Counselling support

On this page

• Find the support you need
• Specialized counselling programs
• Eligibility
• How it works
• Overlapping different types of counselling

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Find the support you need

Balancing the demands and responsibilities of our jobs, families and lives can be tough—especially when dealing with unexpected challenges at home or work.

The BC Public Service Agency provides counselling support services through its Employee and Family Assistance Services (EFAS) contract with TELUS Health.

Counselling can address a range of different scenarios, including:

• Mental health issues
• Relationship challenges
• Family and parenting issues
• Depression and anxiety
• Stress management
• Work-related issues such as conflict and work-life balance
• Grief and bereavement
• Addiction and trauma

Specialized counselling programs

For employees experiencing symptoms of depression or trauma, EFAS offers two specialized counselling programs.

New: Trauma Assist is a clinical support program with a set structure to address symptoms of post-traumatic stress and is designed to meet the needs of those exposed to workplace trauma or personal trauma that is impacting their ability to move forward.

New: Depression Care is a clinical support program for clients experiencing moderate to severe symptoms of depression, anxiety, or chronic stress.

New: AbilitiCBT is a digital, therapist-guided, cognitive behavioural therapy program offering mental health support via self-directed modules. It can be accessed online and includes programs for anxiety, depression, pain, insomnia, grief and loss, social anxiety, trauma and more.

Unlike counselling support, family members are not eligible for these programs.

Eligibility

Counselling support is free, voluntary and available to everyone, including:

• Auxiliary employees
• Employees receiving a Short Term Illness and Injury Plan (STIIP) or long-term disability (LTD) benefits
• Family members who normally live with an employee

How it works

Intake is available by phone 24/7 at 1-800-655-5004. You can also download the app or access the website by visiting one.telushealth.com.

When you contact TELUS Health, a client care navigator will ask a series of questions and determine which service will best meet your needs. 

If they determine that counselling is the correct service, they'll arrange an appointment for you.

Service is available:

• In person
• By telephone
• Via video counselling

Online group counselling related to anxiety, communication and parenting is also available (a client care navigator will assess if this is an appropriate service fit for the caller).

In-person appointments typically take place at designated locations in larger centres, and in private counsellor offices in smaller communities.

There is no predetermined cap on sessions, but if long-term support is required, counsellors will provide advice and referral services.

You may re-access services throughout the year for different reasons.

If the counsellor match isn't a good fit, you're encouraged to call to request a change.

The client care navigator can also recommend other Employee and Family Assistance Services that may be of further assistance.

Overlapping different types of counselling

• Success in counselling relies on an effective working relationship between a counsellor and the client.  In the counselling industry, working with two different counsellors at the same time is uncommon and is limited to very specific circumstances.  EFAS counsellors may defer or pause counselling when an alternate psychiatric treatment is underway. 
• An exception can be that the primary counsellor encourages the individual to go to a specific kind of counselling for a specific amount of time for a specific reason, and it is something that the primary counsellor doesn’t offer. Examples might be joining a group or going for EMDR therapy.
• It is common to have one counsellor for individual counselling and a separate one for couples or family counselling.

Counsellors, psychologists or social workers

Additional to services offered through EFAS, employees with extended health benefits may claim up to $750, per person, per calendar year, if delivered by a recognized social worker, registered clinical counsellor or registered psychologist. To find out if the service provider is registered for claiming purposes, refer to the extended health plan.

The practitioner must be registered in B.C. and you must pay the service cost up-front and submit a claim to the extended health benefits provider for reimbursement, which is subject to plan maximums and reimbursement rates.