Support for Retired RCMP Members + Veterans: Across Canada, At No Cost to You
I work with retired RCMP members, military veterans, and their families through Veterans Affairs Canada’s Treatment Benefits Program, at no out-of-pocket cost to you. I direct-bill Medavie Blue Cross, so there’s nothing to pay at the door and nothing to figure out on your end.
I offer in-person sessions in Squamish, BC and secure online sessions to VAC clients anywhere in Canada.
how i came to this work:
My connection to this world started through my decade of volunteer work with Squamish Search and Rescue (SSAR), working alongside officers and first responders in the field. That relationship led to being recruited by the local RCMP detachment to participate in a federal pilot program. The pilot expanded VAC direct-billing access to registered clinical counsellors in smaller communities where psychologists were not available. I was among the first clinical counsellors in the Sea to Sky region to be approved for VAC direct billing under that program.
In 2025, Veterans Affairs Canada formally expanded RCC eligibility nationally, recognizing registered clinical counsellors as approved VAC mental health providers across Canada. That recognition reflects what the pilot program demonstrated: that RCCs are well-suited to support veterans and former RCMP members, particularly in communities where other providers aren’t readily available.
The process is the same whether you served in the RCMP or the military. If you’re registered with VAC, I can see you, and I bill Medavie directly.
Service shapes you in ways that don’t just disappear when you retire. The identity, the rhythm, the sense of purpose: those things matter, and leaving them behind isn’t always straightforward. Some parts of a career in uniform leave their mark over time, in ways that aren’t always easy to name.
What I can help with
Veterans and retired RCMP members often come to me with:
- Operational stress injuries (OSI), including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and the accumulated weight of years of difficult calls
- The transition out of service: leaving an identity, not just a job
- Relationship and family strain: the distance that builds when work can’t be talked about
- Sleeping badly, staying alert when you don’t need to be, feeling flat or disconnected
- Grief: for colleagues, for what was witnessed, and sometimes for the career itself
I also work with spouses and family members of retired members and veterans. Family counselling is often covered under VAC benefits as well. Contact me or VAC to confirm your eligibility.
How I work
There’s no single approach that works for everyone, and I don’t believe in applying one method across the board. What matters is finding what fits for you.
For some people, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a good fit. It’s a well-researched, evidence-based treatment for PTSD and critical incident stress that is widely used with first responders and veterans. EMDR works directly with how traumatic memories are stored in the nervous system, and it doesn’t require you to talk through every detail of what happened in order to process it. For others, EMDR doesn’t feel right, and that’s fine too.
I also work somatically, paying attention to how stress and trauma live in the body, not just the mind. For many people who work in high-adrenaline environments, this is where the real work is: learning to recognize what your nervous system is doing and building more capacity to settle after activation.
Sometimes the most useful thing is simply having a space to talk through what’s been building. Not every session needs to be processing work. Some people need to debrief, make sense of things, or just not have to manage how the other person in the room is reacting to what they’re describing.
I work with Focusing-Oriented approaches as well. It’s a gentler, body-based method for people who want to slow down and listen to what’s happening internally rather than pushing through it.
You can read more about how I work with trauma and PTSD for a fuller sense of the approach.
Sessions are practical, direct, and grounded in respect for what you do.
Steps to connect
- Contact Medavie Blue Cross to confirm your VAC coverage and what you’re eligible for. Call 1-888-261-4033 or log in at medaviebc.ca.
- Contact me to book a free 15-minute consultation.
- Book your first session, in person in Squamish or online anywhere in Canada.
- I bill Medavie directly. No forms for you to fill out, no upfront cost.
In many cases no referral is needed to get started, but requirements can vary depending on which VAC program your coverage falls under. You can also contact VAC directly at 1-866-522-2122 or through My VAC Account online.
A note on privacy
Everything you share is confidential. I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) in good standing with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC).
Other First Responders Welcome
I also work with active RCMP members, firefighters, municipal police, and search and rescue members. If you’re a first responder whose benefits don’t fall under a specific program listed here, sessions can be billed through your extended health benefits or privately. Reach out and we can figure out what works for your situation.
common questions
Does Veterans Affairs Canada cover the cost of counselling?
Yes. If you’re a veteran or retired RCMP member with VAC coverage, counselling through the Treatment Benefits Program is covered at no out-of-pocket cost. I’m a registered VAC provider and I direct-bill Medavie Blue Cross, so there’s nothing for you to pay or claim.
Is the process different for military veterans and retired RCMP members?
No. It’s the same process. If you’re registered with VAC, I can see you, and I bill Medavie directly.
Do I need a referral?
In many cases, no. It can vary depending on which VAC program your coverage falls under. Contact me and I’ll help you sort out what applies. You can also call VAC at 1-866-522-2122 or use My VAC Account online.
Are family members covered?
Family counselling is often covered under VAC benefits. Contact me or VAC at 1-866-522-2122 to confirm eligibility for your situation.
Can I do sessions online if I’m outside Squamish?
Yes. Secure online sessions are available to VAC clients anywhere in Canada. In-person sessions are in Squamish.
What can counselling help with?
Veterans and retired RCMP members often come to me for PTSD and operational stress injuries, depression, anxiety, sleep problems, the transition out of service, relationship and family strain, grief, and moral injury. Some are carrying one event. Many are carrying years of them.
What approaches do you use?
I use EMDR, a well-researched treatment for PTSD that’s widely used with veterans and first responders. I also work somatically, paying attention to how stress and trauma live in the body, not just the mind. Not everyone wants EMDR, and that’s fine. We work out what fits.
When You’re Ready
You can book a session directly, or start with a free 15-minute video consultation, no commitment required. Your VAC benefits cover the cost, and I handle the billing.
In-person counselling in Squamish and throughout the Sea to Sky corridor. Online sessions available to VAC clients across Canada.