That depends. Some employers have extended health plans with coverage for a portion of the cost of counselling, usually around 80%. Other employers have employee assistance plans for short-term counselling. Costs for victims of motor vehicle accidents, workplace accidents, or crime may be paid by third party insurers.
Counsellors are not covered by the publicly funded Medical Services Plan. For this reason, most clients pay for counselling on their own. They often describe the service as a valuable investment in themselves.
Some counsellors offer a sliding scale for people of modest income. As well, there are a number of free services in town, such as those at Mental Health, so the cost should never prevent people from seeking necessary help.