Counselling
Finding the Right Counsellor in Saskatoon: What to Know Before You Book
Jun 1, 2025
Here in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, we’re fortunate to have a city that offers a wide range of counsellors with different service delivery models. However, for the average person seeking services, the variety of education, specializations, and therapy approaches can feel overwhelming. Many believe that choosing a therapist or counsellor is as simple as reviewing their website, checking their credentials, and booking a session. Yet, many clients struggle through multiple counsellors, feeling frustrated by a process where they don’t experience meaningful change.
Here are some key considerations when seeking counselling support.
What Am I Looking For?
Should I see a psychologist? A social worker? A licensed marriage and family therapist? Another type of counsellor?
This is a tough question because there is considerable overlap between professions. While it would be ideal to have a simple list of differences in counselling approaches, the reality is more complex. That said, I’ll do my best to clarify:
Psychological Testing
If you're interested in psychological testing or formal diagnosis, you’ll need to see a psychologist or a social worker who is Authorized Practice Endorsement (APE) qualified. In Saskatchewan, APE is a credential granted by the Saskatchewan College of Psychologists (SCP), allowing registered psychologists to independently diagnose psychological disorders. Some social workers have also completed this training and can make diagnoses, though typically under the supervision of psychologists.
At Wasson Counselling & Consulting (WCC), we do not provide psychological testing, but we recognize its importance. When necessary, we are happy to collaborate with clinicians who offer this service to ensure our clients receive the care they need.
Specializations—Sometimes It Is in the Name
Often the different titles that counsellors hold can be confusing. So to help a clarify a little, here is a short overview of a few common counselling designations and therapeutic techniques to help take out some of the mystery and help you with your search:
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT): Typically hold a master’s degree in family therapy or marriage counselling and specialize in family systems and relationship dynamics.
Substance Use or Addictions Counsellors: Often have a diploma, certificate, or degree in addictions counselling and focus on substance abuse prevention, recovery, and support.
Expressive Art & Play Therapists: Hold advanced training in these therapeutic modalities that focus on the use of specialized training in the therapeutic use of art and play to help support you or your family.
Somatic Therapists: May specialize in approaches such as Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Somatic Experiencing, or Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)—methods designed to address trauma and distress across the nervous system.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapists: Typically specialize in cognitive therapy that focuses on identifying unhelpful thought patterns and works with you to challenge and replace unhelpful beliefs to improve emotional regulation and problem-solving.
The Gottman Method: A research-based approach to couples therapy that is focused on strengthening relationship through positive interactions and deep knowing of one another’s inner worlds
Narrative Therapy: This method encourages people to explore and reshape their understanding of their own personal stories to foster empowerment and change.
Solution-Focused Therapy: This approach to therapy can be used for short or long-term counselling, using scales, solution-oriented questions it helps people identify their strengths and resources.
Dialetical Behavioural Therapy: The focus of this approach is combining emotional regulation with distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness to address and manage interpersonal and life issues.
Keep in mind that this is a very short overview. There are a number of other designations and approaches that you can research that offer different support. What is important to know is that different people respond differently and that’s ok. It may take some research and trying counsellors out to decide that you have found the support that is right for you. The most important factor is finding a counsellor who fits your needs and works with you in a way that fosters healing and relief.
Counselling at WCC
At WCC, we offer individual and couples counselling using various therapeutic modalities tailored to our clients - click here to explore. With many years of experience in Saskatoon, Erin is well-connected and happy to collaborate with colleagues in the community to ensure excellent care. We certainly do not claim to have a scope of practice in all the areas mentioned above, and that’s ok! A good counsellor knows about modalities beyond their own scope and is always willing to refer clients elsewhere, even for a session or two. Sometimes this is a good idea if the therapeutic work feels stuck, to collaborate for better overall health, or if you would benefit from a fresh perspective or approach. We encourage our clients to be curious and ask us about different counselling modalities so that we can best support your care.
Counselling isn’t about being territorial—it’s about helping clients find relief.
How Do I Know if a Counsellor Is a Fit for Me?
The core elements of the counselling relationship include:
Rapport (Relationship)
Goal-Oriented Support
Access to Counselling
Budget Considerations
Building Rapport
Developing rapport and establishing a strong therapeutic relationship is crucial. This is the foundation for determining whether you feel safe enough to be vulnerable and fully engage in the healing process. Some elements of good rapport include: active listening, empathy, authenticity, mutual respect, consistency and reliability and adaptability.
For some, building rapport happens quickly, while for others, it takes time. If, after 2-3 sessions, you feel the counsellor isn’t the right fit, consider asking them for a referral. A good counsellor will assess fit and redirect clients accordingly.
Don’t worry about offending your counsellor! Part of our role is to ensure you find someone who truly meets your needs.
Goal-Oriented Support
Are you addressing a specific event or a broader theme in your life? Are you seeking change but unsure of what’s driving your discomfort?
Clear therapeutic goals are essential. Without defined goals, counselling can feel like aimless conversation, leaving you frustrated and without the change you may want and need. If you're struggling to pinpoint underlying issues, a counsellor can help you set and refine goals. Regularly revisiting these goals ensures the support remains meaningful and effective. Goals may evolve over time - that’s okay! The key is keeping track of your progress and ensuring that your counselling aligns with your needs.
Practice Areas & Education
A counsellor’s ability to support you depends on their work experience and specialized training. A degree alone is not sufficient for an extensive scope of practice.
Before booking, take advantage of a free 15-minute consultation to assess whether the counsellor is properly trained to help you. Ask questions such as:
What is your work experience?
What counselling modalities do you use?
How can those therapy types help me with ___?
How do we evaluate whether the approach is working?
What do you do in case of emergencies?
Access to Counselling
Scheduling concerns are increasingly common among clients. When assessing fit, consider asking about the counsellor’s availability:
How often do they see clients?
What drives their scheduling decisions?
What is their cancellation policy?
Does this office meet my accessibility needs?
If frequent or partial sessions are important to you, booking multiple appointments in advance or discussing expectations in the initial intake session is wise. If a counsellor’s availability doesn’t align with your needs, it may impact fit.
Budget & Insurance
Private practice counselling is an investment. Before booking, review your extended health benefits to understand your coverage as different health and wellness plans have limitations on who they will cover. For this reason, its always good to check in advance to see what your benefits cover. Most benefit plans cover registered social workers and psychologists, so have a look so that you can feel assured that you have the financial support you need. Some insurance and health coverage plans only cover specific types of counsellors, so verifying details in advance can save you financial stress. In addition, some plans may have limitations on the amount they will compensate per session, or how many sessions they allow per year. For these reasons, it is always a good idea to familiarize yourself with your plan so there are no unnecessary financial surprises.
By understanding the real costs upfront, you can maximize resources and ensure continuity of your care.
Final Thoughts
Finding the right counsellor in Saskatoon can be a journey. We hope this guide provides some useful insight. Experienced therapists often recognize when there’s a genuine fit with a client, and strong therapeutic bonds lead to transformative change. At WCC, we hope you find that connection because your outcomes matter. A supportive therapeutic relationship can create a safe space for self-reflection, growth and healing. Taking the time to find the right match can be a truly empowering step towards meaningful change.
If you're a Saskatchewan resident seeking individual or couples counselling, we offer phone, virtual, and in-person sessions, don’t hesitate to get in touch or schedule an appointment.
Signing off for now and wishing you the best in your search for the right fit.
Warmly,
Erin
