Campus Counselling Has a Waitlist. Here's What to Do While You Wait.

Oct 6

4 min read

By Dr. Erin Kostashuk, PsyD, RCC, CCC

You finally decided to reach out. You filled in the form, sent the email, maybe even worked up the nerve to call. And now you're on a waitlist.

That gap between "I need support" and "I actually have it" is its own specific kind of hard. It is not a sign that you did anything wrong or waited too long. Campus counselling wait times across BC universities are long — that is a system problem, not a you problem. But knowing that does not make the waiting feel any easier.

So here is what you can do right now, while you wait.

1. Know that you are not in crisis management mode alone

If things feel urgent, please do not wait for your appointment.

BC Crisis Line: 1-800-784-2433 (available 24/7 across BC)

Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 (free, 24/7)

Vancouver Island Crisis Society: 1-888-494-3888

These lines exist for exactly this kind of moment. You do not need to be in a dramatic situation to call. If you are struggling and the wait feels impossible, reaching out is the right move.

2. Use what you probably already have access to

Before you pay anything out of pocket, check two things:

Your student union benefits plan. Most BC post-secondary institutions (UVic, VIU, Camosun, NIC) include a mental health benefit in the default student plan. Coverage varies quite a bit — some plans cover a flat amount per session (often around $75), while others cover 80% of fees up to an annual maximum. Log into your student benefits portal and look for a "mental health" or "psychological services" line, then verify the actual amounts before you book.

Your parents' extended health plan. If you are under 25 and still on a family plan, check whether it covers counselling. RCC coverage is common. This can make private therapy genuinely affordable.

If you are not sure what you are covered for, call the number on the back of your benefits card and ask directly: "Does this plan cover sessions with a Registered Clinical Counsellor?" A five-minute call can clarify a lot.

3. Look for a private therapist who works with students

Private therapy often has no waitlist, or a much shorter one. A few things worth knowing before you start searching:

What credentials to look for in BC: Registered Clinical Counsellors (RCC) and Canadian Certified Counsellors (CCC) are the two primary designations for counsellors in this province. Both are professionally regulated. A therapist's registration number should be findable on their website or the BCACC directory.

Student rates are real. Not every therapist advertises them, but some private practitioners offer a reduced rate specifically for full-time students. It is worth asking directly when you reach out.

A free consultation is a low-stakes starting point. Most therapists offer a short consultation call at no charge. This is a legitimate way to get a sense of whether someone feels like a good fit before you commit to booking. You are not obligated to keep going if it does not feel right.

Virtual therapy opens up your options. You are not limited to therapists in your city. A BC-licensed therapist can work with you from anywhere in the province. This matters if you are in a smaller community with fewer local options.

4. Build a small, honest support structure in the meantime

Therapy is not the only thing that helps. While you are waiting:

Tell one person you trust that you are in a hard stretch. You do not have to explain everything. Saying "I've been struggling lately" is enough.
Reduce one source of friction, not all of them. Pick the smallest thing that would make this week marginally easier and do that.
Treat sleep and food as non-negotiable maintenance, not luxuries. This is not a wellness platitude. Your nervous system is already doing a lot. Support it where you can.
Apps like Wysa, Woebot, or MindShift are not a substitute for therapy, but they can offer structured support in the gap.

None of this is a fix. It is just triage — keeping the floor from dropping further while you get to the real support.

5. You have options that start now

At Equanimity, I work with university students and young professionals across Vancouver Island. Sessions are virtual, which means I can see clients in Victoria, Nanaimo, Courtenay, and anywhere else in BC. My student rate is $120 per session for BC university students, and I offer a sliding scale for those navigating the gap between what their plan covers and what they can afford. If you want to talk before deciding whether to book, a free 15-minute consultation is available.

You can find out more and book at equanimitywellbeing.org

The hardest part is usually not the waiting itself. It is the feeling that nothing is moving. But you reached out. That matters. There are concrete next steps between here and a regular appointment, and you do not have to white-knuckle it through the gap.

Start with one thing from this list. Then the next.

Dr. Erin Kostashuk is a Doctor of Psychology and Registered Clinical Counsellor (BCACC #17787) offering virtual counselling and EMDR therapy to clients across Vancouver Island, BC. Free 15-minute consultations are available at equanimitywellbeing.org.