Online Counselling in BC
Individual therapy, couples counselling, and psychotherapy, with thoughtful, depth-focused support from our registered clinical counsellors across British Columbia.
Finding a new counsellor doesn't always mean meeting someone with a cozy office who works down the street. Online counselling can make it easier to meet with a counsellor who you feel comfortable and connected to.
Why Counselling Online?
While our counsellors deeply value the opportunity to visit with our clients in our Vancouver office, we know that in-person counselling isn't always an option. Whether scheduling, chronic pain or illness, or something unique to your life makes it more convenient to attend online counselling, finding the right fit can mean looking a little outside of where you live, which is a completely valid option. Our counsellors enjoy having online days from home too!
For many, online counselling also doesn’t start with distinctly choosing between in-person and virtual. Plenty of clients see their counsellor in the office on days when it works, and simply switch to a video session when something comes up, including a cold, rainy day in Vancouver or a schedule that suddenly gets tight, so an appointment doesn't need to be missed or rescheduled. Some days, it just works better to be in a different place!
Meeting virtually can of course open up options that aren't available locally. If you live in a smaller community on Vancouver Island, in the Okanagan, the Fraser Valley, the Kootenays, Northern BC, or simply haven't found the right counsellor nearby, connecting online means you can look beyond your immediate area while still working with a counsellor registered to practise in British Columbia.
Know you want support through virtual counselling, but not sure where to start?
Come take your shoes off, curl up with some tea and let’s make a plan. You’re not broken, you’re just wonderfully human, which can be complicated (and sometimes frustrating) to navigate.
Our Find a Counsellor form can guide you in connecting with a counsellor who is the right fit for you.
Our counselling clinic uses our online booking system’s video platform Jane to connect with clients for video counselling.
If you’re new to virtual counselling or a little nervous, that’s okay!
Let your counsellor know and they will walk you through things step by step. We know that for some clients, it takes a little longer to build up trust and comfort online, and for others it actually feels less vulnerable to be at home online rather than in our office. We will patiently and curiously work with you wherever you are at and guide you every step of the way.
Meet Our Online Counsellors
Finding the right counsellor matters. The following members of our team offer online sessions and have availability for new clients.
Our counsellors offer online counselling throughout BC, with different areas of experience, approaches and ways of working. You can browse our counsellors yourself or have our intake team help you find a potential fit.
Anxiety and depression
Trauma and PTSD
Self-worth and self-esteem
Grief and loss
Life transitions
Stress and burnout
And many other concerns
What Can You Work On Through Online Counselling?
Online counselling can be used for many of the same concerns you might bring to an in-person session, including:
Our counsellors also offer online therapy for a range of concerns and may integrate specialized approaches such as EMDR, somatic therapy, attachment-focused counselling, parts work and other experiential approaches into virtual sessions.
If you're wondering whether a particular approach or concern can be supported online, it's always okay to ask.
Feel free to take a peek at our blog to see some tips for getting set up for online counselling from home!
What forms of counselling can work online?
Most individual psychotherapy(for anxiety, trauma, self-esteem, depression etc.)
Couple’s & Relationship Counselling
Yoga and Counselling
EMDR (please discuss this with your counsellor)
Somatic-informed and body-based approaches
Online therapy for trauma, attachment wounds, and long-term patterns
Neurodivergent-affirming counselling for ADHD, autism, and AuDHD
Where We Offer Online Counselling
Our counsellors are registered in British Columbia and can see clients across the province, including Vancouver, Victoria, Kelowna, Kamloops, Prince George, and communities across BC.
We also see clients in other Canadian provinces where our counsellors are permitted to practice. If you are outside BC, reach out and we will let you know whether we can work together.
What Does Online Counselling Look Like?
If you have never done therapy online before, it is completely normal to feel a little unsure about what it will be like. For the most part, online counselling looks a lot like an in-person counselling session, just behind a screen!
Here is what you can expect working with us:
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Once you book, you will receive an email with a link to log into your Jane account, and you can join your session directly from there. No downloads needed. Your counsellor will walk you through it if anything feels unclear.
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Get yourself set up somewhere private and comfortable. Grab a blanket, a cup of tea, some Kleenex, a fidget toy, a notebook, or even a furry friend if that helps. The whole point is that you are somewhere that feels like yours.
