Free Counselling in BC & Ontario: Meet Our Master's Level Intern Counsellors (in office & virtual)
You, or someone you care about, has been thinking about reaching out for support for a while now. Maybe it's weeks. Maybe it's longer. And somewhere in the process of searching therapists, checking rates and adding it all up, something deflated a little, because the cost, the waitlists, or both felt like insurmountable barriers.
The Mental Health Access Problem in Canada Is Serious - and It's Not Getting Better Fast Enough
Canada's public healthcare system does not adequately cover mental health care. For most people in BC and Ontario, getting support through a publicly funded program means joining a waitlist - and those waitlists can stretch anywhere from 12 to 18 months or longer.
Private therapy fills that gap for some people. But at $150 to $200 or more per session, it simply isn't accessible to everyone. The people who need support are too often the ones least able to afford it. Although Strength in Heart can't fix the system, we are excited to say that we have now grown to the point where we can begin to give back and do our part to support growth and healing in our communities, no matter what your budget is.
What We Offer & Why It's Not a Sales Gimmick
We now offer free first sessions and pay-what-you-can therapy (suggested $35 per session/as low as $5 per session) through our team of Master's Level Intern Counsellors. This is available virtually across BC and Ontario, and in-person at our Victoria, Cobble Hill/Cowichan Valley offices.
No waitlists. No complications. No obligations. Only support.
This is not a promotion. It is not a bait-and-switch. It’s a genuine commitment to accessible mental health care for people who deserve support and shouldn't have to wait or go broke to get it.
What "Master's Level Intern Counsellor" Actually Means
We want to be completely transparent here, so you understand exactly who you'll be working with. Our intern counsellors are graduate students completing their practicum hours as part of their Master's degree in Counselling or Social Work. However, they are not new to the field - they are highly trained professionals at an advanced stage of their education, equipped with evidence-based therapeutic approaches and a genuine commitment to the people they work with.
Every intern counsellor at Strength in Heart is directly supervised by a fully licensed, experienced clinical professional. They meet the same ethical and professional standards as our registered counsellors. They are well supported, guided, and their work is reviewed regularly.
This is not lesser care. This is quality counselling at an accessible price - made possible by a structure that benefits both the client and the counsellor's professional development. These are skilled, compassionate therapists who are serious about their work and serious about yours.
The Pricing, Explained Simply
Here is exactly what this looks like - no hidden details, no fine print:
Your first full session with any intern counsellor is completely free. No obligation, no pressure to book again.
After that, sessions are $35. Or pay what you can - truly, with no questions asked and no judgment. If $35 is too much right now, tell us. We’re happy to accommodate you.
A free 20-minute virtual consult is also available before your first session, so you can ask questions and get a feel for things before committing to anything.
The Therapeutic Relationship Matters, So Take Your Time to Find the Right Fit
One of the most well-established findings in counselling research is that the relationship between you and your therapist is one of the strongest predictors of positive outcomes. Skills, methods, and credentials matter - but the felt sense of being safe, understood, and genuinely seen by the person across from you? That may matter even more.
Which is why we want to say this clearly: you are warmly encouraged to try a free first session with any - or all - of our intern counsellors until you find the right fit. There is no obligation. There is no pressure. If you meet with someone and it doesn't click, that is completely okay. Try someone else. Take the space you need to find the person who feels right.
You can choose your counsellor based on their background and approach, or you can reach out to our team and we'll help match you with someone suited to what you're bringing. If you're unsure who is available in your area or location, or who would be the best match just reach out and we'll point you in the right direction. You can also use our secure online matching tool to be matched with a counsellor.
How to Get Started
You don't have to figure any of this out alone. And you don't have to wait, Same-day sessions are available.
If you're ready to talk today, text us at 1-888-520-9151 and we'll do our best to make it happen.
Online booking is also available whenever you're ready: Book a Free Consult
There is no wrong way to start. Reaching out is the part that takes courage.
Take Up the Space You Deserve
The idea that mental health support is a luxury is something that we’re actively working to dismantle, one session at a time. Healing is not linear, and it doesn't have a price tag that should put it out of reach. Whether you're dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship stress, grief, or simply the weight of everyday life, you deserve support. Real support. From a real, confidential, unbiased person who is trained to help and who genuinely cares.
Our Master's Level Intern Counsellors are ready to meet you where you are. The first session is free. There’s nothing to lose by trying.
Strength in Heart Counselling serves clients in office in Victoria, BC (1183 Fort Street), Cobble Hill/Cowichan Valley, as well as virtually across British Columbia and Ontario.
