Depression can make everything feel harder, and the cost of private counselling can feel like one more wall. If money is tight, you still have options. Across Chilliwack and Abbotsford there are free phone lines, public mental health centres, community counselling, youth services and free skill-building programs you can start this week.
We are a private clinic, so we want to be upfront: this guide lists free and low-cost options outside The Healing Oak as well as ways to lower the cost of private counselling. Every service named here was checked on its own website in October 2026. Programs change, so confirm details when you call.
If you are in crisis
Call or text 9-8-8 (Suicide Crisis Helpline, 24 hours). If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911. In BC you can also call 1-800-784-2433 (1-800-SUICIDE) any time, or 310-6789 (no area code) for mental health support. The Healing Oak is not an emergency service.
Free support you can reach right now
If you need to talk to someone today, these lines are free and confidential:
- Fraser Health Crisis Line: 604-951-8855 or toll-free 1-877-820-7444, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Trained volunteers offer crisis support and information on local services, and you can call if you just need someone to talk to (Fraser Health).
- 310 Mental Health Support: 310-6789, no area code needed, for emotional support (HelpStartsHere).
- Kids Help Phone for young people: call 1-800-668-6868 or text 686868, 24 hours a day.
- Hope for Wellness for Indigenous people across Canada: 1-855-242-3310, 24 hours a day (both listed by BounceBack BC).
These lines are not a replacement for ongoing care, but they can help you get through a hard night and point you to what comes next.
Is there free public mental health care in Chilliwack and Abbotsford?
Yes. Fraser Health runs a Mental Health and Substance Use Centre in each city for adults 19 and over. Fraser Health describes them as offering self-referral services, including assessment, treatment, individual and group therapy, crisis intervention and peer support. Both are open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Chilliwack Mental Health and Substance Use Centre: 45470 Menholm Road, Chilliwack (second floor, same building as the public health unit), 604-702-4860 (Fraser Health).
- Abbotsford Mental Health and Substance Use Centre: Suite 11, 32700 George Ferguson Way, Abbotsford, 604-870-7800 (Fraser Health).
Not sure which service fits? Fraser Health's Mental Health and Substance Use Access Line, 1-833-866-6478, is open 7 days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and can help you find the right one. You can also fill out its online form and the team will call you back (Fraser Health).
Public services have their own intake process and can have waits. It is worth getting in the queue early, even if you are also looking at other options.
Free counselling from community agencies
Some non-profit agencies offer free short-term counselling to local residents.
- Abbotsford: Archway Community Services offers free short-term counselling with a staff counsellor for Abbotsford residents 19 and over who are dealing with anxiety, depression, stress, anger, relationship issues or difficulty coping. To ask about it, email montrose@archway.ca. Archway notes that these sessions offer emotional support and coping skills, not diagnosis (Archway Community Services).
- Chilliwack and anywhere in BC: the Government of BC's HelpStartsHere site suggests calling 8-1-1 or 2-1-1 (or texting 2-1-1) to ask what free, low-cost or sliding-scale services are available near you. You can also search HelpStartsHere for counselling in your area (HelpStartsHere, "Free or Low-Cost Services in BC").
If you are working, check whether your employer has an employee and family assistance program (EFAP). Many do, and they often include some short-term counselling at no cost to you. Your HR team or benefits booklet will tell you.
Free help for youth and students
Young people and students have some of the most accessible free options.
- Foundry Abbotsford offers free, confidential services for youth 12 to 24 and their families, including drop-in counselling, at 101-32555 Simon Avenue, Abbotsford, 604-746-3392. No referral is needed (Foundry BC).
- Foundry Chilliwack is listed as coming soon. In the meantime, Foundry Virtual BC offers free counselling for BC youth 12 to 24 by app, phone (1-833-308-6379) or web, with same-day support on weekdays and booked appointments (Foundry BC).
- Here2Talk offers free, confidential, single-session counselling 24 hours a day by app, phone or chat to students registered at any BC post-secondary school, including the University of the Fraser Valley. Call 1-877-857-3397 (HealthLink BC).
Free online and self-guided help for depression
If you would rather start on your own, or want something to use between appointments, BounceBack is a good place to begin. It is a free skill-building program from the Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division, for adults and youth 13 and over dealing with low mood, mild to moderate depression, anxiety, stress or worry (BounceBack BC). It comes in three forms:
- BounceBack Coaching: phone sessions with a trained coach who helps you work through CBT-based workbooks. It requires a primary care provider who accepts responsibility during the program, such as a doctor, nurse practitioner, psychologist or registered clinical counsellor.
