Clinical Counselling
Resilience – Downtown Vancouver Counselling
Stress is part of the human condition. Given the multitude of stimuli and demands these days the stress levels are
Downtown Vancouver Clinical Counselling
Counselling gives you a private, structured space to talk about what’s happening, understand patterns and develop practical ways to respond. You don’t need to be in crisis or have a diagnosis to begin. People come to counselling for anxiety, stress, low mood, trauma, grief, relationship concerns, life transitions, injury recovery, identity, work pressure or a general sense of feeling stuck.
Our counselling team brings different credentials, approaches, formats and areas of practice. Some sessions are in person at 970 Burrard Street, some are online or by phone, and one counsellor books directly through her own practice. The right starting point is the counsellor whose credential, experience, session format and approach fit what you need.
Take a look at the counsellor cards below before booking. If you need urgent help or have immediate safety concerns, please use the crisis resources below rather than waiting for a routine appointment.
When can counselling help?
Counselling helps when thoughts, emotions, relationships or coping patterns are making daily life harder, or when you’d like support through a change. Your counsellor doesn’t make decisions for you. The work is collaborative: together you agree on priorities, talk about what is and isn’t helping, and adjust the approach over time.
People come to counselling for:
- Anxiety, worry, stress or burnout
- Low mood, hopelessness or reduced motivation
- Trauma, abuse or the emotional effects of an accident
- Grief, loss, illness or caregiving
- Relationship, family or communication concerns
- Life, career, cultural or identity transitions
- Self-esteem, shame, criticism or recurring patterns
- Adjustment to pain, injury or changes in physical function
- Addiction concerns or recovery support
- Personal goals, boundaries and decision-making
Not every counsellor works with every concern or age group, so review each profile and ask about fit before sharing sensitive details by email.
What happens in a first counselling session?
- Consent and privacy. Your counsellor explains confidentiality and its legal and safety-related limits, record-keeping, fees, the cancellation policy and how virtual or telephone sessions work.
- Your reason for coming. You can describe what’s happening in your own words and at your own pace. You don’t have to tell your full story in the first session.
- Goals and fit. You and your counsellor talk about what you hope will change and whether their approach is a good match.
- Initial plan. Your counsellor suggests a focus, a therapeutic approach or something practical to notice or practise between sessions.
- Next steps. You decide whether to continue, how often to meet and how you’ll review progress together. You can ask for a referral if the fit isn’t right.
Sessions aren’t a performance, and it’s normal for trust to take time. You’re welcome to ask about your counsellor’s training, approach, cultural responsiveness and experience with the issue you want to address.
Meet our counsellors
Please note:
Please click on the practitioner's photo or name for more information on their background, specialties and pricing.
Hilary Murfitt, MA, RCC
Hilary is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with a master’s degree in Counselling Psychology and more than 17 years of private-practice experience. She offers individual, couples, family and group counselling, with training in Narrative Therapy, Family Systems Therapy, solution-focused therapy, feminist and anti-oppressive frameworks, CBT, addictions, mediation and collaborative divorce. Her areas include anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, self-esteem, relationships, parenting, identity, fertility and life transitions.
Hilary books directly through her own practice at connect@hilarymurfitt.com.
Ihab Darwiche, MA, CCC
Ihab is a Canadian Certified Counsellor with a master’s degree in Counselling Psychology. His areas of practice include trauma and abuse, men’s health, anxiety and depression, and his approach draws on existential therapy, CBT, mindfulness, positive psychology and psychodynamic or psychoanalytic perspectives.
Ihab sees ICBC counselling clients. Please call us at 604-685-4325 to book.
Junjie (Claire) Zhang, MA, RCC
Claire is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology and an MBA, and she offers in-person and online sessions. Her approach is collaborative, person-centred and solution-focused, drawing on CBT, mindfulness, EMDR, expressive art and positive psychology. Her areas include anxiety and stress, relationships, multicultural and immigrant experiences, career and business concerns, sport performance and traumatic brain injury.
Lisa Bentz, MSW
Lisa completed a Master of Social Work at the University of British Columbia and has extensive hospital and private-practice experience. She works with anxiety, depression, grief and loss, addictions, adjustment to physical and emotional distress, injury rehabilitation, ageing and career transitions. Her practice is primarily telephone counselling, so you can get support without travelling, and she also sees ICBC counselling clients through reception.
