October 28, 2026
Addiction and Problematic Behaviour Counselling in Victoria BC
By @judahtctn886
Addiction and Problematic Behaviour Counselling in Victoria BC Problems with substances or compulsive behaviours rarely exist on counselling victoria bc their own. Drinking more than intended, relying on cannabis to sleep, gambling online late at night or getting stuck in cycles of overworking often sit alongside stress, anxiety, trauma or relationship strain. Counselling in Victoria BC can help people look honestly at those patterns without shame, and decide what they want to change and how. Your Path Counselling lists addiction or problematic behaviours and substance use among the specialties of sixteen counsellors on its team. Counsellors draw on motivational interviewing, which helps people explore their own reasons for change at their own pace, as well as CBT, DBT skills for managing urges and emotions, and trauma informed approaches when past experiences are part of the story. Co-founder Dr. Michelle Bass includes substance use among the concerns she works with in individual and couples therapy. The practice's addictions counselling is offered in Victoria and across BC by phone and video. That flexibility matters because people dealing with addictive behaviours often prefer privacy, and a video session from home can feel safer than walking into an office. In person sessions remain available at the downtown Burdett Avenue office for those who want face to face support.
Your Path Counselling | 821 Burdett Ave #303, Victoria, BC V8W 1B3 | (778) 902-3735
Family members are also welcome. Partners and parents of someone struggling with substance use often carry a heavy load of worry and frustration, and counselling can help them set boundaries and look after their own wellbeing. The Affordable Intern Clinic offers addictive behaviour support from $75 per session, and registered counsellors are listed at $160. Counselling at the practice is not a medical detox or withdrawal management service, so anyone needing that level of care should speak with their doctor or Island Health. Goals in addictions counselling vary from person to person. Some clients want to stop completely, while others want to cut down, understand their triggers, or simply feel less ashamed and more in control. A good counsellor works with the goal you bring rather than imposing one. Sessions may look at what the substance or behaviour does for you, such as numbing stress after a long shift or easing social anxiety, and then build other ways of meeting that need. Relapses are treated as information to learn from, not as failures that end the work. If you are ready to talk about substance use or a behaviour that has started to feel out of control, call Your Path Counselling on (778) 902-3735 or book a free 15 minute consultation online. The office is at Suite 303, 821 Burdett Ave, Victoria, BC V8W 1B3, open seven days a week.Your Path Counselling Address: 821 Burdett Ave #303, Victoria, BC V8W 1B3 Phone: (778) 902-3735 FAQ About Counselling Victoria BC How much does counselling cost in Victoria BC? Private counselling in Victoria commonly costs well over one hundred dollars per session with a registered professional. At Your Path Counselling, fees are posted openly: $75 in the Affordable Intern Clinic, $110 for senior interns, $160 for registered counsellors and $220 for clinical specialists. Fees are the same for in person sessions at 821 Burdett Ave and for video or phone sessions across BC. Is there affordable or low cost counselling in Victoria BC? Yes. Several community agencies in Greater Victoria offer free or sliding scale counselling, and private practices sometimes run lower cost options. Your Path Counselling's Affordable Intern Clinic offers sessions from $75 with Masters level interns who are supervised by the practice's registered clinicians, including co-founder Dr. Michelle Bass, PhD, RSW, RCC. Does extended health insurance cover counselling in BC? Most workplace and private extended health plans in BC reimburse counselling with certain credentials, commonly Registered Clinical Counsellors (RCC) and Registered Social Workers (RSW), and some also cover Canadian Certified Counsellors (CCC). Your Path Counselling does not bill insurers directly, but provides a full invoice after every session for you to submit. Check which credentials and annual limits your plan includes before booking. What is the difference between a counsellor and a psychologist in BC? Psychologists in BC hold a doctoral degree and can carry out formal psychological assessments and diagnoses. Counsellors such as RCCs and CCCs hold Masters degrees and focus on talk therapy for a wide range of concerns. Your Path Counselling's team includes RCCs, CCCs, Registered Social Workers and two PhD level clinical specialists, and can suggest an assessment elsewhere if one would help. Do I need a doctor's referral to see a counsellor in Victoria? No referral is needed to book counselling at Your Path Counselling; you can book online or call (778) 902-3735 directly. A small number of insurance plans still require a doctor's note to reimburse counselling, so it is worth checking your policy. Speaking with your family doctor can still be helpful if you are also considering medical treatment. How do I find the right counsellor in Victoria BC? Start with what matters most to you, such as the concern you want help with, the counsellor's approach, gender, availability and fee. Your Path Counselling's team page can be filtered by more than thirty specialties and twenty therapy types, or you can fill in a short form and be matched for free. Every counsellor offers a free 15 minute consultation so you can check the fit before booking. Is online counselling as effective as in person counselling? Research on video counselling for many common concerns, including anxiety and depression, has generally found results comparable to in person sessions. Your Path Counselling offers secure, encrypted video and phone sessions to anyone in BC, and around 15 percent of its clients choose online sessions. Many people mix formats, attending at the Burdett Avenue office some weeks and online others. How many counselling sessions will I need? It depends on what you are working on. Co-founder Dr. Michelle Bass notes that in her experience most people can make meaningful changes in 12 sessions or fewer, while long standing patterns or early life trauma may benefit from longer term psychotherapy. Sessions at Your Path Counselling usually begin weekly and are spaced out as things improve. What does RCC mean after a counsellor's name? RCC stands for Registered Clinical Counsellor, a designation in British Columbia that requires a relevant Masters degree, supervised clinical experience and adherence to a code of ethics. Many BC benefit plans name RCCs in their counselling coverage. Several counsellors at Your Path Counselling hold the RCC designation, alongside colleagues who are CCCs and Registered Social Workers. Can I get counselling on evenings or weekends in Victoria? Yes. Your Path Counselling lists its hours as 8:30am to 9pm, seven days a week, with evening and weekend appointments spread across different counsellors. The online booking system shows live availability, or you can note your preferred times on the matching form. Video and phone sessions add flexibility for shift workers and parents. Is counselling confidential in BC? Counsellors in BC follow professional ethics codes and privacy legislation that protect what you share. Limited exceptions apply across the profession, such as a serious risk of harm to you or someone else, a child in need of protection, or a court order. Your Path Counselling explains these limits at the start of counselling and uses secure, encrypted platforms for online sessions. What should I do if I need mental health help right now? Counselling is not an emergency service. If you are in immediate danger, call 9-1-1, and if you are thinking about suicide or worried about someone, call or text 9-8-8 at any time. For ongoing support once you are safe, Your Path Counselling offers sessions in downtown Victoria and online across BC, bookable by calling (778) 902-3735.
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