Your first therapy session focuses on understanding what brought you to counselling and helping you feel comfortable with the process.

During the session, your therapist will usually:

• ask about the concerns that led you to seek counselling

• discuss your goals and hopes for therapy

• explain confidentiality and how sessions work

The first session is not about solving everything immediately. It is about building a collaborative relationship and beginning to understand what support might be most helpful.

Choosing the right therapist is one of the most important parts of having a helpful counselling experience.

Different therapists have different training, personalities, and approaches. A counsellor who feels like a good fit for one person may not be the best fit for someone else.

At Tidal Trauma Centre, we help match new clients with one or more therapists based on their goals and preferences.

Many clients start with a free consultation call to ask questions and get a sense of whether the therapist feels like a good fit.

Fit matters in counselling.

If you feel unsure about the fit with a therapist, it can be helpful to discuss this directly during a session. Sometimes small adjustments in approach can make a big difference.

If you prefer to meet with a different therapist, our team can help you explore other counsellors within the practice or recommend other providers in the community.

Our goal is for you to have the best counselling experience possible.

No. You do not need a referral from a doctor to begin counselling.

You can contact us directly, fill out a New Client Form, or book a consultation call with one of our therapists.

Yes. Counselling is confidential.

Therapists are legally and ethically required to protect client confidentiality. Information shared in counselling sessions is not disclosed without your consent except in specific circumstances required by law.

These situations may include concerns about immediate safety or court orders. Your counsellor will explain confidentiality and its limits during your first session.

Trauma therapy is a specialized form of counselling that focuses on the psychological and physiological impacts of overwhelming or stressful experiences.

Trauma therapy may address experiences such as:

• violence or assault

• accidents or injuries

• childhood adversity

• medical trauma

• chronic stress

• relational or attachment wounds

Trauma therapy differs from general counselling because it considers how the nervous system responds to stress and threat.

Learn more about trauma therapy in Surrey.

No. Trauma therapy does not require you to describe traumatic experiences in detail before you feel ready.

Many trauma-informed approaches focus first on helping the nervous system feel more stable and supported.

When trauma processing approaches such as EMDR therapy are used, they often do not require detailed verbal descriptions of events.

Your therapist will work at a pace that respects your capacity and sense of safety.

Yes. Trauma therapy can often help people experiencing anxiety or depression.

Many emotional patterns are shaped by past experiences of stress, adversity, or relational challenges. Trauma-informed counselling helps people understand these patterns and develop new ways of responding to emotional triggers.

This may lead to improvements in anxiety symptoms, emotional regulation, and relationship patterns.

The length of therapy varies depending on the person and their goals.

Some people attend counselling for several months to address a specific concern. Others continue longer when working through complex trauma or longstanding patterns.

Factors that influence the pace of therapy include:

• the nature of past experiences

• current life stressors

• available support systems

• how frequently sessions occur

Many clients begin noticing meaningful changes within the first few months of consistent therapy.

Tidal Trauma Centre provides counselling for:

• adults

• youth and teenagers

• couples

• families

Our therapists have different areas of expertise, allowing us to match clients with counsellors who have relevant training and experience.

We support people navigating concerns such as anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship challenges, burnout, identity exploration, and life transitions.

Yes. Some therapists on our team specialize in working with youth and adolescents.

Youth counselling may support concerns such as anxiety, emotional regulation, school stress, identity exploration, and family conflict.

When appropriate, therapy may include collaboration with parents or caregivers.

Yes. Several therapists at Tidal Trauma Centre offer couples counselling and relationship therapy.

Couples counselling can support partners experiencing communication difficulties, recurring conflict, emotional disconnection, trust issues, or major life transitions.

Learn more about couples counselling in Surrey.

Yes. Many therapists at Tidal Trauma Centre provide secure online counselling.

Online therapy allows clients across British Columbia to attend sessions from home or another private location.

Clients join sessions from communities including Vancouver, Victoria, Kelowna, Prince George, Langley, and rural areas throughout the province.

Learn more about online counselling across BC.

Yes. We offer in-person counselling at our office in Cloverdale Surrey.

Our office is easily accessible from nearby communities including Langley, Delta, White Rock, and South Surrey.

Some clients prefer in-person sessions because they provide a dedicated space away from home for reflection and conversation.

Counsellors at Tidal Trauma Centre use a range of evidence-based and trauma-informed approaches.

These may include:

• EMDR therapy

• Internal Family Systems

• Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy

• Emotion-Focused Therapy

• somatic therapy approaches

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

• Narrative Therapy

• Solution-Focused Therapy

Many therapists integrate several approaches depending on the needs of each client.

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing.

EMDR therapy helps the brain process distressing memories so they become less emotionally overwhelming.

During EMDR sessions, the therapist guides the client through bilateral stimulation such as eye movements or tapping while focusing on aspects of a memory.

Learn more about EMDR therapy in Surrey.

Somatic therapy focuses on how the body and nervous system respond to stress and trauma.

Rather than working only with thoughts and emotions, somatic approaches also pay attention to physical sensations and nervous system responses.

Somatic therapy may include body awareness exercises, grounding practices, and techniques that support nervous system regulation.

Current counselling fees are:

Individual Counselling

50 minute session: $165

75 minute session: $247.50

Couples Counselling

50 minute session: $189

85 minute session: $247

Consultation calls are free and allow you to speak with a counsellor before scheduling a session.

Many extended health insurance plans cover counselling services provided by Registered Clinical Counsellors, Registered Social Workers, or Registered Psychologists.

Common providers include Blue Cross, Sun Life, Manulife, and Canada Life.

Coverage varies depending on your plan, so we recommend confirming details with your provider.

Receipts are provided after each session for reimbursement.

At this time, we do not offer direct billing.

Clients pay for sessions at the time of their appointment and receive a receipt that can be submitted to their insurance provider.

No. A criminal conviction is not required to access counselling through the Crime Victim Assistance Program.

CVAP funding may be available even if charges were not laid or the case did not go to court.

Yes. CVAP counselling can often be provided online depending on the therapist and the details of the claim.

If you already have a CVAP claim number, include it when filling out a New Client Form.

If you are unsure about the application process, our team can provide guidance on next steps.