Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

We have two office locations (and we’ve changed our names!!

Fairfield Mental Health (formerly Fairfield Psychology) is located at 1702 Lillian Road, Victoria, BC in the beautiful community of Fairfield-Gonzales in central Victoria, BC.

The office is located on the corner of Fairfield Road and Lillian Road (across from Hollywood Park). There is some free parking available around the building and a bike rack or bus stop outside. Our front door is kept locked for security reasons but we will meet you at the front door at your appointment time.

Oak Bay Mental Health (formerly Oak Bay Psychology) is located at #202, 2186 Oak Bay Avenue, Victoria, BC and opened in September 2023.

It is located above Starbucks and Ivy’s Bookshop on Oak Bay Avenue.

There is two-hour parking available around and behind the building.

Note: The office is located on the second floor of the building with no elevator access unfortunately.

There are a few different ways to book a session in person or online.

Appointments can be made by either:

• visit our Meet our Team page to read more about our counsellors

• contact us

• book online through our online booking site (Jane App)

We will respond as soon as possible!

Please note: Starting January 1, 2025, we are updating our office cancellation policy and will now require a minimum of 48 hours’ notice to reschedule or cancel counselling sessions.

In consideration of us and other clients, please provide 48 hours notice if it is necessary to cancel a scheduled appointment.

Appointments missed with less than 48 hours notice given will be charged at the full amount. If payment is a barrier to accessing services, please contact our office for more information regarding possible alternatives (including referral to community services).

If you cannot come into the office for your appointment, please let us know as we offer phone or online sessions in lieu of face-to-face sessions.

As of October 2024, we now offer direct billing with some major health benefits companies.

Extended benefits often have an annual cut-off date. If you have coverage, don’t let it go to waste. Now is a great time to review your plan and book your sessions before your benefits expire.

Psychological, social work, and counselling services are not covered by the provincial Medical Services Plan.

However, they may be covered or partly covered for you and your family members through an extended health care benefit plan offered by your employer and/or post-secondary institution. 

Coverage for psychologists, social workers, and counsellors typically range from $500 to $2,000 per year depending on the plan.

Undergraduate and graduate post-secondary students who have opted into their insurance plans may be entitled to a certain amount of coverage per year for psychology, social work and/or counselling. Contact your benefits provider or your undergraduate or graduate student union websites for more details.

Upon payment, clients will be provided with a signed receipt that includes a professional registration number. This receipt can then be submitted to certain employee benefit plans for potential reimbursement. 

It is best to read through your benefit plan information or call the company directly to learn more about your coverage and how it may help.

1) Psychology services and sessions with Registered Psychologists (RPsychs) are $235 to $240 for a 50 or 60 minute session.

2) Counselling sessions with Registered Clinical Counsellors (RCCs) and Registered Psychiatric Nurses are $170 to $200 for 50 minute sessions. Longer sessions are pro-rated accordingly.

3) Counselling sessions with a Registered Social Worker (RSW) range from $170 (50 minutes) to $180 (60 minutes) or $270 (90 minutes).

For family therapy, sessions range from $170 (50 minutes) to $200 (60 minutes) or $300 (90 minutes).

Many people report being nervous about contacting a psychologist or attending a counselling session. It is normal to be nervous. We value and respect creating a safe environment to explore your experiences. Building a strong working relationship is one of the most effective aspects of therapy and one we take seriously.

We believe it is important to connect quickly when someone seeks support.

The first session is typically the most structured. It is important to spend time in the first session to discuss the expectations of therapy and give you the chance to ask questions. This includes ensuring you are freely consenting to receiving services, clarifying what is confidential and what is not, discussing the pros and cons of therapy, and identifying our roles and responsibilities.

Following this, we will start to focus on the presenting concern. We will also ask questions that will help us understand your strengths and struggles. Once we have collaboratively identified the direction you would like to go, we can begin the work.

• Please contact us to see if we can set up funding for your counselling sessions through direct billing with third parties (e.g., Autism Funding, SAJE, legal offices).

• Short-term and long-term disability (e.g., DMI). Please contact your case manager to determine if you qualify for coverage.

• We are an approved provider for Registered Psychology (RPsych) services with various companies, including Pacific Blue Cross and Medavie Blue Cross, which funds Veterans Affairs Canada, the Canadian Armed Forces, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, and the RCMP. We can often submit the claims for payment directly so there are no out-of-pocket expenses for you.Item description

Payment is due at the end of the appointment. Our preferred method of payments are via credit card, etransfer or cash.

Registered Psychologists (RPsych) are regulated by the College of Health and Care Professionals of British Columbia (CHCPBC). The College regulates the profession of psychology in the public interest in accordance with the provincial Health Professions and Occupations Act (April 1, 2026).

Registered Clinical Counsellors (RCC) and Registered Social Workers (RSW) have met specific educational and training criteria required by the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC), Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA), and/or BC College of Social Workers (BCCSW). They have a minimum of a Master’s Degree in a variety of areas such as counselling psychology or social work. Many have additional training in their specific area of practice, and they practice according to an ethical code of conduct and standards of practice.

Registered Psychiatric Nurses (RPNs) have successfully completed a an entry-level RPN education program recognized by the BC Colleges of Nurses & Midwives (BCCNM) and met BCCNM registration requirements. RPNs provide services for the promotion, maintenance and restoration of health and the prevention of illness and injury. They focus on psychosocial, mental or emotional health across all stages of life within the RPN scope of practice.

Many health benefits providers offer annual coverage for our practitioners!

Please check directly with your provider.