or simply want to strengthen your relationship, couples therapy provides a structured, neutral space to understand each other's needs and develop healthier patterns.
Family & Parenting Challenges
Practical strategies for healthier family dynamics and more effective parenting. Family counselling helps address intergenerational patterns, communication breakdowns, boundary-setting, and the stress that comes with raising children through different developmental stages.
Life Transitions & Adjustment
Support during career changes, academic stress, retirement, divorce, or other major personal life transitions. Change โ even positive change โ can be destabilizing. Counselling helps you process the emotions that come with transition and develop confidence in navigating the unknown.
Immigration & Cultural Adjustment
Counselling for newcomers navigating cultural transitions, language barriers, isolation, and identity challenges in a new country. Our counsellors understand the unique stressors of immigration โ including acculturation stress, family role changes, and grief over the life left behind.
Grief & Loss
A safe space to grieve the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, or other significant losses. Grief is not linear, and there is no timeline for healing. Your counsellor walks alongside you โ no rushing, no judgment โ as you find your own path forward.
What Approaches Are Used in Counselling?
Our Registered Clinical Counsellors draw from established counselling approaches and shape the work around your history, your current challenges, and what you want help with.
Registered Clinical Counsellors (RCC)
Accredited by the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC)
Cognitive & Behavioural
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Identifying and reframing unhelpful thought patterns to reduce anxiety, depression, and emotional distress.
Schema Therapy
Addressing deep-rooted patterns that influence relationships, self-esteem, and emotional regulation.
Trauma & Relational
Trauma-Informed Therapy
Safe and supportive approaches specifically designed for healing after trauma or PTSD.
Couples & Relationship Therapy
Structured sessions to strengthen communication, restore trust, and deepen emotional connection.
Mindfulness & Goal-Focused
Mindfulness-Based Approaches
Cultivating present-moment awareness and practical stress reduction strategies for long-term well-being.
Solution-Focused Therapy
Practical, forward-looking strategies to identify strengths and achieve meaningful personal goals.
How Does Counselling Work?
Starting counselling is a courageous step. We make the process simple, supportive, and entirely at your pace.
Initial Consultation
Your first session involves sharing your concerns, history, and goals in a completely confidential environment. Your counsellor listens without judgment, asks clarifying questions, and together you develop an initial understanding of what you are experiencing. By the end of this session, you will have a clear sense of the therapeutic approach your counsellor recommends and what to expect going forward.
Your Counselling Sessions
Regular sessions provide a safe, consistent space to explore challenges, process difficult emotions, and learn practical tools you can use in daily life. Your counsellor adapts their approach based on what is working for you. For couples or families, sessions focus on improving communication patterns, resolving conflicts constructively, and building stronger connections.
Ongoing Growth & Support
Counselling is not only about addressing immediate concerns but also building long-term emotional resilience and self-awareness. As you progress, your counsellor helps you recognize your growth, consolidate new skills, and plan for maintaining your well-being after therapy ends. Many clients transition from weekly sessions to periodic check-ins as they build confidence in managing challenges independently.
What Should You Expect in a Counselling Session?
Session Details
All sessions are completely confidential, safe, and non-judgmental. What you share stays between you and your counsellor, protected by professional ethics and legal standards. You are never pressured to share more than you are comfortable with.
Each session typically lasts 50โ60 minutes. The first session may run slightly longer as your counsellor takes time to understand your background, current situation, and what you hope to achieve through counselling.
Session frequency is flexible and matched to your needs. Most clients begin with weekly sessions to build momentum, then transition to bi-weekly or monthly as they gain confidence. Some prefer as-needed check-ins during challenging periods.
Counselling is collaborative โ your counsellor works with you, not on you. Together you set the pace, choose the direction of therapy, and decide what goals matter most. You are always in the driver's seat of your own healing process.
Many clients notice improved coping skills, reduced anxiety, and clearer perspectives within the first few sessions. However, deeper or long-standing concerns may take more time, and that is completely normal. Your counsellor will regularly check in on your progress and adjust the approach as needed.
Who Can Benefit from Clinical Counselling?
Counselling is not just for people in crisis โ it is for anyone who wants to understand themselves better, improve their relationships, or develop stronger coping skills. Here are some of the people we commonly work with at our Burnaby clinic.
People Experiencing Anxiety or Depression
If persistent worry, low mood, sleep disruption, or loss of motivation are affecting your daily life, counselling can help. Approaches like CBT and mindfulness-based therapy have strong research support for reducing anxiety and depressive symptoms โ often producing meaningful improvement within 8โ12 sessions.
Trauma & PTSD Survivors
Whether from a single event (accident, assault, loss) or prolonged experiences (childhood adversity, domestic violence), trauma leaves deep marks on your nervous system and daily functioning. Trauma-informed counselling helps you process these experiences safely, reduce flashbacks and hypervigilance, and rebuild a sense of safety in your life.
Couples & Partners
Relationship challenges โ communication breakdowns, trust issues, emotional distance, or recurring conflict โ are among the most common reasons people seek counselling. Couples therapy provides a structured space with a neutral third party to understand each other's perspectives, learn healthier interaction patterns, and reconnect.
Immigrants & Newcomers to Canada
Moving to a new country brings unique emotional challenges: cultural adjustment, language barriers, isolation from support networks, changes in family roles, and grief over the life left behind. Our counsellors understand these experiences and provide culturally sensitive support to help you adapt while honoring your identity.
