Low Cost and Sliding Scale Counselling

Affordable & Sliding Scale Counselling

Accessible Mental Health Support Matters

At Mountainside Wellness, we believe that mental health care should never be reserved only for people with extended health benefits, high incomes, or financial privilege. Everyone deserves access to compassionate, affirming, and high-quality counselling support, regardless of their financial situation.

We recognize that many people within Indigenous, BIPOC, 2SLGBTQIA+, disabled, and neurodiverse communities face systemic barriers when trying to access mental health services. These barriers can include discrimination, underemployment, lack of insurance coverage, long public waitlists, inaccessible systems, and the ongoing impacts of colonialism, stigma, and marginalization.

For many people, counselling is not inaccessible because they do not want support. It is inaccessible because the system was not built with them in mind.

At Mountainside Wellness, we are committed to helping change that.

Our Commitment to Community Accessibility

We offer a limited number of low-cost and sliding scale counselling spaces to help make therapy more accessible for individuals who may not otherwise be able to afford private mental health care.

Our approach is rooted in dignity, compassion, and community care. We understand that financial circumstances are complex, and we strive to create a welcoming process that is free from shame or judgment.

Sliding scale spots may be available for:

  • Individuals without extended health coverage

  • Students and youth

  • Disabled community members

  • Neurodivergent individuals

  • Members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community

  • Indigenous clients

  • BIPOC clients

  • Individuals experiencing financial hardship or unstable employment

Neurodiversity-Affirming & Identity-Affirming Care

Mountainside Wellness was built on the belief that people should not have to mask, shrink themselves, or defend their identities in therapy.

Our practice is proudly neurodiversity-affirming, queer-affirming, disability-informed, trauma-informed, and grounded in respect for lived experience. We understand that many clients have had harmful experiences within healthcare, education, employment, family systems, or traditional counselling environments.

We work to create spaces where clients can show up authentically and receive support that honours who they are.

A Community-Centred Approach

We believe accessible mental health support strengthens entire communities. When people have access to counselling, advocacy, coping tools, and compassionate connection, communities become healthier, safer, and more resilient.

Providing low-cost and sliding scale services is one small part of our broader commitment to equity, inclusion, accessibility, and social justice.

Requesting Sliding Scale Counselling

Sliding scale availability is limited and based on counsellor availability and current capacity. If you are interested in low-cost counselling services, we encourage you to contact our team to discuss current options.

We are committed to approaching these conversations with kindness, respect, and confidentiality.

You deserve support.

Contact Us

Low-cost and sliding scale counselling provides more financially accessible mental health support for individuals who may not have extended health benefits, insurance coverage, or the financial ability to access standard private counselling rates. Sliding scale services offer reduced counselling fees based on an individual’s financial situation, circumstances, or support needs.

Mountainside Wellness believes that access to mental health care should not be limited only to those who can afford traditional private practice rates. Many individuals face significant barriers when trying to access support, particularly within Indigenous, BIPOC, 2SLGBTQIA+, disabled, neurodivergent, student, and underserved communities. Our goal is to help create more accessible pathways to counselling whenever possible.

Sliding scale counselling may be available for uninsured individuals, students, low-income individuals, disabled individuals, neurodivergent individuals, and members of marginalized or underserved communities who may otherwise experience financial barriers to accessing counselling services.

Every individual’s situation is different, and eligibility for reduced-cost services may depend on counsellor availability, financial circumstances, service demand, and current program capacity. Mountainside Wellness encourages individuals who are experiencing financial barriers to reach out and discuss available options, as we recognize that mental health support is an important part of overall wellbeing and community care.

Depending on counsellor availability and service capacity, reduced-cost options may be available for individual counselling, ADHD and neurodiversity counselling, queer-affirming counselling, trauma-informed counselling, executive counselling, and other mental health support services offered through Mountainside Wellness.

Services are designed to remain supportive, inclusive, and individualized regardless of fee structure. Individuals accessing sliding scale services still receive compassionate and professional care that focuses on emotional wellbeing, self-understanding, coping strategies, relationship support, mental health goals, and creating healthier and more sustainable approaches to daily life.

Yes. Low-cost and sliding scale counselling services are available virtually online for clients across British Columbia, Canada, and internationally in English depending on the service being requested and counsellor availability.

Online counselling can help reduce additional barriers related to transportation, mobility, childcare, work schedules, geographic location, anxiety, or sensory sensitivities. Many individuals find virtual counselling more flexible and accessible while still allowing meaningful therapeutic support and emotional connection to occur within the counselling process.

Absolutely. Mountainside Wellness is committed to providing queer-affirming, disability-affirming, trauma-informed, and neurodivergent-affirming counselling services that recognize and respect the lived experiences of 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, disabled individuals, and neurodivergent clients.

We understand that many individuals within marginalized communities have experienced stigma, healthcare barriers, discrimination, masking pressure, invalidation, or difficulty accessing supportive mental health care. Our approach focuses on creating respectful, emotionally safe, and collaborative therapeutic environments where clients can feel supported, understood, and empowered without fear of judgment or pathologizing identity and difference.

Individuals interested in low-cost or sliding scale counselling are encouraged to contact Mountainside Wellness directly to discuss their needs, financial circumstances, and current service availability. Requests are approached with compassion, respect, and understanding.

We recognize that reaching out for support can already feel vulnerable, especially when financial concerns are involved. Our goal is to create a supportive and non-judgmental process where individuals can explore available options and determine what services may best fit their needs, goals, and current circumstances.

Mountainside Wellness believes that mental health support should be more accessible, inclusive, and community-focused. Many people are forced to choose between paying for counselling and meeting other basic life needs, particularly when they do not have access to extended health benefits or workplace coverage.

Our commitment to low-cost and sliding scale counselling is rooted in the belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to access compassionate and affirming mental health support regardless of financial status, identity, disability, or life circumstances. We are committed to reducing barriers wherever possible and helping individuals access meaningful support and connection within their healing journey.