Serving online therapy to clients throughout British Columbia
Providing online disability-affirmative therapy, chronic illness counselling, chronic pain support, and health advocacy for teens and adults with physical disabilities and their families throughout British Columbia.
Online Services
Disability Therapy
Disability-affirmative therapy helps teens and adults navigate the emotional, social, and practical realities of living with a disability or chronic illness. Together, we can explore self-advocacy, accommodations, burnout, grief, and self-worth while building strategies that support your needs and well-being.
Health Advocacy
Health advocacy helps teens, adults, and families navigate the often overwhelming realities of accessing and navigating healthcare. Together, we can prepare for appointments, strengthen self-advocacy skills, navigate accessibility barriers, process medical trauma and build confidence in communicating your needs and priorities.
About Counselling & Health Advocacy by Jenna Reed-Côté
Accepting new clients
$135/hour (limited sliding scale spots available)
Hello! I'm Jenna Reed-Côté, MSW, RSW.
I became a therapist because I wanted to be one of the helping professionals I needed growing up with a physical disability.
Like many people living with disabilities, I learned how to adapt from an early age with the goal of fitting in. I learned how to problem-solve, push through challenges, and focus on what I could do rather than what I couldn't.
What I didn't learn until much later was how much energy adaptation takes.
If you're living with a physical disability, chronic illness, or complex health condition, you may have spent years adapting, too.
Trying to stay positive.
Trying not to complain.
Trying to focus on what you can do instead of what you can't.
Trying to prove—to yourself and to others—that you're capable.
And maybe you're exhausted.
What if the problem isn't that you're not adapting well enough?
What if you've been adapting all along?
The truth is that constantly navigating barriers, advocating for your needs, managing uncertainty, and adjusting to a world that wasn't designed with you in mind takes energy.
A lot of energy.
Sometimes the anxiety, self-doubt, burnout, grief, frustration, or overwhelm you're experiencing aren't signs that you're failing to cope. They may be understandable responses to what you've been carrying for a very long time.
You don't have to earn support by reaching a breaking point first.
And you don't have to keep convincing yourself that if you were stronger, more positive, or tried harder, things would feel easier.
I understand that sometimes the hardest part isn't your condition—it's navigating healthcare systems, accessibility barriers, other people's assumptions, and the pressure to keep adapting while pretending you're okay.
You shouldn't have to spend your counselling sessions educating your therapist about why these experiences are difficult.
My clients often tell me they appreciate having a space where they don't have to justify, explain, or defend their experiences before they can begin working on what matters most to them.
Together, we'll explore what's weighing on you, how your experiences may have shaped the way you see yourself, and what may be getting in the way of living the life you want. We'll identify what's already helping, build on your strengths, and develop tools and strategies that actually fit your life, your needs, and your goals.
Because if a strategy only works in theory, it's not much use on a Tuesday afternoon.
As a Registered Social Worker and therapist, I specialize in supporting adults living with physical disabilities, chronic illness, chronic pain, medical trauma, advocacy fatigue, self-worth concerns, relationship challenges, and major life changes related to health.
Outside the therapy room, I've spent years advocating for accessibility and inclusion. I've been an ambassador with the Rick Hansen Foundation since 2017, and in 2021 I led the Vancouver team participating in AccessNow's accessibility mapping project, which contributed to the largest accessibility survey ever conducted in Canada.
Most importantly, I want you to know that you don't have to prove that you're struggling enough before you deserve support.
If something is affecting you, it matters.
And if you're wondering whether therapy could help, I'd be honoured to walk alongside you.
Maybe you've started wondering why your usual ways of coping aren't working anymore.
Maybe you're frustrated with yourself for struggling when you've always found a way to keep going before.
Fees & Accessibility
I believe access to therapy includes financial accessibility whenever possible.
Standard Fee
Individual Counselling (60 minutes): $135 CAD
Payment is due at the time of your session. A receipt will be provided that you can submit to your extended health benefits provider if your plan covers services provided by a Registered Social Worker (RSW).
Direct Billing
To make the payment process a little easier, I currently offer direct billing through GreenShield for eligible plans. If your plan includes direct billing, I can bill GreenShield directly, and you are only responsible for any remaining balance not covered by your benefits.
Sliding Scale
I reserve a limited number of sliding scale appointments for individuals experiencing financial barriers to accessing therapy.
These spaces are limited and offered based on availability. If cost is preventing you from accessing support, please don't hesitate to ask whether a sliding scale space is currently available.
Open Path Collective
I am also an Open Path Collective therapist, offering reduced-fee counselling for individuals who qualify through the Open Path program.
If you are an Open Path member—or are interested in becoming one—you can learn more and determine your eligibility by visiting the Open Path Collective website.
Questions About Fees?
If you're unsure which option is the best fit for your situation, I'm happy to discuss it with you. My goal is to make the process as straightforward and accessible as possible so you can focus on getting the support you need.
Getting Started with Online Therapy
-
Connect with us via the intake for, send us an email at jenna@counsellingandhealthadvocacy.ca or give us a call at 604-200-2927.
-
You deserve to have whomever you need on your team and that starts with a free 20-min virtual consultation to ensure you find the right fit.
-
Book your first virtual appointment.
-
During sessions you can expect to discuss various aspects of your life. I’ll ask you questions, to help gain a better understanding, explore different perspectives and we will set up therapeutic goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Direct billing is available through GreenShield for eligible plans. Please contact GreenShield to confirm your coverage and benefits before your appointment.
-
I only provide virtual services.
-
An hour-long session is $135.
-
I have my Master of Social Work degree from Dalhousie University (2018) and my Bachelor of Social Work degree from University of Victoria (2012).
-
Disability-affirming therapy has a therapist working with a client with a disability, without the focus on the condition. The goal is to empower the client based on their strengths, while taking a holistic approach, recognizing the body, the mind and the spirit work together.
-
If you have navigated the healthcare system, you know it’s not easy!
Whether you’re wondering if you’re allowed to speak up, how you’re supposed to manage your symptoms or medication, the anxiety of preparing for appointments or procedures/surgery - not only are you not alone, you are the EXPERT on you!
I can help you process what can be an overwhelming process - mind, body and spirit - how to find your voice to communicate with your healthcare team, family and friends and find ways to reframe and get creative to cope.
-
I find it important to acknowledge that your family and even close friends can also “have” your diagnosis.
How? Why? They are on this journey with you but are experiencing it from a different vantage point. If you are having surgery, your family and friends, who are there supporting you, are also watching you navigate it and - it ain’t easy to watch someone you love going through pain.
Your support system also needs support, though it may look a little (or a lot) different. They more they can get their own unique support, the better able they can be to support you.
Email: info@counsellingandhealthadvocacy.ca
Call: 778-486-2346