If you have already tried therapy and it felt like being handed a pamphlet, you were probably in the wrong room. Nicholas van Sabben is a Registered Clinical Counsellor based in Kamloops with a Master's in clinical counselling, specialized training in EMDR and DBT, and a background in high-acuity clinical work that most therapists refer out.
Book a Free 15-Min Call No referral required telehealth available across BC no obligationIt fails because the clinician was not equipped for what you brought in. Generalist training, 50-minute sessions, a worksheet about cognitive distortions, and a handoff when things got complicated. If you came away thinking therapy does not work you may have just had the wrong therapist in Kamloops.
RCC designation is the BC standard for licensed clinical counsellors. It requires a Master's degree, supervised clinical hours, and ongoing professional accountability through the BCACC. Not a life coach. Not a wellness practitioner. A clinician.
Trauma, EMDR processing, DBT-based work, complex presentations including BPD and ADHD, occupational mental health, substance use. The work that takes real clinical infrastructure not generic talk therapy.
Former underground Shifter Boss, roughneck, and professional hockey player before clinical training. MACP at 40, after a personal history that included a serious mental health diagnosis, psychiatric hospitalization, and raising a child on his own. That is not a liability. It is the whole point.
When cases get hard, most clinicians hand you off. This practice is designed to stay. Complex, high-acuity presentations are the primary focus not the exception that gets you a waitlist referral somewhere else.
In-person sessions in Kamloops. Telehealth across the entire province no geographic barrier, no commute. Works for shift schedules, remote locations, and anyone who does not have a 9-to-5 therapy slot.
RCC sessions are covered by most extended health plans in BC Manulife, Sun Life, Great-West Life, CLAC, and most employer and union plans. FNHA NIHB direct billing available. Band Council and MCFD referrals accepted.
Finding a therapist is not the hard part anymore. Finding one who can actually hold what you bring in that is the part that keeps people stuck.
Nicholas van Sabben, RCC | Kamloops, BCI am a Registered Clinical Counsellor based in Kamloops. My clinical focus is complex presentations trauma, BPD, ADHD, occupational mental health, and the cases that tend to fall through the gaps of generalist practice.
I came to this work the long way. Underground mining supervisor, roughneck, and professional hockey player before clinical training. I did my MACP through Yorkville at 40, after a personal history that included a serious mental health diagnosis, psychiatric hospitalization, substance use, and raising a child on my own. My credentials are real. My reasons are also real.
I work with EMDR and DBT, and I am trauma-informed across every modality I use. I have worked with Tk'emlups te Secwepemc territory through Secwepemc Child and Family Services, with ICBC MVA documentation cases, and with high-acuity populations that most practices refer elsewhere.
I do not do life coaching. I do not do everyday stress. If your situation is complicated, if you have burned through therapists before, if you have been told you are too much this is the practice for that.
As a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC), sessions qualify under most extended health benefit plans in BC. This includes major group insurers Manulife, Sun Life, Great-West Life, Desjardins, and most employer or union benefit packages.
Additional coverage: FNHA NIHB direct billing available for eligible First Nations clients. Band Council and MCFD referrals accepted. ICBC MVA documentation experience contact to confirm current eligibility.
No referral required from a physician. First consultation is always free. Self-pay rates available. Contact directly to confirm your specific benefit coverage before booking.
What is the difference between an RCC and a psychologist in BC?
In BC, a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) holds a Master's degree in counselling or a related clinical field and is regulated by the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC). A psychologist holds a doctoral degree and is regulated by the College of Psychologists of BC. Both are trained to assess and treat mental health conditions. For most people seeking therapy, an RCC is the most accessible option and sessions are typically covered by extended health benefits rather than requiring provincial health coverage.
Do I need a referral to see a therapist in Kamloops?
No. You can contact Hoeks Clinical Counselling directly without a physician referral. A free 15-minute consultation call is the starting point a direct conversation to assess whether this is the right fit before any commitment.
Does online therapy count as seeing a Kamloops therapist?
Yes. Telehealth sessions with a BC-licensed RCC are clinically equivalent to in-person sessions and are covered by the same extended health benefits. If you are outside Kamloops or prefer to connect from home or work, telehealth is fully supported at this practice.
What if I have had bad experiences with therapists before?
That is the most common thing heard in a first call. Most of those experiences come down to poor fit a generalist clinician, a mismatch in approach, or a therapist who referred out when things got complicated. The free consultation exists specifically to give you a low-stakes way to assess whether this is different before you commit to anything.
A direct conversation to determine fit. You ask what you need to ask. I will tell you clearly if this practice is right for what you are dealing with and if it is not, I will point you somewhere better. No sales pitch.
A thorough assessment that builds the full picture history, presenting issues, what has been tried before, what matters most. This becomes the foundation of how we structure the work together.
EMDR, DBT, and trauma-informed approaches applied to your specific situation. In-person in Kamloops or telehealth from anywhere in BC. Scheduling adapted to your life, not a rigid office calendar.
15 minutes. A real conversation. No obligation. If this is not the right fit, I will tell you and give you somewhere better to go.
Book Your Free Consult Kamloops in-person Telehealth across BC No referral required