Our background
Affordable Counselling
At South Island Counselling®, we believe everyone deserves access to caring, professional and affordable support. Our Subsidy Program ensures cost isn’t a barrier, helping individuals and couples receive the counselling they need to heal, grow, and strengthen their well-being.
Low-Cost and Sliding Scale Counselling
Making Counselling Accessible for Everyone
Looking for affordable, low-cost counselling in Victoria, BC? South Island Counselling offers a sliding scale-style subsidy program with reduced fees for clients. We believe that everyone deserves access to compassionate, professional counselling, regardless of their financial circumstances.
Through our Subsidy Program, we offer affordable, low-cost and sliding scale counselling for individuals and couples in Victoria, BC, and online throughout British Columbia.
With subsidized individual counselling starting at just $35 per session, our goal is to help make mental health support accessible when cost might otherwise be a barrier.
Our Affordable, low-cost Counselling Options
We recognize that everyone's financial circumstances are different. Our Subsidy Program helps make professional counselling more accessible by offering low-cost reduced fees based on what individuals and couples can reasonably afford.
Individual Counselling
• $35 per 50-minute session — Subsidized counselling with a supervised master's-level practicum student.
• $65 per 50-minute session — Reduced-fee counselling.
Couples Counselling
• $110 per 50-minute session — Subsidized couples counselling.
Our counselling services are available in person in Victoria, BC, and online throughout British Columbia.
Select the fee option that best reflects your circumstances to learn more about eligibility and apply.
You can also see a Registered Clinical Counsellor at our full rate of $140.00 per session.
Who Qualifies for Subsidized, Low-cost Counselling?
Our Low-Cost Subsidy Program is designed for individuals and couples who may otherwise find the cost of professional counselling financially out of reach.
Eligibility is generally based on household income and access to extended health benefits but you may applyin any circumstance.
Applicants typically meet the following criteria:
• Individual counselling: Gross individual income generally below $60,000 annually.
• Couples counselling: Combined gross household income generally below $100,000 annually.
• Extended health benefits: Applicants generally do not have insurance coverage for counselling.
These income amounts are guidelines rather than strict cutoffs. We understand that income alone doesn't always reflect someone's financial circumstances, and we encourage clients to choose the fee option that is reasonably affordable for them.
How Counselling Can Help
Affordable counselling can provide a supportive space to explore challenges, develop coping strategies, and work toward meaningful change.
Our counsellors support individuals and couples navigating concerns such as:
• Anxiety, stress, and depression
• Relationship and communication difficulties
• Grief, loss, and life transitions
• Self-esteem and confidence
• Trauma and difficult past experiences
• Emotional wellbeing and personal growth
Our team includes Registered Clinical Counsellors and master's-level counselling interns who receive professional supervision.
We work to connect clients with counselling support suited to their individual needs and circumstances.
How to Apply for Affordable, Low-Cost Counselling
Getting started is straightforward.
1. Choose your counselling fee. Review our available subsidized rates and select the option that best matches your financial circumstances.
2. Complete the online application. Provide some information about yourself and the support you're seeking.
3. Our team will review your application. We'll follow up with information about availability and the next steps.
4. Begin counselling. Once a suitable counsellor becomes available, you can arrange your first session.
Please note that wait times may vary depending on the fee option, counsellor availability, and the type of support requested.
Making Counselling Accessible Since 1975
For more than 50 years, South Island Counselling has been committed to making professional counselling accessible to our community.
As a charitable organization, we reinvest additional revenue into our Subsidy Program. Regular-fee counselling, donations, sponsorships, and grant funding all help us continue offering affordable, low-cost, sliding scale style mental health support to those who need it.
We believe that access to counselling benefits not only individuals but also families, relationships, and the wider community.
We're grateful to the clients, donors, sponsors, and grantors who help make this work possible.