What types of services do we offer? We offer individual, couple and or family counselling for a variety of reasons such as relationships: communication conflict, separation, remarriage, family: parenting, retirement, aging, depression and anxiety, chronic health and medical issues, job and financial stress.
How can counselling help? Counselling can increase your ability to think clearly and cope with problems. It can help you manage your reactions and get things into perspective. Reducing stress can help you decide what needs to be done now. You may also begin to understand your part in the problem. In time, counselling can help you see the connection between your current situation and your past and to see how your changes can make your life better.
What does counselling cost? Counselling is on a sliding fee scale based on a client’s gross income, number of dependents and current circumstances. Clients can negotiate the fees with the counsellor, if necessary. Fees range from $15 per session to $130 per session. Interns and Resident Counsellors are available to see clients in the $15-$50 range. Interns and Resident Counsellors generally have or are pursuing a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology and are specializing in Bowen Family Systems theory and receive regular supervision. For example:
$29,000 per year or less $15-$50 fee per session
$30,000-$39,000 $55 fee per session
$40,000-$49,000 $65 fee per session
$50,000-$59,000 $75 fee per session
$60,000-$74,000 $85 fee per session
$75,000 and over $100 - $110 fee per session
Low fees are subsidized with funds from individual donations and grants. Living Systems has received grants from the B.C. Gaming Commission, City of Vancouver, District of North Vancouver, City of North Vancouver and West Vancouver Municipality.
Does extended health insurance or Employee Assistance Program cover the fees? It depends upon the rules and regulations of each extended health program or Employee Assistance Program. Check your program and discuss it with your counsellor.
Do I need a doctor’s referral? No. Just contact us to make an appointment.
Are evening and weekend appointments available? Yes. Please indicate your availability when contacting us.
Can I trust the counsellor with my problem? Will it be kept confidential? Our counsellors abide by a code of ethics such as that of the B.C. Association of Clinical Counsellors. One of the most important principles of counselling is client confidentiality.
Are you religious or do you do Christian counselling? No. We are trained to help people work through their own beliefs whatever they may be.
Do you work with children? No. We work with families and with parents to help them in their relationships with their children. However, if a child needs play therapy, one of our counsellors is a registered play therapist. [hyperlink to Mary Frost’s bio]
I have tried different types of therapy. It works for a while, then I fall back into old patterns. What do you offer that is different? We believe that Bowen family systems theory offers a different way to think about relationships and about your part in those relationships. Once you are better able to manage yourself in those relationships, you will be less likely to fall into old patterns.
Quality of Counselling: Living Systems places a high value on the quality of counselling and professional competence among our counsellors & interns. If you at any time would like to speak to someone about the quality of care whether your are extremely satisfied or have had some difficulty or complaint, please contact Ms. Lois Walker 604 926-5496 (315) or Randall Frost (304).
Code of Ethics. Counsellors work on contract with Living Systems. The counsellors are in private practice and are registered with or accredited by one or more of the following organizations. As members, the counsellors are bound by the association’s code of ethics and guidelines. The associations are:
- B.C. Association of Clinical Counsellors [link to www.bc-counsellors.org]
- Canadian Association of Clinical Counsellors [link to www.ccacc.ca]
- B.C. Association of Marriage and Family Therapy [link to www.bcamft.ca]
- B.C. Association of Social Workers [link to www.bcasw.org]
- American Association of Pastoral Counselors [link to www.aapc.org]
- American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy [link to www.aamft.org]