Our Policies

• Payment is due at the time of the service rendered. 

• As a small, independently run clinic, we are not able to offer direct billing to insurance providers. Clients are to pay for their counselling services directly, and are then responsible for submitting their claim to their insurance provider. For more details about insurance coverage please visit our FAQ page.

• A Credit card is required on file to secure your appointment.

• We accept all major credit cards, as well as E-transfer payments to info@sitwithus.ca. 

• Late payments: In the event of an outstanding account balance, interest from the invoice date to the payment date will be charged on any amount outstanding 30 days after the invoice date, at a rate of 10% per annum, calculated and compounded semi-annually not in advance.

• Standard counselling fees for our providers are listed under the rates section of our website.

• All rates are subject to applicable taxes. 

• Standard rates are subject to change due to annual cost of living and inflation increases.

We believe in making therapy as accessible as possible, and if you find finances are a barrier and a limited number of sliding scale spaces available, and can also provide you with low or no cost resources. Upon qualifying for sliding scale rates, clients will initially be entitled to 8 sessions at the agreed rate, after which point the need for further counselling will be discussed, including options for continuation with their practitioner or community referral. 

• Sit with us for a free consultation to learn more!

• We require 48 hours notice for any appointment cancellations. Patients who provide less than 48 hours notice, or miss their appointment, will be charged 50% of the session fee.

• Your appointment time is reserved just for you. A late cancellation or missed visit leaves a hole in the therapists’ day that could have been filled by another patient. Thank you for understanding!

We understand that life can be unpredictable, and we deeply value your commitment to attending our workshops and events! To ensure a seamless experience for all participants, please note that all retreat and workshop bookings are non-refundable.

• If you are unable to attend, you are welcome to transfer your spot to someone else. Simply let us know in advance, and we’ll assist with the details.

• The clinic reserves the right to cancel retreats or workshops due to insufficient enrolment, unforeseen events (e.g., natural disasters or safety concerns), staffing or venue issues, or if the program's quality or therapeutic value would be compromised.

• In the event of a cancellation on the part of the clinic, we will strive to provide as much notice as possible, with a minimum of: 

  • 48 hours notice for workshops 

  • 7 days notice for retreats 

• Participants will receive a full refund if the clinic cancels an event. The clinic is not liable for additional costs like travel or accommodation; travel insurance is recommended. If possible, an alternative date or program may be offered, with the option to transfer registration or receive a refund.

Victoria’s weather can be unpredictable, and the state of the roads even more so! The safety of our clients and our team is of the utmost importance, so we have outlined the process below to ensure we can stay safe and connected on snow days. 

• If the forecast is calling for snow that week, your provider will reach out to you at the beginning of the week via email to discuss your preference of an in person vs. a virtual session.

• In the event public transit is not running, our office will be closed and all in person sessions will be converted to a virtual session or rescheduled.

• In the event your provider can not make it into the office to provide an in person session, and you do not wish to have a virtual session, the session may be re-scheduled at no charge to the provider or the client for a safer time.

It is our aim to ensure that everyone has a safe winter season, while also feeling supported and informed! Let us know if you have any questions.

As a client, you have the right to participate in ongoing counselling plans, to refuse any recommended services, and to be advised of the consequences of such refusal.

As a client, you are the primary decision maker in the direction your therapy takes, and you have the right to full and active participation in decisions that affect you. These include:

• The right to accept or reject any task, exercise or procedure suggested by your practitioner.

• The right to be made aware of the rationale, risks and benefits of any counselling interventions.

• The right to receive an appropriate referral to other resources as needed.

• The right to accessing one’s own counselling records.*

*Disclosure of information from these records only occurs with the written consent of the client and/or when required by law.

All of the information shared between client and practitioner is strictly confidential unless one of the following should occur:

• The courts subpoena clinic files and/or a practitioner is subpoenaed as a witness in court

• A practitioner suspects cases of child abuse that have not been previously reported. This includes physical harm, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, and emotional harm. Counsellors are required by law to report to the Ministry for Children and Families.

• If you threaten to harm yourself or another. Counsellors are required to report this to the proper authorities and to inform you of which authorities have been contacted.

Counsellors are required to discuss aspects of their cases with their supervisor as part of their professional development, and under the ethical guidelines of the ACCT, and BCACC governing bodies. As our counsellors are part of a clinical supervision team, we discuss aspects of our cases with colleagues during supervision without sharing any identifiable features of our clients. This is for the purpose of you receiving greater support, and growing the skills of our practitioners.

We aim to create a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for clients, staff, and visitors at the counselling office. 

Harassment of any kind will not be tolerated to all individuals at the counselling office, including staff, contractors, clients, and visitors, during in-person sessions, virtual interactions, or any events hosted by the office.