How to Access CVAP Counselling: Finding CVAP-Approved Counsellors in Your Area

Experiencing a violent crime can affect every part of your life. The trauma doesn't end when the crime does. Your mental health needs matter, and you deserve support in your healing journey.

The Crime Victim Assistance Program in British Columbia exists to help people like you access the counselling you need. If you've been hurt by a crime, you're not alone in this. Support is available, and finding a CVAP-approved counsellor doesn't have to feel overwhelming.

Understanding CVAP Counselling

The Crime Victim Assistance Program provides financial assistance to help victims, immediate family members, and witnesses cope with the effects of violent crime. This provincial program removes financial barriers so you can access professional counselling without added stress.

CVAP recognizes that trauma impacts everyone differently. You might have been directly hurt by a crime. Maybe you're a family member of someone who was injured or killed. Or perhaps you witnessed something that's stayed with you. All of these experiences matter, and all may qualify for support.

The program covers various types of violent crimes. These include assault, sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse, robbery, and other offences that cause physical or psychological harm. You don't need to wait for charges to be laid or for someone to be convicted before applying for benefits.

Who Qualifies for CVAP Counselling

You may be eligible for CVAP counselling if you meet certain criteria. First, the crime must have occurred in British Columbia after July 1, 1972. You don't need to be a BC resident, but the incident needs to have happened within the province.

Victims of crime can receive up to 48 hours of individual counselling. This includes anyone who was physically or psychologically injured as a result of a violent crime.

Immediate family members of victims may qualify for up to 24 hours of counselling. This category includes spouses, children, parents, siblings, and other close relatives of someone who was injured or killed.

Witnesses who are known to the victim and experienced psychological harm may be approved for up to 18 hours of counselling.

Recent changes to the program have expanded support. If the crime occurred on or after January 1, 2024, you have two years from the date of the crime to submit your application. For crimes before that date, the application deadline is one year from the incident.

Important exceptions exist for certain situations. Victims of sexual assault face no time limit for applying. If you were under 19 when sexual misconduct occurred, you can apply at any time. 

CVAP may also grant extensions if you couldn't reasonably have completed an application within the standard timeframe.

What Makes CVAP-Approved Counsellors Qualified

Not all counsellors in BC can provide CVAP services. The program maintains specific standards to ensure you receive quality care from trained professionals.

CVAP-approved counsellors must meet rigorous qualification requirements. They need to hold appropriate credentials from recognized professional bodies. Most commonly, these include registration with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors, the College of Psychologists of British Columbia, or registration as a social worker.

Educational requirements are substantial. Counsellors must have completed at a minimum a relevant graduate degree from an accredited college or university. Many hold master's degrees in counselling psychology, social work, or related fields.

Supervised clinical experience matters too. The program requires counsellors to demonstrate significant hands-on experience working with clients under professional supervision. This ensures they're prepared to handle the complexities of trauma recovery.

CVAP counsellors must also maintain professional liability insurance and good standing with their regulatory bodies. They're required to follow specific reporting procedures and treatment guidelines established by the program.

When you work with a CVAP-approved counsellor, you're working with someone who understands trauma. These professionals have training in evidence-based approaches for treating the psychological effects of crime. They know how to create a safe environment for your healing process.

The CVAP Application Process

Applying for CVAP might feel daunting, but breaking it into steps makes it manageable. You have options for how to complete your application, and support is available if you need help.

Application forms are available on the BC government website. You can download and print the form, or complete it electronically. Physical copies are also available from CVAP directly or from local victim service programs.

The application asks for details about the crime, including when and where it happened. You'll describe any injuries you sustained, both physical and psychological. The form also asks about your contact information and whether you've filed a police report.

You don't need a police report to apply. While having a police file number can help, it's not required. If you haven't reported to the police, you can indicate who you did tell about the crime.

Supporting documentation can strengthen your application. This might include medical records, counselling notes, or letters from healthcare providers. But don't let a lack of documentation stop you from applying. CVAP understands that not everyone has extensive paperwork.

You can submit your completed application in several ways. Email it to cvap@gov.bc.ca, fax it to 604-660-3880, or mail it to:

Crime Victim Assistance Program

PO Box 5550 Station Terminal

Vancouver, BC V6B 1H1

For immediate support, CVAP offers interim counselling benefits. Once your application is submitted and registered, you may be eligible for up to 12 counselling sessions while awaiting a decision. This means you don't have to put your healing on hold during the approval process.

Processing times vary. CVAP aims to make decisions as efficiently as possible, but complex cases may require additional information from various sources. If you have questions about your application status, you can contact CVAP at 1-866-660-3888 toll-free in BC, or 604-660-3888 from Vancouver.

