The fee recommended by the BC Psychological Association for the provision of psychotherapy by Psychologists is currently $175.00 per session. In some circumstances, this fee might be reduced based on income.

External Funding:

Extended Health Plans – Psychological services are reimbursed by most extended health care plans offered by employers. If you or a member of your family has signed up for such a plan, look in the booklet describing your benefits or talk to your insurance company to find out about your coverage. Coverage for psychologists varies from $300 per year to $1000 per year for most plans. You pay the psychologist and submit the receipt to the insurance company who reimburses you.

Worker's Compensation Board - I have a contract to provide services for injured workers in Victoria with an accepted claim. Contact your case manager to discuss a referral.

Insurance companies' short - or long-term disability plans - If you are receiving short- or long-term disability coverage, your insurance company may be willing to fund treatment. Contact your case manager / adjuster.

Criminal Injury Compensation - If you have a psychological problem as a result of having been a victim of a reported crime, you may qualify for payment of psychotherapy services. In BC, the crime needs to have occurred since July 1972, when this program was created. If the crime occurred in BC, you can phone (604) 244-6400 to obtain more information.

The Medical Services Plan in British Columbia does not pay for the services of a private psychologist. Contact your MLA or the Minister of Health for more details. You might be able to access the free services of a psychiatrist under MSP with the referral of a physician.

Tax issues which may help you save on expenses:

Tax credit: You can claim, as a non-refundable tax credit, medical expenses for yourself, your spouse or common-law partner, and your children born in 1987 or later. For example, in 2004 the total expenses had to be more than 3% of your net income, or $1,813, whichever is less. You may be able to pool your claims with those of your spouse or common-law partner. You may also be able to claim medical expenses for the following persons if they depended on you for support:

You or your spouse or common law partner's child or grandchild who was born in 1986 or earlier; and
you or your spouse or common law partner's parent or close relatives who lived in Canada at any time in the year. For more information visit: http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tax/menu-e.html.

Deduction of expenses for tax purposes. You may set up a special Health Spending Account (HSA), a uniquely designed account established exclusively for the purposes of healthcare spending. Health Spending Accounts can be set up by self-employed individuals through a broker. They may already be part of your employer's benefit package. All contributions are recognized as a 100% business deduction in the year in which they were contributed — even if the money is not spent that year. The money can then be used to pay for your family's healthcare expenses, as you choose. Unspent contributions are not lost at year end. Because you don't pay tax on these expenses, you save 17% to 50% (or whatever your tax rate is).