Cancellation & Payment Policy
Last updated: October 26, 2026
Blue Ocean Counselling is committed to providing a professional, respectful, and accessible counselling experience. This policy outlines session fees, payment arrangements, cancellations, missed appointments, and other practical considerations.
Clear expectations help protect the time we set aside for counselling while allowing for flexibility when unexpected circumstances arise.
Free Introductory Consultation
A complimentary 20-minute introductory consultation is available to prospective clients.
This conversation provides an opportunity to briefly discuss your reasons for seeking counselling, ask questions about my approach, and consider whether working together feels like a good fit.
The consultation is not a counselling session, and you are not expected to share your full personal history or disclose sensitive details.
There is no obligation to begin counselling afterward.
Counselling Fees
Individual online counselling sessions are $120 CAD for 60 minutes.
A limited number of reduced-fee appointments may be available for individuals experiencing financial constraints. Any adjusted fee will be discussed and agreed upon before beginning counselling.
Fees will be clearly communicated before services are provided.
Payment Arrangements
Payment is due on the day of your appointment unless another arrangement has been agreed upon in advance.
Accepted payment methods and instructions will be confirmed before your first counselling session.
If you have questions or concerns about payment arrangements, please raise them before your appointment so that we can discuss the available options.
Insurance and Reimbursement
Some extended health insurance plans may reimburse counselling services provided by a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor (RTC).
Coverage varies between insurers and individual plans. Please confirm your eligibility directly with your insurance provider before beginning counselling if reimbursement is important to you.
Receipts will be provided for completed, paid counselling sessions and will accurately identify the services provided, my professional designation, and the amount paid.
Cancellation and missed-appointment fees will be identified separately from completed counselling services and should not be assumed to qualify for insurance reimbursement.
Cancelling or Rescheduling an Appointment
Please provide at least 24 hours' notice if you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment.
Appointments cancelled or rescheduled with at least 24 hours' notice will not incur a cancellation fee.
Please communicate cancellations through the contact method agreed upon when scheduling your appointments. Notice is considered received when your message arrives through that method.
Providing advance notice allows appointment times to be made available to others seeking counselling.
Late Cancellations
Appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours' notice will normally incur a cancellation fee equal to the agreed session fee.
For a standard 60-minute appointment, this is $120 CAD, unless a reduced fee or another arrangement has been agreed upon.
I recognize that unexpected circumstances can make advance notice impossible. Exceptions may be considered for sudden illness, emergencies, and other exceptional circumstances.
My intention is to maintain a fair and sustainable scheduling practice while recognizing the realities of people's lives.
Missed Appointments
If you do not attend a scheduled appointment and have not provided notice, the appointment will be considered missed.
Missed appointments will normally be charged at the full agreed session fee.
If missed appointments occur repeatedly, we can discuss whether changes to scheduling, session frequency, or other arrangements might better support your participation in counselling.
Late Arrivals
If you expect to be late, please contact me as soon as possible.
When feasible, we can proceed with the remaining appointment time. Sessions will normally end at their originally scheduled time, and the agreed session fee will apply.
If you are more than 15 minutes late without contacting me, the appointment may be treated as a missed session.
If I am responsible for a delayed start, you will not be charged for counselling time that I am unable to provide.
Emergencies, Illness, and Exceptional Circumstances
Life is not always predictable. Sudden illness, family emergencies, unexpected responsibilities, and difficulties associated with ongoing health conditions can interfere with scheduled appointments.
If something unexpected prevents you from attending, please contact me as soon as reasonably possible.
Late-cancellation or missed-appointment fees may be reduced or waived depending on the circumstances.
These situations will be considered individually, with attention to fairness, compassion, and the practical realities of your situation.
You will not be required to disclose sensitive medical details through the website contact form when requesting consideration of an exception.
If I Am Late or Need to Cancel
I make every reasonable effort to begin appointments on time and honour our scheduled sessions.
If I am unexpectedly delayed, I will contact you as soon as possible. Depending on the circumstances, we may extend the session where feasible, adjust the fee, or reschedule.
If I need to cancel an appointment, I will provide as much advance notice as reasonably possible.
You will not be charged for an appointment that I cancel.
Any advance payment for that appointment will be refunded or credited toward a rescheduled session, according to your preference.
Technology Problems During Online Sessions
Online counselling depends on a reasonably private setting, appropriate technology, and a reliable internet connection.
If a technical problem interrupts a session, we can attempt to reconnect or use another previously agreed-upon communication method, where appropriate.
If a significant technical problem prevents a session from taking place or being completed, we will discuss a fair resolution. Depending on the circumstances, this may include rescheduling, a partial fee adjustment, or a refund.
Clients are encouraged to choose a private, comfortable location and check their internet connection and equipment before appointments.
Refunds and Credits
Fees for completed counselling sessions are generally non-refundable, subject to applicable legal requirements.
If you have paid in advance and cancel with at least 24 hours' notice, you may request a refund or have the payment applied to a future appointment.
Refunds or credits will also be provided or considered when:
a payment has been made in error
an appointment is cancelled by the counsellor
significant technical difficulties prevent a session from proceeding
exceptional circumstances warrant an adjustment
Any refund or credit arrangement will be communicated clearly.
Financial Concerns and Accessibility
If financial circumstances begin affecting your ability to continue counselling, you are welcome to discuss this with me.
Depending on availability and your circumstances, we may explore reduced-fee appointments, changes to session frequency, a temporary pause, or other appropriate resources.
I also recognize that chronic illness, disability, caregiving responsibilities, and other life circumstances may affect a person's ability to maintain a consistent appointment schedule.
Where possible, I aim to approach these situations collaboratively, balancing flexibility with the practical requirements of maintaining a professional counselling practice.
Changes to This Policy
This policy may be updated as Blue Ocean Counselling develops or as fees, services, or administrative arrangements change.
The current version will be available on this website.
Existing clients will receive reasonable advance notice of significant changes affecting their counselling arrangements. Changes to agreed fees or cancellation terms will be discussed before taking effect.
Questions or Concerns
If you have questions about fees, scheduling, cancellations, payment arrangements, or any aspect of this policy, please feel welcome to reach out.
Clear communication is an important part of establishing a respectful and collaborative counselling relationship.
Contact Blue Ocean Counselling
David W. Rainoshek, RTC
Blue Ocean Counselling
Individual Online Counselling — British Columbia, Canada