- BounceBack Online: workbooks, worksheets and videos you work through yourself. No referral needed.
- BounceBack Today videos: practical tips on mood, sleep, activity and problem solving, available in several languages including Punjabi, Mandarin and Cantonese. No referral needed (BounceBack BC, "What is BounceBack?").
Call BounceBack at 1-866-639-0522 with questions. HelpStartsHere also points to peer support, support groups and self-guided programs as options alongside one-on-one counselling (HelpStartsHere).
What does MSP cover for depression?
MSP covers visits with your family doctor, and psychiatrists are specialist doctors whose fees are covered by MSP when another doctor refers you (HeretoHelp BC). It generally does not cover private counselling. That makes your family doctor or nurse practitioner a free starting point: they can assess your symptoms, talk about treatment including medication, refer you to a psychiatrist, and refer you to programs such as BounceBack Coaching or Fraser Health's Rapid Access Clinic, which offers a psychiatrist appointment for adults with mild to moderate depression or anxiety (Fraser Health, Rapid Access Clinic).
If you do not have a family doctor, register with the Health Connect Registry to be matched with one, and call 8-1-1 for free health advice in the meantime. For more on how coverage works, see our post Do I need a referral to see a counsellor?
How can you lower the cost of private counselling?
If you would like to see a private counsellor, a few things can bring the cost down.
- Check your extended health plan. MSP generally does not cover private counselling. Many extended health plans do; check your plan for the yearly amount and which credentials it accepts.
- Look at other funding. ICBC, WorkSafeBC, the Crime Victim Assistance Program and the First Nations Health Authority each fund counselling in some situations, with their own rules.
- Ask about fees directly. Fees vary by practitioner, so ask when you book.
- Talk about spacing. Some people agree with their counsellor to space sessions further apart so their benefits last longer.
Direct billing depends on the practitioner. Ask when you book.
Which option should you start with?
The best starting point depends on your situation. Here is a quick guide:
| If this sounds like you | Start here |
|---|---|
| You are in crisis or thinking about suicide | Call or text 9-8-8, or call 911 if you are in immediate danger |
| You need to talk to someone tonight | Fraser Health Crisis Line or 310-6789 |
| You are an adult and cost is the main barrier | Your local Fraser Health Mental Health and Substance Use Centre, or Archway if you live in Abbotsford |
| You are 12 to 24 | Foundry Abbotsford or Foundry Virtual BC |
| You are a college or university student | Here2Talk, plus your school's counselling service |
| You want to learn skills at your own pace | BounceBack Online or the BounceBack videos |
| You have a job with benefits | Your EFAP, then extended health for private counselling |
| You want medication or a psychiatrist | Your family doctor or nurse practitioner |
You can use more than one at once. Many people start a free program while they wait for a public appointment or save toward private sessions.
Counselling for depression at The Healing Oak
If private counselling is within reach, you can book directly at either clinic. You do not need a doctor's referral to book counselling. These practitioners list depression on their profiles and show as accepting new patients (Healing Oak site, checked October 21, 2026):
- Abbotsford: Duncan White, CCC, M.Ed., Jae Yoo, CCC-CCS and Susan Doiron, MEd, CCC.
- Chilliwack: Jessy Parmar, RCC, BSW, MSW, RSW, Remi Wauthy, RCC and Jen Larush, Psychologist.
Learn more on our page about depression counselling in Abbotsford and Chilliwack. If you are already in therapy and feel stuck, read what to do when therapy for depression doesn't seem to be helping, and our guide to booking a therapist in Abbotsford or Chilliwack covers choosing a counsellor.
Fees vary by practitioner. Confirm the fee when you book. Session durations vary.
| Clinic | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| The Healing Oak Chilliwack | #101-7408 Vedder Road, Chilliwack, BC V2R 4E6 | (604) 846-2999 |
| The Healing Oak Abbotsford | #111, 2632 Pauline Street, Abbotsford, BC V2S 0C9 | (604) 850-9097 |
This article is general information, not medical or psychological advice. For advice about your situation, talk to a qualified practitioner.
Resources
- Free or Low-Cost Services in BC, HelpStartsHere (Government of BC)
- Chilliwack Mental Health and Substance Use Centre, Fraser Health
- Abbotsford Mental Health and Substance Use Centre, Fraser Health
- Short-Term Counselling Program, Archway Community Services
- What is BounceBack?, Canadian Mental Health Association BC
- Foundry Abbotsford, Foundry BC
