What’s a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor (RTC)?
By Isabel Prystawik – Motionally Counselling and Facilitation
Somatic Counselling in Vernon, British Columbia | Okanagan Valley
If you’re searching for support in Vernon, British Columbia or the North Okanagan, you may have noticed the title Registered Therapeutic Counsellor (RTC). Titles can feel confusing, so let’s slow down and talk about what this actually means.
A Profession Rooted in Care and Accountability
A Registered Therapeutic Counsellor is someone who has completed in-depth training in counselling skills, ethics, and practicum experience, and who continues to be mentored and supported through professional supervision. RTCs are registered with the Association of Cooperative Counselling Therapists of Canada (ACCT)—which means they are held to shared standards of care and ongoing learning.
Registration reflects a commitment: to work with integrity, to keep growing, and to honour the people who come to them for support.
What This Can Look Like in Vernon and the North Okanagan
Here in Vernon and across the North Okanagan, RTCs bring a range of approaches into their work. Some sessions might focus on navigating anxiety, grief, or relationship struggles. Others might create space for reconnecting with your body, tending to old hurts, or exploring what feels missing even when “everything looks fine.”
At the heart of this work is respect for your pace, your choices, and your lived experience.
Extended Health Benefits Coverage
Many extended health benefit providers recognize the services of Registered Therapeutic Counsellors. Coverage depends on your employer’s specific plan, so it’s important to check directly with them.
Some of the providers who may cover RTC services include:
Please check with your employer about whether your specific plan covers RTCs—because every plan is different, and it matters.
Ready to Take a Gentle Next Step?
If you’re feeling called to counselling that honours your pace, your body, and your story, I’d love to support you.
You’re invited to a free 15-minute call—no pressure, just space to ask questions, share what you’re feeling, and see if this might be a fit.