Serving Metro Vancouver
Indigenous Counselling for Metro Vancouver
Ch’íyáqtel Wellness doesn’t have an office in Metro Vancouver — our centre is in Chilliwack, on Stó:lō territory, about an hour and a half down the highway. What we do have is counsellors who see people across Metro Vancouver by video or phone, on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. Many of the urban Indigenous people we work with here come from Nations across BC and beyond, spread across a metro area that makes any single office hard to reach for most people in it — virtual care meets you where the commute can’t. Our counsellors are FNHA-registered and bill FNHA directly, so we’ll help you check your eligibility before you book anything.
How we work in Metro Vancouver
We don’t have an office in Metro Vancouver. Our centre is at 46770 Bailey Rd in Chilliwack, and counsellors see people across Metro Vancouver by video or phone. It’s the same session, wherever you are.
Book a virtual sessionWhose territory this is
Nations & territory
- Musqueam (xʷməθkʷəy̓əm) — whose unceded territory Vancouver sits on
- Squamish (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw) — whose unceded territory extends across Metro Vancouver
- Tsleil-Waututh (səlilwətaɬ) — whose unceded territory includes the Burrard Inlet
Who it’s for
Who we see here
- First Nations people across Metro Vancouver
- Urban Indigenous community members
- On or off reserve
- Anyone who wants a video or phone option
If you need help right now
Support in this region
Vancouver Coastal Regional Distress Line
24/7 crisis intervention support for Metro Vancouver, run by Crisis Centre BC. Call 604-872-3311, or toll-free 1-866-661-3311.
KUU-US Crisis Line
A First Nations and Aboriginal crisis line for all of BC, staffed by Indigenous crisis responders, 24 hours a day. Call 1-800-588-8717.
Hope for Wellness Helpline
National, 24/7 phone and online chat support for Indigenous people across Canada, in English and French. Call 1-855-242-3310, or chat at hopeforwellness.ca.
9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline
Canada-wide crisis support by phone or text, 24/7. Dial or text 988.
Getting care from here
How we reach you
We don’t have a location in Metro Vancouver, and a drive to Chilliwack — close to two hours each way, depending on traffic — isn’t a realistic ask for most people here. Every session with a Metro Vancouver client happens by video or phone, with the same FNHA-registered counsellors and the same care as an in-person appointment. If an in-person session ever matters more than the distance, Bailey Rd is still open to you.
What this is
Counselling for people in Metro Vancouver from counsellors based out of Chilliwack, on Stó:lō territory — we’re honest that we’re not down the street. Metro Vancouver is home to one of the largest urban Indigenous populations in the country, drawn from Nations across BC and beyond, and spread across a region where a single physical office was never going to reach most of it. Video and phone sessions are how we actually meet that: no commute, no waiting room, the same FNHA-registered counsellor either way.
Our approach
We practise Two-Eyed Seeing — traditional Indigenous knowledge held alongside modern clinical care, neither one asked to make room for the other. Meeting by video or phone doesn’t change that; it’s the same counsellors and the same approach you’d get sitting across from someone in person.
What it costs
Our counsellors are FNHA-registered, and we bill FNHA directly — eligible members pay nothing out of pocket, and there’s no claim to file afterwards. If you’re covered by NIHB instead, or you’re not sure what you’re covered by, ask us and we’ll check with you.
Getting started
Send us a message or call. Tell us you’re in Metro Vancouver, and we’ll help you check your eligibility, match you with a counsellor, and book your first video or phone session.
What you can book
Counselling available in Metro Vancouver
- Indigenous counsellingCulturally safe care, by video or phone.
- FNHA & NIHB counsellingRegistered providers who bill FNHA directly.
- Trauma & intergenerational traumaTrauma-informed, at your pace.
- Addictions counsellingSubstance use support without judgement.
- Youth & family counsellingFor young people and whole families.
Common questions
Questions about this region
Do you have an office in Vancouver, Burnaby, or anywhere else in Metro Vancouver?
No. Our centre is at 46770 Bailey Rd in Chilliwack, on Stó:lō territory. Everyone we see in Metro Vancouver meets with a counsellor by video or phone — it’s the identical session to an in-person one, just without the drive.
Is counselling covered by FNHA if I live in Metro Vancouver?
For eligible First Nations members in BC, FNHA’s mental-health benefit may cover counselling sessions regardless of where in Metro Vancouver you live. Our counsellors are FNHA-registered and bill FNHA directly. We’ll help you check your eligibility before your first session.
Whose territory is Metro Vancouver?
Metro Vancouver sits on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. We’re guests here, working from our own home territory in Chilliwack.
What if I need help right now?
If you’re in crisis, the Vancouver Coastal Regional Distress Line (604-872-3311, or toll-free 1-866-661-3311) is available 24/7 across Metro Vancouver. The KUU-US Crisis Line (1-800-588-8717) and the Hope for Wellness Helpline (1-855-242-3310) are Indigenous-specific and available BC-wide and nationally. You can also dial or text 988 anywhere in Canada.
CONTACT & INQUIRIES
Let's Build the Future of Health
Connect with our experts for a free consultation and tailored solutions.
Call us at +1 604-983-4974 or fill out the form, and a representative will reach out.