What Is Student Intern Counselling?

 

Student intern counsellors are graduate-level students that are fulfilling the practicum requirements for their Master’s degree. Despite being students, they bring many years of personal developmental, rich academic backgrounds and supervised practice to the table. Heartwood’s program strongly values providing a quality investment into the next generation of counsellors. Student interns are supervised by senior clinicians who hold a variety of advanced credentials (MSW, RCC, CCC, MA) and have many years of clinical experience in trauma, anxiety somatic therapy and relational approaches under their belt. Every session provided by your student intern counsellor is reviewed and supported through consistent and detail oriented supervision to make sure you receive the highest quality of care. Student interns provide therapy that is relational, thoughtful and trauma informed at a price that is reflective of the student’s level of training, not of the quality of care you receive.

 

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What Can Student Counselling Help With?

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Student intern counsellors can support adults (18+) across a variety of concerns and experiences, including but not limited to:

• Anxiety and worry - continual stress, social anxiety, feelings of overwhelm, overthinking and panic

• Depression and low mood - unshakeable sadness, loss of motivation and/or enjoyment, struggle to find meaning in life

• Relationship challenges - loneliness, breakups, miscommunication, attachment styles, friendships and navigating finding community

• Life transitions - moving, graduating, navigating the current job market, finding identity

• Identity and self-esteem - people pleasing, perfectionism, negative self-talk and understanding self

• Grief and loss - unexpected life changes, loss of loved one, loss of relationshipBurnout - caregiver fatigue, lack of career fulfillment, overwhelm from work

• LGBTQ2S+ affirming support - identity navigation, coming out, navigating relationships, finding community and belonging

• Cultural identity - navigating cultural expectations and experiences, immigration and acculturation

• Mild to moderate trauma - emotional wounds and pain carried from the past (Please note: complex or acute trauma may be referred to a senior clinician)

Unsure about whether student counselling could be a good fit for you?

Please don’t hesitate to reach out. We can’t wait to help you find the right counsellor for what you are navigating.

 

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Our Approach: Experiential, Relational, and Whole-Person​

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Heartwood is known for experiential counselling, a value that extends to our student counselors as well. Our interns are trained in approaches that go beyond surface level-coping or simply being “self aware” to help you create lasting change. Our student counsellors are trained in and aligned with:Somatic awareness - noticing how the body holds stress, emotion and lifeAttachment-informed practice - understanding how our early relationships can shape our current relational patterns and experiencesTrauma-sensitive approaches - pacing sessions carefully to prioritize safety and not leave wounds openPerson-centred, non-judgmental care - meeting you where you are, without an agenda. You are the expert in your life afterall!All ranges of human experience and emotion are welcome in session, whether that be tears, frustration and laughter. Our priority is the therapeutic relationship - research shows that it is one of the most important parts of sustained, meaningful change.

 

Online Counselling Across BC

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Not Victoria based? That’s okay! Sessions with student intern counsellors are offered virtually, as well as in person in Victoria. Heartwood’s affordable therapy is accessible across BC, whether based in Vancouver, Kelowna, Prince George, Nanaimo or in a small town with limited counselling options.Heartwood’s online counselling is offered through a secure, PIPEDA-compliant, video platform. Sessions are personal, relational and warm, and many clients find that online sessions provide a sense of comfort and privacy.

 

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Fees

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Student intern counsellors offer sessions at a significantly reduced rate compared to our senior clinicians. Fees will be discussed during your initial consultation and are arranged with accessibility in mind. A sliding scale is available between $30 and $80 per clinical hour. Money should never be the reason to not receive therapy, please reach out regardless of your financial circumstances. 

 

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How to Get Started

 

Getting started with student counselling at Heartwood is simple:

1. Book a free 20-minute consultation — This is a no-pressure conversation to see if Heartwood is a good fit for you.

2. Get matched with a student counsellor — We'll connect you with a student intern whose training and availability suit your needs. If no one in our practice is right for you, we can help you find someone who is.

3. Begin your sessions — Most clients meet weekly or bi-weekly, in-person in Victoria or online across BC.

Book a Free Consultation

 

Are You a Counselling Student Looking for a Practicum Placement?

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We love training the next generation of thoughtful, skilled therapists. Heartwood offers a supportive, clinically rich practicum environment with close supervision from experienced clinicians trained in AEDP, IFS, EMDR, somatic therapy, and more. If you're a graduate student in counselling or psychotherapy looking for a practicum home, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply for a Student Placement

 

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Located in the Heart of Victoria, BC

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Our in-person sessions take place at our welcoming office in downtown Victoria: Yarrow Building, #201–645 Fort St, Victoria, BC, V8W 1Z9

Centrally located and accessible by transit, our space is designed to feel calm, grounded, and safe. We gratefully live and practice on the territory of the Lək̓ʷəŋən-speaking peoples and the W̱SÁNEĆ peoples.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Student Counselling in Victoria, BC

 

Is student intern counselling as effective as seeing a registered therapist?

