How do I book a therapist in Abbotsford or Chilliwack?

In short

Pick the Abbotsford or Chilliwack clinic, choose a counsellor on the counselling page or ask the clinic to suggest one, then call or use the counsellor's booking link. You do not need a doctor's referral. Ask about fit, session duration, fees and direct billing before you book, check your benefits, and know you can switch counsellors.

Booking a first counselling appointment can feel like a big step. You do not need a doctor's referral, a diagnosis, or the perfect way to describe what is going on. Here is what to do, one step at a time, plus what to ask before you book, what the first session is like, and what to do if the fit is not right.

Step 1: Which Healing Oak clinic should you book at?

Book at whichever Healing Oak clinic is easier for you to get to, because counselling is offered at both. The counselling page for Abbotsford and Chilliwack shows every counsellor, their credentials and the clinic they work from.

Directions and clinic details are on the Chilliwack clinic page and the Abbotsford clinic page. Most counsellors work from one clinic. Korey Smith (MPCC-C) sees clients at both.

Counsellors keep different hours, and some see clients into the evening, so a schedule that fits your week may matter more than which clinic is closer. If travel is hard, ask about video sessions.

Step 2: How do you choose a counsellor?

Choose a counsellor by what you want help with, how they work, and when they are available. Each practitioner page lists their credentials, focus areas, approaches and how to book.

Chilliwack:

• Jessy Parmar (RCC, BSW, MSW, RSW)
• Jenny Sudermann (BSW MSW RSW)
• Charlene Lee (MACP, B.Ed, RCC)
• Jillian Whitely (M.ED, RCC), currently on a waitlist
• Remi Wauthy (RCC)
• Jessica Hilton (RCC)
• Korey Smith (MPCC-C), also in Abbotsford

Abbotsford:

• Duncan White (CCC, M.Ed.)
• Jae Yoo (CCC-CCS)
• Sanjit Jabbal (BA, MACP, RCC)
• Susan Doiron (MEd, CCC)
• Korey Smith (MPCC-C), also in Chilliwack

Availability changes, so check the practitioner page or ask when you book. When you read a page, three things are especially useful:

• Focus areas: the concerns that counsellor often works with, such as anxiety, trauma, grief or relationships.
• Approaches: the methods they use, such as CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy), ACT or EMDR. The modalities page explains each one. In Abbotsford, for example, Susan Doiron and Jae Yoo both list EMDR.
• The bio: how they describe their work in their own words, often a helpful clue to whether you would feel at ease.

The letters after a name matter less than people fear. RCCs work at both clinics and the CCCs currently work in Abbotsford; RCC or CCC? What the letters mean in BC explains the difference. Where they do matter is your benefit plan, which may name the designations it reimburses. If you need a psychologist specifically, start on the psychology service page instead.

Not sure who fits? That is fine. Tell the clinic what you want help with and ask for a suggestion.

Booking for anxiety or CBT?

If anxiety is the main reason you are booking, or you want CBT specifically, start with a counsellor whose practitioner page lists it. As of October 2, 2026:

Counsellors who list anxiety:

• Chilliwack: Jessy Parmar (RCC, BSW, MSW, RSW), Remi Wauthy (RCC) and Jessica Hilton (RCC). Jillian Whitely (M.ED, RCC) also lists anxiety and is currently on a waitlist.
• Abbotsford: Duncan White (CCC, M.Ed.), Jae Yoo (CCC-CCS), Susan Doiron (MEd, CCC) and Sanjit Jabbal (BA, MACP, RCC).

Counsellors who list CBT:

• Chilliwack: Remi Wauthy, Charlene Lee (MACP, B.Ed, RCC) and Korey Smith. Jillian Whitely also lists CBT and is on a waitlist.
• Abbotsford: Jae Yoo and Korey Smith. Both hold designations other than RCC, so check that your plan accepts theirs.

The CBT counselling page explains how CBT works here. On October 2, 2026, practitioner pages for counsellors who offer CBT showed:

• Jae Yoo (Abbotsford) lists insurers including Pacific Blue Cross, Sun Life Financial, Manulife Financial and Canada Life, plus the Crime Victim Assistance Program (CVAP) and the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA).
• Charlene Lee (Chilliwack) lists a long list of extended health insurers, and her page says more direct billing is coming.
• Remi Wauthy, Korey Smith and Jillian Whitely list no direct billing, so ask how they handle receipts.

A listed insurer is not a promise that your plan or claim will be accepted.

What should you ask a counsellor before booking?

A few questions before you book tell you a lot about fit, cost and logistics. Some counsellors offer a short free consultation for this; in Chilliwack, Charlene Lee and Remi Wauthy both offer a free 15-minute consultation. Questions worth asking:

• Have you worked with people dealing with what I am dealing with?
• How do you usually work? Is it more talking things through, or more structured, with skills to practise between sessions?
• How long are sessions, and what is the fee? Session durations vary, and fees vary by practitioner, so confirm both.
• Can you bill my insurer directly? Direct billing depends on the practitioner.
• Do you offer video sessions, and what is your cancellation policy?

Notice how the answers land. A counsellor who answers plainly and does not rush you is giving you a preview of sessions with them.

Step 3: How do you book the appointment?

Call the clinic, or use the booking link on the counsellor's practitioner page. You do not need a doctor's referral to book counselling. Booking works a little differently from person to person: many counsellors take bookings through an online calendar linked from their page, Charlene Lee asks new clients to reach out directly, and Remi Wauthy takes consultation requests by email. The practitioner page tells you which.

