Frequently Asked Questions

What if I am experiencing a crisis or need immediate support?

Grounded Connections is not a crisis service.

If you are in immediate danger or require urgent medical support, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency department.

Reaching out for support during difficult moments matters and you deserve to have care available to you right away.

British Columbia:

Adults:

• 310-6789 (Mental Health Support Line — no area code required)

• 1-800-784-2433 (1-800-SUICIDE)

Youth:

• Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868

• YouthInBC: 1-866-661-3311 or online chat support

Substance Use & Addictions:

• BC Alcohol & Drug Information and Referral Service: 1-800-663-1441

Alberta:

Mental Health & Crisis Support:

• Alberta Mental Health Help Line: 1-877-303-2642

Addictions & Substance Use Support:

• Addiction & Mental Health Helpline (Alberta): 1-866-332-2322

Youth Support:

• Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868

• Support for youth is also available through local crisis lines and walk-in services across Alberta communities

Indigenous Crisis & Wellness Supports (Canada-wide):

• Hope for Wellness Help Line: 1-855-242-3310 (24/7)

  • Phone and online chat support available in English, French, Cree, Ojibway, and Inuktitut

• First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Chat: https://www.hopeforwellness.ca

Canada-wide supports:

• 988 Suicide Crisis Helpline: Call or text 988 (24/7)

• Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868

• Wellness Together Canada: https://www.wellnesstogether.ca (free mental health and substance use support across Canada)

If things feel overwhelming, you do not have to hold it alone. Reaching out for immediate support is a meaningful and important step, and there are people available 24/7 across Canada who can walk alongside you in those moments.

Do you offer virtual or in-person sessions?

At this time, Grounded Connections is a fully virtual practice. Sessions are offered securely online, allowing you to access therapy from the comfort and privacy of your own space.

Many people find virtual therapy supportive and accessible, especially when balancing busy schedules, living in rural or remote communities, or when comfort and familiarity help create a sense of safety.

What can I expect during our first session?

Our first session is a gentle starting point. We’ll take time to get to know each other, explore what has brought you to therapy, and begin understanding what support might feel most helpful for you.

There is no pressure to share everything at once. We will move at a pace that feels safe and respectful for you.

How do you create safety within your therapy space?

I strive to offer a space that is grounded, respectful, and inclusive.

This includes being affirming of LGBTQ2S+ clients and welcoming people from diverse racial, cultural, and lived experiences. I recognize that identity and lived experience can deeply shape mental health, especially within the context of systemic oppression, discrimination, and intergenerational trauma. My approach is guided by cultural humility, respect, and a commitment to ongoing learning.

I also work from a neurodiversity-affirming lens, which means recognizing and respecting a wide range of nervous system experiences. This includes ADHD, autism, sensory processing differences, learning differences, and other neurodivergent ways of experiencing the world. Therapy is adapted to support your needs rather than expecting you to fit into a neurotypical framework.

Above all, I aim to create a space where you can show up as you are, without pressure to explain, mask, or hold things together alone.

Do you offer a free consultation?

Yes. I offer a complimentary 15-minute consultation because I believe the therapeutic relationship is one of the most important parts of counselling.

This is an opportunity for us to connect, explore what you're looking for, ask questions, and see whether working together feels like a good fit. There is no pressure or obligation to book afterward.

How long are counselling sessions?

Individual counselling sessions are 50 minutes. Couples counselling sessions are 75 minutes to allow additional space for connection and meaningful therapeutic work.

Longer appointments may be available for EMDR when clinically appropriate and by mutual agreement.

What therapeutic approaches do you use?

I offer an integrative, trauma-informed approach tailored to each person’s needs. This may include:

• EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

• Narrative Therapy

• Somatic and nervous system-informed approaches

• Psychedelic integration therapy

Rather than using a single method, therapy is adapted to support your unique experiences, goals, and nervous system.

What concerns do you commonly support?

My practice focuses primarily on complex trauma and its impact on adults and relationships. I also support concerns that can arise alongside trauma, including anxiety, emotional overwhelm, addiction and substance use, grief, nervous system dysregulation, and relationship challenges.

I also offer trauma-informed couples counselling, including for couples where one or both partners have experienced trauma.

For more information, visit my Services Offered page.

Is therapy confidential?

Yes. Your privacy and confidentiality are important parts of creating a safe therapeutic relationship. I follow the professional and privacy requirements that apply to my practice, including BC’s Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) and, where applicable, Alberta’s Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA).

There are some legal and professional limits to confidentiality, which I'll discuss with you as part of informed consent. Your privacy, dignity, and autonomy are treated with care throughout our work together.

What is expected of me as a client?

You don't need to arrive with everything figured out. Therapy works best when we can approach the process with openness, honesty, and collaboration.

You are encouraged to share what feels comfortable, ask questions, provide feedback, and let me know when something doesn't feel right. You remain the expert on your own experience, and we will work together to determine what feels helpful and manageable.

What if I don't know where to start?

That's completely okay. You don't need to know exactly what you need from therapy before reaching out.

We can start with where you are right now and gently explore what brought you to counselling, what you're hoping might change, and what kind of support could be helpful. Sometimes simply having a space to slow down and make sense of what's happening is a meaningful place to begin.