Research shows that therapeutic outcomes are much more related to the quality of the therapeutic relationship as opposed to the years a counsellor has been in practice. Student intern counsellors offer enthusiasm, current training and close supervision that make them a great option for those seeking counselling. For more complex trauma, personality disorders and accurate mental health crises, a more senior clinician may be recommended. We will help you find the right fit during your free consultation.

 

What is the difference between a student intern counsellor and a registered therapist?

Registered therapists (RCC or CCC) have completed a masters level education and supervised hours and are registered with a professional body. Student interns are still completing their practicum hours and are closely supervised in both their schooling and practicum sites. At Heartwood, our student interns are supervised and supported by our senior registered therapists, so your care is always backed by a team of clinicians.

 

How much does student counselling cost in Victoria, BC?

Heartwood’s student interns offer counselling at a reduced rate compared to senior clinicians. Sliding scale fees are also available for those experiencing financial hardship, so that cost will not be a barrier to receiving mental health support. For more information please visit our fees page or reach out to us directly.

 

Can I do student counselling online if I live outside Victoria?

Yes, student intern counsellors offer in person and virtual counseling through secure, video platforms to anyone living in British Columbia. So no matter where in BC you are, Heartwood’s services are available for you.

 

What therapeutic approaches do student counsellors at Heartwood use?

Student interns are trained in relational, experiential and somatic approaches that are aligned with Heartwood Counselling's identity. Specific training may vary according to intern and may include person-centred therapy, attachment- based approaches, somatic awareness and foundational trauma-informed practice. Intern sessions are supervised by clinicians trained in AEDP, IFS, EMDR and somatic therapies.

 

How long does student counselling take? How many sessions will I need?

The amount of sessions you may need varies based on what you are working through. Many clients find 6-10 sessions is enough to provide the change they need, others may prefer ongoing support over many months. You and your counsellor will work together to provide pacing that meets your needs and doesn’t leave open wounds. There is no set number of sessions required.

 

Is student counselling confidential?

Yes. Like all professional counselling, student counselling sessions at Heartwood are held in strict confidence to protect you. The only exception to this, as with all regulated counselling in BC, is if there is a risk of harm to yourself or others. In that case, clinicians have a duty to act to help keep you safe. Please note, due to student interns receiving clinical supervision, session content is discussed with the supervisor as part of this training. This will include as few identifying details as possible and is in place to help provide you the highest quality of care.

 

Do I need a referral from my doctor to access student counselling?

No referral is needed. Free, 20 minute consultations can be booked with us directly through our website or by calling our office to help decide whether student counselling or another practitioner at Heartwood is the right fit for you.

 

What if I start with a student counsellor and need more specialized support?

Continuity of care is very serious to us. If your needs evolve and it turns out a higher level of clinical specialization is needed, we will support you through the transition to one of our senior clinicians. You will never be left without care and a path forward.

 

Is student counselling covered by extended health benefits?

Coverage depends on your specific benefits plan. Many extended health plans in BC cover counselling provided by Registered Clinical Counsellors (RCC) and Canadian Clinical Counsellors (CCC). Student interns do not yet have access to independent registration, which means their services are not directly covered by extended coverage. We recommend checking with your provider. Some clients may choose to use benefit coverage with a senior clinician and see a student counsellor for maintenance sessions as a means of being cost effective. We are more than happy to talk through what these options may look like with you.

 

Can I see a student counsellor if I am also a student myself?

Absolutely. Student counselling is open to all adults (18+) and many post-secondary students may benefit from navigating the stress, pressure and decision making often associated with university and other significant life transitions. Student counselling may also be more accessible to university students who do not have benefits coverage to access counselling services. That being said, you also do not have to be a student to access counselling from one of our student interns.

 

How do I know if I need counselling or just need to talk to a friend?

This is a question many people navigate, and there’s no single right answer. Seeking counselling may be helpful when there seems to be the same patterns showing up, when daily functioning feels affected, you feel stuck or overwhelmed. Sometimes, you may simply want a skilled, non-judgemental space to process what is going on either in your life or in your own head. A good conversation with a friend is incredibly valuable, but sometimes the deep listening, professional insight and safety of a boundaried relationship makes a trained therapist the right choice.

 

What is the difference between counselling and psychotherapy?

In BC, the terms counselling and psychotherapy tend to be used interchangeably. Counselling refers to the processing of specific concerns and development of coping strategies whereas psychotherapy refers to a more long term approach to explore psychological patterns. As mental health care goes from being governed to becoming a regulated body in the next year through the incoming College of Health and Care professionals of BC, Registered Clinical Counsellors (RCC) may find themselves with a new name. What is called a Registered Clinical Counsellor in BC is referred to as a Registered Psychotherapist in Ontario. While good and necessary changes are being made to help better protect clients and the profession of counselling as a whole, there may be some changes in name in the next year. At Heartwood, regardless of the name we provide both counselling and psychotherapy from Registered Clinical Counsellors or supervised Student interns, meeting you where you are and being mindful to only go as deep as is safe and beneficial for you.