Have these ready when you call or book:

1. The counsellor you would like, or a sentence about what you want help with, for example anxiety, low mood or trauma. "I am not sure, I just know I want to talk to someone" is a fine answer.
2. The days and times that work for you.
3. Your benefit plan details if you plan to claim, or your claim number if ICBC, WorkSafeBC or the Crime Victim Assistance Program is paying.
4. Whether you would prefer in-person or video sessions.

You do not have to explain your history to book. Booking is logistics; the counselling starts in the session.

How do you check your coverage before the first session?

Check your plan booklet or app, or call the member line on your benefits card, before your first session. MSP generally does not cover private counselling. Many extended health plans do; check your plan. BC's Medical Services Plan lists services of counsellors and psychologists among the services it does not cover, according to the Government of British Columbia's page on services not covered by MSP (checked 2026). Ask your insurer:

• Does my plan cover counselling, and which designations does it accept (RCC, CCC, RSW, MPCC)?
• How much is covered per session and per year, and when does my benefit year reset?
• Do I need a doctor's referral to be reimbursed?

Other programs can pay too. ICBC may pre-approve a set number of counselling sessions after a crash, with no referral needed, according to ICBC's page on treatment in the first 12 weeks (checked 2026). Confirm what is approved for your claim with your adjuster. Some Healing Oak counsellors work with ICBC, WorkSafeBC or Crime Victim Assistance Program (CVAP) clients, and some work with employee assistance programs, so ask which ones when you book.

Should you choose online or in-person counselling?

Choose the format you will keep showing up for. In person suits people who want a space away from home or find it easier to talk face to face. Video suits people with long commutes, tight schedules, young children at home, or mobility limits. Some people open up more easily at home; others find home too distracting or not private enough.

In-person sessions run at both clinics, and some counsellors also offer video. In Abbotsford, for example, Sanjit Jabbal offers both virtual and in-person counselling. If you choose video, plan for a private room, headphones and a steady connection. The BC Association of Clinical Counsellors' practice standards (checked 2026) expect RCCs to provide virtual sessions without compromising the quality of the service. For couples, our guide to online couples counselling in BC goes further.

What happens at your first counselling session?

Your first session is mostly about getting to know each other and understanding what brought you in. Your counsellor may send a consent or intake form beforehand. Early in the session they should explain how confidentiality works and where its limits are, which the same BCACC standards ask RCCs to do at the outset. Those limits are narrow: a substantial risk of serious, imminent harm to you or someone else, a need to protect a child or vulnerable adult as the law requires, or a legal order such as a subpoena. Counsellors with other credentials follow their own association's standards and can walk you through theirs.

Then your counsellor listens and asks questions: what is going on now, how long it has been happening, what you have already tried, and what you hope will be different. Some people arrive with a clear issue; others need help putting it into words. Both are fine. Jenny Sudermann (BSW MSW RSW) writes on her practitioner page that she prioritizes "building trust at a pace that feels right for you." You can say "I am not ready to talk about that yet," and a good counsellor will respect it.

Toward the end, you may talk about what you want from counselling and how often to meet. Ask your own questions too: how they see your situation, and how you will both know whether it is helping. Some people leave tired, relieved or a little raw, so plan something gentle for afterward if you can.

How can you tell if a counsellor is a good fit?

Fit is less about credentials and more about whether you feel safe enough to be honest. After your first few sessions, you should be able to say yes to most of these:

• I feel listened to, not lectured or rushed.
• I can say when something is not working, and they take it well.
• I understand roughly what we are working on and why.
• Their style suits me, whether that is structured skills or open conversation.
• I might feel nervous about going back, but not dread.

Discomfort is not automatically a bad sign. Counselling can touch hard things, and some sessions feel heavier than others. The question is whether you feel respected while it is hard.

What if the first counsellor is not the right fit?

Try someone else. Finding the right counsellor can take more than one try, and it does not mean counselling will not work for you. Duncan White (CCC, M.Ed.), one of our Abbotsford counsellors, writes on his practitioner page that a common thing he hears from clients is that they tried several counsellors before finding the right fit.

You can raise it with your counsellor first, for example "I would like more structure" or "I need us to slow down"; many will adjust. If it still is not right, ask for a referral to someone else. The BCACC Code of Ethical Conduct (checked 2026) expects RCCs to actively comply with client requests for referral. You can also call either clinic and ask to try a different Healing Oak counsellor. You do not owe anyone a long explanation.

What if cost or a waitlist is in the way?

If the counsellor you want has a waitlist, ask to join it, or ask the clinic to suggest another counsellor with a similar focus. If cost is the barrier, the Government of BC's HelpStartsHere site suggests calling 8-1-1 or 2-1-1 (or texting 2-1-1) to ask about free, low-cost or sliding-scale services near you, according to its page on free or low-cost services in BC (checked 2026). The 310 Mental Health Support line (310-6789, no area code) is there in the meantime.

Ready to book?

Pick the clinic that suits you, choose a counsellor in Abbotsford or Chilliwack, and call or use their booking link. You do not need a referral, you do not need to have it all figured out first, and you can change counsellors if the fit is wrong.

This article is general information, not medical or psychological advice. For advice about your situation, talk to a qualified practitioner.

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