Online counselling practice from home

Individuals paying themselves or through workplace health benefits, plus employers or employee assistance providers that contract practitioners.

A fee per session (usually 50 to 60 minutes). Some practitioners use sliding-scale rates for a few clients. Income grows as your caseload fills.

• Active listening and empathy
• Recognized counselling training and supervised experience
• Clear boundaries and record keeping
• Comfortable with video technology

• Title and registration rules differ by province, and Quebec, Ontario and others protect certain titles, so check before you advertise
• Online sessions generally need you to be authorized where the client lives, so check cross-province rules
• Professional liability insurance, and check whether it covers online work
• Privacy law for client records (for example PIPEDA or provincial health privacy acts), including secure storage and consent
• Whether your sessions count for GST/HST, as some health services are exempt, so check with the CRA
• Benefit plans often only reimburse registered or designated practitioners, which affects who can pay you
• Have a plan for clients in crisis, such as local emergency contacts and referral options

Startup costs are estimates, typically around $1,500 to $6,000, depending on your setup, insurance and technology. Professional liability insurance is worth checking, including whether your policy covers online work.

Title and registration rules differ by province, so check before you advertise. Also check whether you must be authorized where the client lives, how privacy law applies to records, and whether your sessions count for GST/HST with the CRA.

Monthly revenue is an estimate, typically around $1,500 to $7,500, depending on how many clients you see and how they pay. Benefit plans often only reimburse registered or designated practitioners, which affects who can pay you.