How do I decide which counsellor to see?

Review therapists' bios for experience, specialties and availability. Use the 'Match with a Counsellor' form if unsure; many counsellors offer a short free consult to check fit.

Are the sessions covered by extended benefits or health care?

Yes—many extended health plans cover Registered Clinical Counsellors (RCCs) or equivalent. Clients pay upfront and receive an official receipt for reimbursement. Check your plan for details.

What is your cancellation policy?

Clients must provide at least 48 hours' notice to cancel or reschedule without being charged. Cancellations with less than 48 hours' notice are subject to full session fee. Switching between in-person and virtual is not penalized when possible.

Rates vary by therapist and service. Typical fees range from CAD $150–$190 for a 50-minute individual session. Check the counsellor's profile for exact rates.

How many sessions does it take before I start to feel better?

It depends on the issue and goals. At the first session the counsellor will discuss recommended frequency and likely duration. Many clients notice some relief after 4–6 sessions, though individual experience varies.

Who does Open Space Counselling see?

Open Space Counselling works with individuals, couples and families across life stages, and identifies as feminist, antiracist and LGBTQ+ ally. They provide services for people experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, perinatal concerns, relationship issues, and life transitions.

Susan Wells (She/Her/Hers)

Registered Clinical Counsellor, MA, MA, RCC

Accepting New Clients

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I have a passion for hard conversations. For raw, vulnerable states of being and relating. For genuine and deep encounters that allow us to unmask and truly connect with self and other.

I believe that our bodies and our psyches retain the pain and suffering that accumulates throughout life, while also holding the power to generate healing and vitality. I work with the processing and integration of trauma, as well as the creation of purpose, joy, and connection to reaffirm aliveness. I seek to help people shed old narratives and psychological defences that often operate outside of conscious awareness, guiding them towards a more intentional and authentic way of being.

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What You Can Expect When Working With Susan

The co-creation of a safe and authentic therapeutic relationship is the most fundamental task of this work. It is within the container of this relationship that healing, insight and change are made possible. I am diligent in building trust and emotional safety, and highly skilled in attuning to my client’s emotional state and inner life.

I support my clients in accessing their emotions in an authentic and productive way. Together, we experience moving with the emotion, using it to give direction and meaning to life. I am adept at working with clients to challenge beliefs, patterns, and coping strategies that may no longer be serving them. In their place, new ways of being can be explored and applied. It is through this process that clients are able to attain a more connected life, establish a more genuine sense of purpose, and access renewed vitality.

I believe that one’s satisfaction in life is fundamentally linked to the quality of their relationships, and so my work has a strong relational focus. I am deeply passionate about my work with couples, as this dyad of the primary partnership has the power to either recreate and reinforce old wounds, or heal and transform them. With compassionate confrontation, I challenge clients to access curiosity instead of reactivity, wake up to self defeating behaviours, and forge fiercely intimate connections.

Susan's Experience & Training

I completed my Masters degree in Counselling Psychology at the Adler School of Professional Psychology in 2007. I had the privilege of training under excellent mentorship at the University of British Columbia’s Counselling Services, where I then began my career as a member of staff. I have also worked as a therapist with Vancouver Coastal Health both at Vancouver General Hospital Outpatient Psychiatry as well as in the community. I am experienced in providing psychotherapy to treat highly complex cases, as well as treating high functioning people seeking to stabilize in a crisis or enrich a good enough life.

More About Susan

A lifelong and avid learner, I find this work to be the most deeply enriching opportunity to expand and to grow. Being a therapist is a passion and a calling for me, not a job. I am also a mom, to three complex and beautiful beings who challenge and enrich me daily. Approaching age 50, I have experienced numerous and significant life transitions and find my relationships with family, friends, and community to be my anchor throughout.