Is virtual therapy right for me?

Virtual counselling can be a convenient and accessible way to receive support from a space where you feel comfortable.

It may be a good fit if you have a private space where you can participate without interruption and feel comfortable engaging through video. We'll also consider whether virtual counselling is appropriate for your individual needs and circumstances.

If you're unsure, you're welcome to discuss this during your complimentary 15-minute consultation.

How do I know if we're a good fit?

I believe therapy is relationship-based, and feeling comfortable with your counsellor matters.

That's why I offer a complimentary 15-minute consultation before beginning therapy. It's an opportunity to meet, ask questions, share a little about what you're looking for, and get a sense of whether my approach feels right for you.

There's no pressure to book. Finding the right fit is an important part of beginning therapy.

Do you work with clients outside of British Columbia?

My practice primarily serves clients throughout British Columbia through virtual counselling. I also provide virtual counselling to clients located in Alberta.

In Alberta, I offer private-pay counselling and provide NIHB-funded counselling to eligible Indigenous clients. I also provide contract counselling services with Indigenous Psychological Services.

If you're unsure whether I can provide services to you based on where you live or how you'd like to access funding, you're welcome to reach out.

Is counselling covered by extended health benefits?

Counselling provided by a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) may be covered by some extended health benefit plans. Coverage varies between providers and individual plans, so I recommend checking directly with your insurance provider to confirm your eligibility and coverage.

If you're unsure what to ask your provider, you're welcome to reach out and I can help you understand what information to look for.

Do you offer direct billing?

Yes. I can offer direct billing through Telus Health for eligible extended health plans.

Direct billing availability depends on your specific insurance plan and coverage. You're welcome to check with your provider or reach out if you're unsure whether direct billing may be available to you.

What are your fees & coverage?

Payment is due at the time of your appointment unless your session is being processed through an applicable third-party funding or direct-billing arrangement. I accept credit card and e-transfer for payment.

Please note that insurance coverage varies by plan and clients are responsible for understanding their coverage and any portion not covered by their provider.

British Columbia

Services provided as a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC)

Individual counselling: $165 per 50 minute session

Couples counselling: $225 per 75 minute session

Some extended health plans provide coverage for services provided by a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC). Coverage varies by plan, so I recommend checking directly with your provider to confirm your benefits.

Direct billing through Telus Health is available for eligible plans.

Alberta

Services provided as a Registered Psychiatric Nurse Therapist (RPN)

Counselling: $187 per session

I provide virtual counselling to clients located in Alberta, including eligible Indigenous clients accessing counselling through the Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) program.

For NIHB clients, eligibility and funding arrangements need to be confirmed before services begin. I also provide contract counselling services with Indigenous Psychological Services.

If you're unsure whether you may be eligible for NIHB, please reach out before booking and we can help clarify the next steps.

Private-pay counselling is also available for Alberta clients.

If cost is a concern, you're welcome to reach out to discuss whether a reduced-fee option may be available.

What is your cancellation policy?

I understand that life happens and plans sometimes need to change. I ask for 24 hours' notice when cancelling or rescheduling an appointment whenever possible.

Appointments cancelled with less than the required notice, or missed appointments, may be subject to the full session fee. Insurance and third-party funding generally cannot be billed for missed or late-cancelled appointments.

If something unexpected happens, please reach out. I approach these situations with understanding and will always do my best to work with you where possible.

Do you contribute to community or Indigenous-led initiatives?

Yes. Reconciliation and community responsibility are important parts of how I approach my practice.

As one tangible commitment, I donate 2% of my annual profits to an Indigenous-led healing organization. Each year, I select an organization whose work aligns with community healing and wellness. Most recently, I supported the Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society.

I see this as an ongoing commitment to learning, reflection, accountability, and meaningful action—not a destination.

Who took the photos on your website?

The photos throughout Grounded Connections were taken on the beautiful Sunshine Coast, either by Paige of Paige and Dustin Photography or myself. I’m grateful to share these images as a reflection of the natural beauty and sense of place that inspire both my practice and my life.

Photography: Paige @paigeanddustin

Ready to Begin?

Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or ready for something to change, you don’t have to navigate it alone.
If you’re curious about working together, I invite you to explore my services, browse the FAQs, or book a complimentary 15-minute consultation. It’s a chance for us to connect, answer any questions you may have, and see whether working together feels like the right fit.

Please note every effort will be made to respond to emails within 24-48 hours on business days. Email is not meant for clinical discussion or crisis support. If you or someone you know needs immediate support please call 911 or your local crisis support line

Connect with Chantell via email

Grounded Connections provides virtual counselling services in British Columbia as a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and virtual mental health services in Alberta as a Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN). NIHB-funded services are available only to eligible Indigenous clients located in Alberta.

I acknowledge that I live, work, and play on the traditional and unceded territories of the shíshálh and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nations. I recognize the enduring harms caused by settler colonial policies that separated Indigenous peoples from their families, cultures, and lands—harms that continue to impact individuals and communities today. This acknowledgment is part of an ongoing commitment to learning, accountability, and growth. I strive to practice in ways that support respect, relationship, and care, while working to prevent further harm. As one tangible step toward reconciliation, 2% of annual profits are donated to an Indigenous-led organization.