What to Expect from CVAP Counselling

Understanding what happens during CVAP counselling can ease anxiety about starting this process. Your counselling journey will be tailored to your unique situation and needs.

Your first session typically involves an intake assessment. Your counsellor will ask about what brought you to therapy and what you hope to achieve. They'll discuss confidentiality, including its limits. They'll also explain how CVAP billing works and answer any questions you have.

This initial meeting helps your counsellor understand your experience and develop a treatment plan. You'll work together to identify specific symptoms or challenges you're facing as a result of the crime. These might include anxiety, depression, sleep problems, relationship difficulties, or other impacts.

Treatment approaches vary based on your needs. Many CVAP counsellors use trauma-informed modalities like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, or other evidence-based methods. Your counsellor will explain their approach and why it might help your situation.

Sessions are typically 50 to 60 minutes long. The frequency depends on what works best for you and what your counsellor recommends. Some people benefit from weekly sessions, while others prefer a different schedule.

CVAP counsellors submit regular progress reports to the program. These reports help ensure the counselling is addressing your needs and that you're making progress toward your goals. 

You'll be involved in this process, discussing your progress and any adjustments needed.

If your case involves court proceedings, CVAP recognizes the additional stress this creates. Additional counselling sessions specifically for court support may be available beyond your regular session allotment. This helps you cope with the emotional demands of legal processes.

Your counselling relationship is confidential, with specific legal exceptions. Your counsellor must disclose information if there's a risk of harm to yourself or others, if child abuse is suspected, or if records are court-ordered. Your counsellor will explain these limits clearly during your first session.

Direct Billing and Financial Considerations

Understanding how payment works with CVAP counselling removes one source of stress from the process. Most CVAP-approved counsellors offer direct billing, meaning they bill the program directly for covered sessions.

This is significant because it means you typically don't need to pay up front and wait for reimbursement. However, there's an important consideration called a co-pay.

CVAP sets specific reimbursement rates based on counsellor credentials. The rates range from $95 to $135 plus GST for most clinical counsellors, and $105 to $205 plus GST for registered psychologists. These rates reflect updates that came into effect January 1, 2024.

Many counsellors charge more than the CVAP rate for their standard sessions. When this happens, you're responsible for paying the difference between what CVAP covers and the counsellor's full fee. This difference is your co-pay.

Shoreline Counselling also offers sliding scale fees or may agree to accept only the CVAP rate with no additional cost to you. Others maintain their standard fees with a co-pay requirement. 

It's important to discuss this during your initial consultation so there are no surprises.

At Shoreline Counselling, CVAP-approved counsellors can discuss billing arrangements during your first contact. Understanding your financial responsibility upfront helps you make informed decisions about your care.

You're responsible for tracking your remaining sessions. CVAP will generally notify you and your counsellor when you're getting close to using all your approved hours, typically with about 8 sessions remaining. But it's wise to keep your own count.

If you need more sessions than initially approved, your counsellor can request an extension. CVAP will review the request based on your progress and ongoing needs. Extensions aren't guaranteed, but they're possible when there's clear clinical justification.

If CVAP benefits are unavailable to you or you've used your allotted sessions, most counsellors offer private pay options. Don't let financial concerns prevent you from asking about possibilities. Many counsellors work with clients to find solutions.

Taking the First Step

Recovery from crime-related trauma is a journey, not a destination. The path forward might feel uncertain right now. That's completely normal.

Reaching out for help takes courage. If you're reading this, you've already taken an important step by learning about your options. The next step is connecting with support that can make a real difference in your life.

You don't need to have everything figured out before contacting a counsellor. You don't need to have your CVAP application approved or even submitted. Many counsellors are happy to answer questions and help you understand the process before you commit to anything.

Shoreline Counselling welcomes your questions about CVAP counselling. You can review counsellor profiles to learn about each therapist's background and approach and their status as a CVAP Counsellor. When you're ready, reaching out to be matched with a CVAP-approved counsellor is a simple process.

Whether you contact Shoreline or another provider, that first call or email is often the hardest part. After that, you'll have someone in your corner who understands trauma and knows how to help.

You can also book an appointment directly after reviewing counsellor profiles to find someone whose approach resonates with you. Both online and in-person sessions are available, giving you flexibility to access care in the way that feels most comfortable.

Healing is possible. Professional support can help you process what happened, develop coping strategies, and move forward with your life. CVAP exists specifically to make sure financial barriers don't stand in your way.

Your experience matters. Your healing matters. Support is available, and you don't have to navigate this journey alone.