People Navigating Life Transitions
Career changes, retirement, divorce, becoming a parent, caring for aging parents, academic pressure โ any significant life change can trigger stress, uncertainty, and emotional overwhelm. Counselling helps you process these transitions, make clearer decisions, and build confidence in moving forward.
Anyone Seeking Personal Growth
You do not need a diagnosis or a crisis to benefit from counselling. Many clients come because they want to understand themselves better, improve emotional regulation, strengthen their relationships, or develop greater self-awareness. Therapy is a proactive investment in your mental and emotional well-being.
How Long Does Counselling Take?
The length of counselling varies widely depending on the nature of your concerns, your goals, and how you respond to the therapeutic process. Here is a general guide to help set expectations.
Sessions 1โ3: Assessment & Building Trust
The first few sessions focus on understanding your situation, establishing a safe therapeutic relationship, and identifying the core issues you want to address. Your counsellor begins to formulate a treatment approach matched to your needs. Many clients already feel some relief simply from having a safe space to talk openly.
Sessions 4โ12: Active Therapeutic Work
This is where the deeper work happens. Using approaches like CBT, trauma-informed therapy, or couples therapy, your counsellor helps you develop new perspectives, process difficult emotions, and practice healthier patterns. Most clients experience noticeable improvement during this phase.
Beyond: Consolidation & Independence
As your goals are met, sessions may become less frequent โ bi-weekly, then monthly โ as you build confidence in applying what you have learned independently. Some clients maintain occasional check-in sessions during stressful periods, while others complete therapy and return if new challenges arise.
Situational concerns (workplace stress, a specific life transition) may resolve in 4โ8 sessions. Moderate anxiety or depression typically responds well to 8โ16 sessions of structured therapy like CBT. Complex trauma, long-standing relationship patterns, or personality-level concerns may benefit from longer-term work (6+ months). Your counsellor will discuss a realistic timeline during your first few sessions and adjust as you progress. There is no 'right' length for therapy โ it depends entirely on your unique situation and goals.
Clinical Counselling FAQs
Is Counselling Confidential?
Yes, strictly. Everything you share in counselling is protected by professional confidentiality. Your counsellor will not share your information with anyone โ including family members, employers, or other healthcare providers โ without your explicit written consent. The only exceptions are situations required by law, such as imminent risk of harm to yourself or others, or suspected child abuse. Your counsellor will explain these limits clearly at your first session.
What Is the Difference Between a Counsellor and a Psychologist?
Both are regulated mental health professionals who provide therapy. Registered Clinical Counsellors (RCCs) in BC are accredited by the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC) and hold master's-level training in counselling or psychotherapy. Psychologists hold doctoral degrees and can perform psychological testing and formal diagnoses. For most people seeking therapy for anxiety, depression, relationship issues, or life challenges, the therapeutic approaches used by counsellors and psychologists are very similar and equally effective.
What Happens in the First Session?
Your first session is primarily about getting to know each other. Your counsellor will ask about your current concerns, relevant background, and what you hope to achieve. You do not need to have everything figured out โ your counsellor will guide the conversation. By the end of the first session, you will have a clearer understanding of how counselling can help and what approach your counsellor recommends. Most importantly, the first session helps you decide if this counsellor feels like a good fit for you.
Is Counselling Covered by Insurance in BC?
Registered Clinical Counsellors (RCCs) are recognized by most extended health insurance plans in British Columbia. Coverage varies by plan โ typically $500โ$2,000 per year for counselling services. ICBC also covers counselling for motor vehicle accident clients with an approved claim. At Phoenix Rehab, we offer direct billing to many insurance providers, so you may not need to pay upfront. Our admin team can help verify your specific coverage before your first session.
Do I Need a Referral to See a Counsellor?
No. In British Columbia, you can see a Registered Clinical Counsellor directly without a doctor's referral. Simply book an appointment and begin. However, if you are claiming through ICBC or certain employer assistance programs, a referral may be required. Our front desk team can help you determine what is needed for your specific situation.
Do You Offer Online or Virtual Counselling?
Yes. We offer both in-person sessions at our Burnaby clinic and secure virtual sessions via video call. Virtual counselling is equally effective for most concerns and provides flexibility for clients with scheduling constraints, mobility limitations, or who prefer the comfort of their own space. Your counsellor will help you decide which format works best for your situation.
Is Counselling Covered by Insurance?
Counselling services at Phoenix Rehab are provided by Registered Clinical Counsellors (RCCs), recognized by most extended health insurance plans. Please check with your provider to confirm coverage details.
Many patients have counselling covered through their benefits plan.
We direct bill most extended health plans for Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) services. ICBC coverage is available for motor vehicle accident clients.
Not sure about your coverage? Call us at 778-379-9888 or book online โ our team will verify your benefits before your first visit.
Direct billing available for many extended health insurers. ICBC coverage available for motor vehicle accident clients with approval.
Serving patients across Burnaby and Vancouver, BC.
Meet Your Counseling Team
Our registered clinical counselors provide compassionate support for your mental wellness.
Ready to Take the First Step?
Book a counselling session at our Burnaby clinic and experience a safe, supportive space where meaningful change begins.
100B โ 3300 Boundary Rd, Burnaby ย |ย 778-379-9888