Trauma-Informed Indigenous Counselling Services Covered by FNHA
Getting mental health support through the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) should not come with extra stress or a bill. At Psychotherapy Room, our team includes an approved FNHA mental health provider who offers FNHA counselling to First Nations clients across BC, online and in person in Vancouver. Our Indigenous counselling services are trauma-informed and culturally responsive, and we work at your pace. If you have Status and live in BC, FNHA Health Benefits may cover your sessions, and we bill FNHA directly so there is no cost to you for covered counselling. Below, you’ll find how the process works and how to book your first session.
FNHA Counselling in BC for First Nations Clients
Check your eligibility. FNHA Health Benefits cover counselling and other mental health supports for First Nations people who have Status under the Indian Act and live in BC with MSP coverage.
Complete the FNHA funding form. Download the FNHA pre-determination form, fill it in and email it to info@psychotherapyroom.ca. It only takes a few minutes and helps us match you with the right counsellor.
We confirm your coverage. We submit the request to FNHA for you, so you don't have to handle the paperwork alone. We'll contact you once it's approved, which can take up to 5 business days.
Book your first session. We'll match you with a counsellor and schedule your first appointment, online or at our Vancouver office.
Start counselling. FNHA covers up to 22 hours of counselling per approval, valid for 12 months. We bill FNHA directly, so there is no cost to you for covered sessions.
How Does FNHA Counselling Work in BC?
We offer FNHA counselling to First Nations clients across BC, online and in person in Vancouver. If you are eligible for FNHA Health Benefits, your mental health counselling may be covered, so cost shouldn’t stand in the way of support.
Our approach to Indigenous Mental Health Counselling
Our care is trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, and culturally responsive. We know that many people have had experiences with mainstream systems that left them feeling unheard, and we work to be a different kind of space. Our Indigenous counselling services are built around choice, safety, and respect for your culture and community. You set the pace. You are the expert on your own life, and counselling is a partnership.
We offer counselling in English, Portuguese, and Spanish. Our FNHA-approved counsellor works with individuals, couples, families, and youth.
Counselling is one option among many. FNHA also supports Traditional Wellness, and we encourage you to explore whatever combination of supports feels right for you.
How to use the First Nations Mental Wellness Continuum Framework
Carol Hopkins, Executive Director of the Thunderbird Partnership Foundation
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FNHA Health Benefits cover First Nations people who have Status under the Indian Act and live in BC with MSP coverage. If you’re unsure whether you qualify, reach out and we’ll help you check.
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For sessions covered by FNHA, we bill FNHA directly, so there is no cost to you. FNHA covers up to 22 hours of counselling per approval, valid for 12 months. If you need more sessions, we can ask FNHA for a new approval, and any sessions beyond your coverage would be discussed with you beforehand.
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Download the FNHA funding form in Step 2 above, fill it in and email it to info@psychotherapyroom.ca. We’ll take it from there: we confirm your coverage, match you with a counsellor and book your first appointment.
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Yes. We offer secure online sessions across BC, so you can meet from home or wherever you feel comfortable. In-person sessions are available at our Vancouver office at 235–470 Granville Street.
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We practise cultural humility. We don't assume we know your story, and we listen first. Our approach is trauma-informed and anti-oppressive, and you're welcome to tell us what matters to you and what you need from the process. If a counsellor isn't the right fit, we'll help you find a better match.
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Yes. Counselling is confidential, with the standard legal and ethical limits explained at your first session. We only share information with the funder that is required to process your coverage.
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Life happens. Please give at least 48 hours' notice. Sessions missed or cancelled with less notice are charged at the full session fee, including for funded clients, as funders don't cover missed appointments.
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Yes. We work with individuals, couples, families, and youth. FNHA counselling coverage doesn’t include children under six. Contact us to talk about what would fit your situation.
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Yes, many people do. They're separate benefits and can support each other.
Ready to Start FNHA Counselling?
Taking the first step toward Indigenous mental health support can feel like a lot, and you do not have to figure out the paperwork on your own. Complete the FNHA form, send it to our team, and we will submit your request to FNHA and let you know once it is approved. From there, we will book your first session, online across BC or in person in Vancouver. If you have questions before you begin, reach out. We are happy to walk you through it.
Book Your FNHA Counselling Session Ready to start?
Psychotherapy Room gratefully acknowledges that our Vancouver office is located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ilwətaɫ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. As we also offer counselling online across British Columbia, we recognize that our clients and team live and work on the homelands of many Indigenous Peoples throughout the province. We honour their enduring relationship with these lands and waters, and we are committed to ongoing learning, and to trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, and culturally responsive care.
Psychotherapy Room gratefully acknowledges that our Vancouver office is located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ilwətaɫ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. As we also offer counselling online across British Columbia, we recognize that our clients and team live and work on the homelands of many Indigenous Peoples throughout the province. We honour their enduring relationship with these lands and waters, and we are committed to ongoing learning, and to trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, and culturally responsive care.