Confidentiality and urgent support
Counselling is confidential within the limits your counsellor will explain and applicable law. Those limits include situations involving imminent risk of serious harm, abuse or neglect where reporting is required, a court order, or other legal obligations. You’re welcome to ask how records are stored, how virtual sessions are protected and how to reach your counsellor between appointments.
Our counselling service isn’t an emergency or crisis service. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency department. If you’re thinking about suicide or need immediate crisis support, call or text 9-8-8, any time, anywhere in Canada. In British Columbia, you can also call 310-6789 (no area code needed) for mental health support.
Fees, insurance and ICBC
Private counselling fees vary by counsellor, credential, format and session length, and current rates are on our pricing page.
We don’t direct bill counselling to extended health plans, so you’ll submit your receipt to your insurer yourself. Many plans cover an RCC, CCC, RSW or another specified credential, but the eligible designation differs by plan, so confirm your counsellor’s credential, your annual limit, any referral requirement and how reimbursement works before you book. Our direct billing page lists the services we bill directly.
ICBC pre-approves counselling during the first 12 weeks after an eligible crash, and we bill ICBC directly. Please call reception with your claim number before booking. Eligibility, session funding and further care depend on your claim and ICBC’s current rules. See our ICBC rehabilitation program for more.
In-person, online and telephone counselling
In-person counselling suits people who prefer a dedicated room away from home. Online or telephone counselling cuts out travel and makes care easier to fit around work, caregiving, pain or mobility limits. For remote sessions, choose a private location, use a reliable connection, and agree with your counsellor on what to do if the call drops or a safety concern comes up.
Visiting our clinic
For in-person appointments, we’re at 970 Burrard Street, MZ1, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2R4, in the Electra Building. Use the Burrard Street entrance marked “Executive Offices.” The Nelson Street entrance is residential and doesn’t connect to our health floor. Take the elevator from the main lobby to the mezzanine level.
Burrard, Granville and Yaletown-Roundhouse SkyTrain stations are all within walking distance. Metered street parking is close by, so check the signs for rush-hour restrictions, and there’s paid underground parking near the Scotiabank Theatre. Our clinic is wheelchair accessible.
The building doors are locked after 6:00 PM on weekdays and all day on weekends and statutory holidays. At those times, use buzzer 001 at the Burrard Street entrance and we’ll let you in.
Clinical counselling FAQs
Can you help me choose a counsellor?
Yes. Start by comparing each counsellor’s credential, areas of practice, session format and approach above. A short first conversation is a good way to ask about fit before you commit to ongoing sessions.
Do I need a diagnosis or referral?
No. You don’t need a diagnosis or a medical referral for private counselling with us. Some insurers require a referral or a specific professional credential for reimbursement.
Is there a set number of sessions?
No. Some people come for short-term support with one issue, and others work with their counsellor over a longer period. You and your counsellor agree on goals, review progress and decide together whether the frequency or approach should change.
Can I attend counselling online?
Yes. Claire offers online and in-person sessions, and Lisa’s practice is primarily telephone-based. Check that your counsellor can provide remote care where you’ll physically be during the session.
Is counselling covered by extended health insurance?
Yes, many plans cover counselling, though each plan specifies the credentials it accepts, such as RCC, CCC, RSW or psychologist. Ask your insurer whether your counsellor’s credential is eligible. We don’t direct bill counselling, so you’ll submit your receipt to your insurer.
Does ICBC cover counselling after a collision?
Yes. ICBC pre-approves counselling during the first 12 weeks after an eligible crash. Call us with your claim number before booking so we can confirm the right pathway.
Is counselling an emergency service?
No. Routine counselling isn’t emergency care. Call 9-1-1 or go to an emergency department if safety is at immediate risk, and call or text 9-8-8 for 24-hour suicide crisis support.
Take the next step at a pace that feels manageable
Review the four counsellor cards, choose the format and credential that fit your needs, then use the booking route listed for that counsellor.
ICBC booking and general help: 604-685-4325.
Helpful links: Pricing · Direct billing · ICBC rehabilitation program · Contact and directions · All practitioners
Last updated: November 2026
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