Grief Counselling in BC: Costs, Free Options, and Who Pays

Grief counselling in British Columbia runs from free to roughly $180 a session. Hospice society bereavement groups, the BC Bereavement Helpline and the provincial crisis lines cost nothing; a private registered clinical counsellor typically charges $100 to $180 for a 50-minute session, and a registered psychologist more. Since June 2024, most counselling therapy and psychotherapy is exempt from GST, so what you are quoted is usually what you pay.

If you need someone right now, call 988 (the Suicide Crisis Helpline, 24/7, call or text anywhere in Canada) or, in BC, 310-6789 with no area code for the provincial mental health support line.

Free grief support in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley

Most people start here, and for many people it is enough.

HospiceSocieties. Nearly every community in the Lower Mainland has one, and their bereavement programs are open to the public, not just to families whose person was in hospice care. Langley, Surrey, Delta, Abbotsford, Chilliwack and Burnaby all run grief support groups, one-to-one volunteer support and children’s programs. Most are free or run on a small suggested donation. Groups usually run in six or eight-week blocks, so there may be a wait for the next intake.

BC Bereavement Helpline. A free, confidential referral line staffed by people who will help you find a group or counsellor near you: 604-738-9950 or 1-877-779-2223.

310-6789. The provincial mental health support line, free, 24 hours, no area code needed. The Ministry of Health lists it along with the other BC crisis lines on its mental health and substance use crisis page.

Your employer’s EAP. If you or your late spouse had an employee assistance program through work, it usually covers three to eight counselling sessions at no cost, and coverage often extends to immediate family. Worth checking before you pay out of pocket.

What private counselling costs, and what MSP does not cover

MSP does not pay for a psychologist or a registered clinical counsellor in private practice. Psychiatrists are physicians, so their services are covered, but you need a referral from a doctor and waits are long. The list of what MSP does and does not pay for is on gov.bc.ca.

What that leaves:

• Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) or Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC): commonly $100 to $180 per 50-minute session in the Lower Mainland. Many keep a few reduced-fee or sliding-scale spots.

• Registered psychologist: typically $200 to $250 per session.

• Registered social worker doing clinical counselling: usually in the same range as an RCC.

If you have extended health benefits, either your own or a survivor plan through your late spouse’s employer, check the counselling allowance. Many plans cover $500 to $1,500 a year, and many will only reimburse specific designations, so confirm before you book.

When someone else pays for it

Death from a workplace injury or illness. WorkSafeBC provides benefits to surviving dependants of a worker who died from a work-related cause, and bereavement counselling can be part of that. Start with the fatal claims page.

Death in a motor vehicle crash. Under ICBC’s Enhanced Care, family members of someone killed in a crash in BC can access grief counselling benefits. Details are on icbc.com. Open a claim even if you are unsure you qualify.

Death by homicide or other violent crime. BC’s Crime Victim Assistance Program funds counselling for immediate family members of a victim, along with some funeral expenses. The application and eligibility rules are on gov.bc.ca.

When to look for help rather than wait it out

Grief is not a medical problem and most people do not need a clinician. Reach for one when the grief is not moving at all after several months, when you cannot eat or sleep or go to work, when you are drinking more than you want to be, or when you find yourself thinking you would rather not be here. That last one is a 988 call, tonight.

Some people find their footing through their faith community rather than a counselling office, and the two are not in competition. If prayer is part of how you cope, Finding Comfort in Prayer During Grief may be a better starting point than a waitlist.

What we can do

We are a funeral provider, not a counselling agency, and we will not pretend otherwise. What we can do is make the referral, hand you the hospice intake number for your municipality, and keep the funeral costs from becoming one more thing weighing on you. Direct cremation with us is $1,999.65, all in, with the full itemised list of options on our pricing page. We serve Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley from our Aldergrove facility, and Regina separately.