Counselling services for members
If you have employee or individual assistance program coverage with Manitoba Blue Cross, counselling services including in-person, online video, telephone or e-mail options are available to you.
If you are unsure of your coverage, visit your mybluecross® online account to confirm.
Available services
Individual well-being
Every person has their own unique situation that requires careful exploration. We offer prevention, early intervention and treatment options for all ages, including support with topics such as:
- stress.
- anxiety.
- depression.
- grief.
- substance use.
- behavioural health.
- nutrition.
Relationships
Seeking relationship counselling is a sign of strength – and a step toward creating healthy, connected and fulfilling relationships. Our counselling services offer prevention, early intervention and treatment for various couple and family relationship concerns.
Parenting
Parenting is one of the greatest joys in life but also one of the greatest challenges. We offer preventative education and supportive intervention for parenting concerns suitable for all developmental stages and every family structure or style.
Career and workplace
When you feel empowered, creating a fulfilling career and work life is within your reach. We offer counselling on the full spectrum of workplace and career matters for all stages and concerns – from setting career goals to retirement planning to managing workplace stress and conflict.
Financial
Gain a better perspective on your situation in a safe and supportive environment with prevention, early intervention, assessment and education. Learn how to develop and use a budget, get feedback on your financial health and identify the steps to mastering your use of money, no matter your financial situation.
Legal
Legal counselling provides access to legal information, such as reviewing the process of filing for legal separation or divorce, understanding one’s rights as a custodial or non-custodial parent or viewing samples of forms required for certain court proceedings. Legal counselling does not include legal representation or advice tailored to an individual’s unique situation.
How long is each counselling session?
A session is one hour.
How will I meet with my counsellor?
In-person counselling session take place at your counsellor's office, and location details will be provided when booking your session.
We offer virtual counselling sessions through online video. Your counsellor will send a private link to the email you provide when booking your session.
If you select a telephone counselling session, your counsellor will call you at the phone number you provide when booking your session.
Do you offer evening or weekend sessions?
We provide a range of flexible evening or weekend sessions to suit your needs. Each counsellor maintains their own schedule and offers a variety of daytime, evening and weekend availability.
How many sessions will I need or how often should I attend counselling?
Employee or individual assistance program coverage with Manitoba Blue Cross provides access to short-term counselling services. While you are not required to attend a specific number of sessions or commit to a particular frequency, your coverage will dictate how many sessions are available to you and your family annually. Your counsellor will assess suitability of short-term counselling for your concerns, and if they determine that effective treatment is outside the scope of your coverage, your counsellor will discuss more suitable resources with you.
What can I expect during my first session?
Your first session typically starts with reviewing a consent document, which takes less than five minutes. Next, you'll spend time exploring what has brought you to counselling and asking your counsellor any questions you may have.
During the session, your counsellor will ask questions to guide you or to clarify information. This could include your reasons for coming to counselling, what you have tried in the past and what your hopes and goals might be for working together.
Is counselling confidential?
Yes, attending counselling is completely confidential. Your counsellor will review important policies like confidentiality during your first appointment.
What are your cancellation and no-show policies?
If you need to cancel or reschedule your counselling session, we require 24 hours notice. Cancellation with less than 24 hours notice are subject to a full session deducted from your plan.
If more than one cancellation occurs with less than 24 hour notice or you fail to show up for your scheduled session without notice, your file will automatically be closed. You can contact our intake team to review our cancellation policy and request that your file be re-opened to continue accessing our counselling services.
How do I select the most suitable counsellor?
When using our online booking system, choose the counselling type that best describes the concern that brings you to counselling. Our counsellors are listed according to their areas of specialization, so you will only see those available counsellors who work in that chosen area. You may see the same counsellor's name in more than area, as most of our counsellors have more than one area of specialization.
When is a good time to start counselling?
Any time is a good time to start counselling! Many clients report that they wish they had attended counselling sooner so that they could have seen improvement in their quality of life much earlier.
If you are in crisis, in need of immediate assistance or experiencing thoughts of suicide, call or text the Suicide Crisis Helpline at 988 (toll free, 24/7).