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Your first session is about getting to know each other without any pressure to have it all figured out. Your counsellor knows how to start, will ask questions, and take time to get a sense of what is important to know about working with you. There is no pressure to share everything at once. While some clients like to talk about their history and share a lot about their lives right away, others feel more comfortable slowly easing in. Either way, you can set the pace, and your counsellor is always open to chatting about what feels good for you and adjusting as you go.
Some clients find online sessions feel just as connected as being in our therapy rooms and meeting face to face, while others take a session or two to settle in. Both are completely normal. If something is not working for you, just say so. We are flexible and want the setup to feel right for you.
A Few Things Your Counsellor Would Like You to Know
Online therapy doesn't require the perfect carefully curated therapy space. A quiet, private place where you can be yourself is usually enough. However, there are a few things that can make a surprisingly big difference to your session:
Please don't call us from your car:
Don’t call us while you're driving. Unless you can avoid it, try not to call us from your car even if you’re parked. We want you to be save, and have enough attention left over for yourself.
A café probably isn't the vibe.
We love a good coffee shop or third space too, but it’s hard to be present when the person at the next table could be hearing about your relationship, your childhood, or that thing you've never told anyone before. A private, quiet space is best.
Give yourself somewhere to land afterwards.
Counselling can leave you feeling lighter, but can also leave you with a lot to think about. If you can, avoid scheduling something immediately afterwards or rushing straight back into your day. A few quiet minutes of reflection or transition time can go a long way.
Of course, your furry friend can absolutely make an appearance too.
Pets, blankets, tea and your favourite corner of the couch are some of the lovely perks of online counselling. We might just need a few extra moments to meet your pet dog, cat, rabbit, fish etc.
You make sense, and you’re not alone.
Connect with us from home.
All of our counsellors offer a free 15-minute consultation. This offers you the chance to connect and ask questions about how they work, and get a sense of who you might feel comfortable with. It also helps us understand what you're looking for, so we can help you find a counsellor who feels like a great fit for where you are.
Our online sessions are offered in British Columbia and anywhere in the world where counselling is not regulated.
Frequently Asked Questions About Online Counselling in BC
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Yes. Our counsellors offer online counselling to clients throughout British Columbia, so you don't need to live in Vancouver or near our Kitsilano office to work with someone at New Tides. This includes clients in communities throughout the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, the Okanagan, Fraser Valley, Kootenays and Northern BC.
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Research suggests that for most concerns, online counselling is just as effective as in-person work. The most important factor is the relationship with your counsellor, and that translates online. Many of our clients actually find they open up more easily from the comfort of their own space.
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Yes. We use both "counselling", "therapy" and “psychotherapy” to describe the work our registered counsellors provide, and we offer online therapy throughout BC, as well as online psychotherapy"
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That's okay. Online counselling isn't for everyone. If you’re accessing online counselling in Vancouver and you start virtually and realize you'd rather meet in person, you can talk with your counsellor about what might work better for you.
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Just a device with a camera (phone, tablet, or computer), a reliable internet connection, and a private space. We use a secure video platform and your counsellor will walk you through it if you are new to it.
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You can book directly through our website, use our counsellor matching form, or reach us at connect@newtides.ca. Our intake team will connect you with the right fit within 24 to 48 hours.
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Online counselling can be incredibly useful, but we don't think it's automatically the right fit for everyone or every stage of therapy.
For some people, being at home makes it easier to settle in and talk about difficult things. For others, being physically outside the home creates the separation they need to focus and feel supported. Your counsellor can talk this through with you and help determine what makes the most sense for you and how you work.
If you're experiencing a high level of activation, are new to therapy, or are working with concerns where being physically in the room may offer additional support, your counsellor may recommend starting in person or approaching online work differently.
Our counsellors use the same professional standards and care in online counselling as they do when working with clients in person, while also considering whether virtual therapy is appropriate for your particular needs.
RCC, She/Her
Esther supports clients with self-worth, relationships, attachment, childhood experiences, neurodivergence, family dynamics and burnout, creating space for clients to better understand themselves and the patterns shaping their lives. Esther also has a background as teacher and school counsellor and loves supporting teens, other educators, caregivers and those with BIPOC experiences or who have lived outside of Canada
Main Approaches:Somatic · Mindfulness · Attachment-Focused · IFS · Narrative · DBT · Emotion-Focused · AEDP