Online Counselling in British Columbia
Counselling does not have to happen in an office.
Therapy Garden Counselling provides online counselling throughout British Columbia, giving you the flexibility to meet with Ella from a private space that works for you.
Ella LaFleur, MACP, RCC, offers warm, practical and trauma-informed virtual counselling for people experiencing anxiety, stress, trauma, grief and loss, emotional challenges, burnout, relationship concerns and difficult life transitions.
Whether you live in Salmon Arm, elsewhere in the Shuswap, or another community in BC, online counselling can make support easier to access and fit into everyday life.
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Counselling From Wherever You Are in BC
Location, travel and busy schedules can make attending counselling in person difficult.
Online counselling provides another option.
Instead of travelling to an office, you can attend your appointment virtually from a private location where you feel comfortable.
Online counselling may be particularly helpful if you:
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Live outside Salmon Arm
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Live in a rural or smaller BC community
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Have limited access to local counselling services
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Work irregular or demanding hours
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Have parenting or caregiving responsibilities
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Find travel difficult or inconvenient
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Prefer counselling from your own space
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Travel frequently within British Columbia
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Simply find virtual appointments easier to fit into your life
The goal is to make accessing counselling more practical without losing the individual connection and collaborative approach of one-to-one counselling.
What Can Online Counselling Help With?
Virtual counselling can support many of the same concerns addressed during in-person appointments.
People may seek online counselling for:
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Anxiety and excessive worry
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Stress and feeling overwhelmed
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Trauma and difficult experiences
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Grief and loss
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Emotional regulation
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Burnout and exhaustion
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Depressive symptoms or low mood
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Workplace stress and conflict
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Relationship difficulties
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Parenting challenges
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Separation or divorce
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Family changes
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School or social concerns
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Major life transitions
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Low confidence or self-esteem
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Difficult decisions
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Boundaries and communication
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Feeling stuck or disconnected
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Questions about meaning, identity or direction
You do not need a diagnosis or a crisis to begin counselling.
Sometimes you know exactly what you want support with. Other times, you may simply know that something in your life does not feel right.
Both are valid places to begin.
Online Anxiety & Stress Counselling
Anxiety and stress are among the most common reasons people seek counselling.
You may find yourself constantly worrying, overthinking, struggling to relax or feeling overwhelmed by responsibilities.
For others, anxiety appears through perfectionism, avoidance, irritability, difficulty sleeping or a persistent sense that there is always something else to worry about.
Online counselling provides space to understand these patterns and develop practical ways of responding to difficult thoughts, emotions and situations.
Ella's training includes Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which can help people develop greater flexibility around difficult thoughts and emotions while continuing to move toward what matters to them.
Online Trauma-Informed Counselling
For some people, attending counselling from a familiar environment can feel more comfortable when working through the effects of trauma or difficult experiences.
Ella provides trauma-informed online counselling grounded in safety, choice, collaboration and autonomy.
You will not be expected to immediately revisit painful experiences or disclose details before you are ready.
Counselling can begin with what is affecting you today — such as anxiety, emotional reactions, avoidance, relationship difficulties or feeling disconnected — and move at a pace that feels manageable.
Online Counselling for Adults
Virtual counselling can be particularly convenient for adults balancing work, family, relationships and other responsibilities.
You may be managing everything that needs to get done while feeling anxious, exhausted, overwhelmed or disconnected underneath it all.
Online counselling can provide dedicated time to step away from those demands and focus on what is happening for you.
Ella works with adults experiencing concerns including:
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Anxiety and stress
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Trauma
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Grief and loss
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Burnout
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Workplace stress
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Parenting challenges
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Relationship concerns
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Separation and divorce
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Emotional regulation
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Major life transitions
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Questions about identity, values or direction
Online Counselling for Youth
Online counselling can also be an option for youth ages 12–18.
For some teenagers, meeting virtually can feel comfortable and familiar. It may also make counselling easier to access around school, activities, transportation and family schedules.
Ella works collaboratively with youth experiencing anxiety, stress, difficult emotions, school challenges, relationships, family changes, trauma and other concerns.
The suitability of online counselling depends on the individual young person, their circumstances and their counselling needs.
What About Online Counselling for Children?
Therapy Garden provides counselling for children ages 5–11, and virtual counselling may be appropriate in some circumstances.
However, younger children often benefit from in-person approaches that can incorporate play therapy, art and other creative activities more naturally.
Whether online or in-person counselling is the better fit depends on the child's age, needs, comfort level and circumstances.
Ella can discuss these options with parents during a free consultation.
Is Online Counselling Different From In-Person Counselling?
The location is different, but the purpose of counselling remains the same.
Online sessions still provide dedicated one-to-one time with Ella to explore what you are experiencing, identify what you would like to change and develop an approach that fits your goals.
Some people strongly prefer meeting in person.
Others find that online counselling feels more comfortable or fits more naturally into their lives.
There is no universally better option.
The best format is the one that allows you to participate meaningfully and consistently in counselling.
Making the Most of Online Counselling
You do not need a perfect home office or elaborate setup for virtual counselling.
A few simple things can make online sessions more comfortable:
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Choose a private space where you are unlikely to be interrupted
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Use headphones if they help you feel more comfortable speaking openly
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Give yourself a few minutes before and after the appointment when possible
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Silence notifications and other distractions
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Use a reliable internet connection
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Let Ella know if something about the virtual format is not working well for you
Some people also find it useful to have water, a notebook or something comforting nearby.
The important part is finding a setting where you can focus on yourself for the duration of the appointment.
A Warm, Practical & Collaborative Approach
Online counselling does not need to feel impersonal.
Ella's approach is warm, practical, collaborative and trauma-informed.
Her training includes Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), trauma-informed care, neuro-affirming practice, play therapy, art therapy, critical incident stress management, and support for survivors of sexual abuse and assault.
Counselling is adapted to the individual rather than following the same process for everyone.
Ella works with you to understand what is happening, identify what matters to you and develop strategies that make sense within your life.
Online Counselling From Salmon Arm, BC
Therapy Garden Counselling is based in downtown Salmon Arm, British Columbia, with both virtual and in-person appointments available.
Clients who live locally can choose the format that works best for them and may be able to use a combination of virtual and in-person counselling depending on their needs.
The Therapy Garden office is located in the Samara Center at:
#104, 231 Trans Canada Hwy
Salmon Arm, BC V1E 4N8
Direct Billing for Online Counselling
Eligible virtual counselling appointments may be covered through extended health benefits or partner programs.
Therapy Garden offers direct billing for select insurers and programs, although coverage depends on your individual plan and eligibility.
Meet Ella LaFleur, MACP, RCC
Ella is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) based in Salmon Arm and providing online counselling to clients throughout British Columbia.
Her approach centres dignity, autonomy and collaboration.
Rather than telling you what you should do, counselling provides space to better understand what you are experiencing, clarify what matters to you and develop meaningful ways forward.
Looking for Online Counselling in BC?
Living outside a major centre, having a busy schedule or simply preferring virtual appointments should not have to prevent you from accessing counselling.
Therapy Garden offers online counselling throughout British Columbia as well as in-person appointments in Salmon Arm.
A free consultation gives you an opportunity to meet Ella, ask questions about online counselling and determine whether working together feels like the right fit.
Online counselling for clients throughout British Columbia.