First thing to know is that in most cases we at Sunrise Out East Counselling can “direct bill” to pay the service fee for your mental health counselling appointment. That means no “out of pocket” payments, collecting receipts or chasing paper. 

As far as we know in 2025, of the main insurance carriers in Canada, it is only the Sun Life insurance carrier that is still asking policy holders to pay upfront and then seek a reimbursement. 

If your  health insurance is with Sun Life, you pay at the time of your counselling session. Then we will issue an official paid-in-full receipt the same day. You then upload this receipt to your insurance provider’s app or online portal, and they reimburse you directly.

If you have health insurance through  two insurance plans (e.g. your insurance plan and your spouse or family member’s insurance plan), then you can submit any remaining percentage not covered by direct bill to the second plan for reimbursement. 

You may have insurance coverage through:

• Your employer

• A spouse’s or family member’s employer

• Your university or college

• A private plan you purchased yourself

Here are six key questions to confirm your coverage:

1. Do I have coverage for counselling with a Clinical Social Worker / Social Worker / Clinical Therapist / Counsellor?

2. How much coverage do I have per year? (What is my yearly maximum?)

3. What percentage of my fees will be reimbursed (e.g., 80% or 100%)?

4. Which app or website do I use to submit receipts?

5. How long does reimbursement usually take?

6. If I have more than one insurance plan, which is my first payer and how do I coordinate claims?

I am a Registered Clinical Social Worker with the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers (NSCSW).

Depending on the insurer, my services may appear under:

• Clinical Social Worker

• Social Worker

• Clinical Therapist

• Counsellor

⚠️ Please note: I am not a Psychologist or Psychiatrist.

Insurance companies often use slightly different wording. To ensure your sessions are covered, ask your provider about all four terms: Clinical Social Worker, Social Worker, Clinical Therapist, and Counsellor.

Designing a treatment plan to fit your budget:

To design our work for success, and for me to provide you with mental health counselling that is based in ethical care, it is likely going to be important for us both to understand your goals, within the context of your budget and timelines.

Example # 1: If your annual budget is $500.00 of insurance coverage per year, and you are not planning to add to that amount by self funding your mental health counselling, after your annual insurance covered is spent, then our approach would likely need to be more contained, and focused on stabilizing the current concern or upset, as well as focused on the development and practice of coping skills.

Example # 2: If your annual budget is more like $1,000.00+ per year, we may have time to situate your current issues in your larger life story, to consider your past, including where you’ve arrived from, what you’ve been through, learn about the key people and characters in your life, ask the, “what does it all mean?”, and “where am I going?” sorts of questions, develop and practice coping skills, do deep dives into feelings as well as thoughtful introspections about why, “you are the way you are”, and make plans for how you want to get from here, to where you want to go in the future, with your mental health, wellness, and life goals.

A flower needs time to open:

In general, it is good to keep in mind that counseling is a process, an unfolding of a flower. Often, flowers open when they are ready, one pedal at a time. If we try to force or pry the pedals open, the flower may be displeased. Therefore, if money pressures are bearing down on you, it is practical and ethical for us to clarify your goals at the outset by asking: With consideration of your budget, do you want to open a small “flower” or a big “flower” etc.?

Whatever situation, we can discuss what is realistically achievable in order to create a treatment plan that respects your budget.

Good news students!

If you have stayed “opt’ed in” to the health insurance through your student plan, then your sessions with Sunrise Out East Counselling are 100 % covered by direct bill. * 

* Specifically, Dalhousie University, Saint Mary’s University, Mount Saint Vincent University, NSCAD, NSCC and others offer 100% coverage, up to $1000.00.

With near 100% accuracy, this means there will be no “out of pocket” expense for you and no “pay and wait for reimbursement” either. the service fee is direct bill. Easy. No paper chase. 

Students are encouraged to check the details of their coverage, or ask us to help you confirm the coverage. 

It is true that you can go to the student counselling centres, but due to high demand they may only be able to meet with you once a month etc.

So,  you could add in some appts. with Sunrise Out East Counselling to help you  get through the semester. 

You paid for your student insurance plan. It is right there on your tuition bill. And the benefits are “use it or lose it” (they expire at tend end of the school year). So if you need support, you might as well use the benefits.

Another thought: you may still be under your parents) insurance plan, so that could be an option for coverage as well. so, ask your parents!

Special note:

Counsellor Mackenzie here at Sunrise OutEast Counselling just spent from 2020 to 2025 back in university at Saint Mary’s University to keep things fresh and current, and learn all she could to collaborate with you. Graduated in 2025 with an Honours in Psychology. 

So rest assured, when it comes to being in university or college,  Mackenzie “gets it”.

So, really, we’re looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the experience, and collaborating with you to cope with the journey and get to the “finish line” of your semester. 

We recognize that the Sun Rise Out East Counselling Service is a boutique service, for those of you who can afford it, and who would like to invest in yourselves, your mental health, your wellness, your goals, and your futures.

In other contexts, we continue to support people who do not have sufficient funds to pay for mental health counselling.

Thank you for valuing the work we do with you, and  the work we do on your behalf in between sessions.

Thank you also for valuing our time, energy, dedication, work experience, education, professional development, and the many operational costs of offering a counselling service.

Thank you for your support through your choice to work with a local registered mental health counsellor in Nova Scotia. Much appreciated!