How we offer affordable counselling for anxiety in Vancouver and across BC
An article by Liz Vossen
Marcus's anxiety lives in both his mind and body with unpredictable intensity. Some days it's a low hum of worry and restlessness beneath his skin, nagging thoughts about work mixed with a subtle static that keeps him distracted but functional. Other days, racing catastrophic thoughts arrive alongside a vice grip around his ribcage, squeezing until each breath feels shallow and insufficient. His stomach churns before social gatherings while his mind loops through everything that could go wrong. His muscles remain perpetually coiled, his nervous system humming with frantic energy while his body feels utterly depleted. This relentless experience has infiltrated everything: his sleep, his capacity to be present with friends, his ability to simply exist without constant alarm signals. After months of hoping these sensations would dissipate on their own, Marcus is finally acknowledging he needs support.
Anxiety can show up in many ways and is one of the most common concerns people bring to therapy. For some, it feels like constant worry or racing thoughts that do not seem to stop while for others it is a physical sense of restlessness, tension, or panic that makes everyday activities more challenging. Anxiety can affect daily life, relationships, and work, which is why we focus on providing affordable counselling for anxiety as accessible as possible to people in Vancouver and across BC.
Sliding scale rates for anxiety counselling
We offer sliding scale fees based on an individual’s resources so that the cost of therapy matches a client’s financial situation instead of being fixed at one rate, that is often out of reach. Most sessions fall between 70 and 110 dollars, which allows us to make care more affordable for people at different income levels and for those who are not covered by insurance. This model helps clients continue therapy for as long as they need it, rather than stopping early because of financial pressure or because benefits ran out, and it is one of the most effective ways we reduce barriers to support. Once the price of counselling is set with us, we do not change it.
Low cost counselling for anxiety with practicum student therapists
Many of our affordable sessions are provided by practicum student therapists who are in the final stage of their graduate training. They bring openness, curiosity, and fresh perspective to their work, while being closely supervised by our clinical director, Dr. Christopher Brown, to ensure that high professional standards are always met. This means clients receive attentive, thoughtful care at a lower cost.
Evidence-based approaches for treating anxiety
Anxiety responds well to structured and evidence-based methods that give clients practical tools to manage difficult thoughts and feelings. Our therapists integrate approaches such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and mindfulness practices into their sessions. These models not only reduce symptoms but also help clients understand the patterns that maintain anxiety, and they are always adapted to each person’s unique situation and goals.
Both in person and online counselling options
We know that access is about more than price, which is why clients can choose how they attend sessions. Some prefer to meet at our Kitsilano office, while others connect from home through secure online therapy anywhere in British Columbia. We also provide counselling during the day and evenings as well as weekdays and weekends. Offering these options makes it easier for people to fit counselling into their lives, and it ensures that location or scheduling challenges do not get in the way of getting support.
Building long-term skills
Therapy for anxiety that our counsellors offer is designed to provide lasting strategies that extend beyond the sessions themselves. Clients learn to recognize the cycles that drive their anxiety, practice techniques that calm the body and mind, and build resources they can return to in everyday situations. By combining affordability, accessibility, and effective clinical tools, we make it possible for more people to address anxiety in a way that is sustainable and meaningful for the long term.
Six months ago, Marcus thought his body and mind were betraying him. Now, through online therapy sessions from his living room, he understands his symptoms were his nervous system responding to chronic stress. When the familiar tightness begins constricting his chest and worried thoughts start spiraling, he uses his grounding techniques: feet pressed firmly into the floor, naming five things he can see, lengthening each exhale. Some days his anxiety is just background static: manageable worry he can acknowledge and move through. Other days, the vice grip and racing thoughts still appear with old intensity, but now they loosen within minutes instead of hours. The evening appointments meant no work sacrifices, and the affordable rate allowed him to commit long enough to witness genuine transformation. Marcus still experiences anxiety, it's woven into his physiology, but it no longer dictates his choices or diminishes his capacity to show up for his life.
About the author: Liz Vossen, M.Sc.
Liz Vossen has supported many clients who have come to therapy due to anxiety. Through her therapeutic training and commitment to accessible care, she helps clients understand the patterns driving their anxiety and develop lasting tools to manage it. Whether your anxiety shows up as constant worry, physical tension, panic attacks, or all of the above, she uses evidence-based approaches like CBT and mindfulness to help you build strategies that actually work in real life. Her approach is practical, non-judgmental, and designed to give you concrete skills you can use long after therapy ends. If anxiety has been running your life and you're ready to take back control, she's here to support that journey without the financial stress that keeps too many people from seeking help.
Affordable counselling for anxiety at the Vancouver Therapy Collective is part of our larger mission to reduce barriers and create access to mental health care. By offering a supportive environment, flexible pricing, and practical therapeutic tools, we help clients address anxiety in a way that is sustainable and effective.
If you’re looking for affordable anxiety counselling in Vancouver and BC, we encourage you to reach out.
