Preventive Counselling-Sandbox

The Municipality has established a Preventive Counselling Services Program to improve access to mental wellness support for eligible residents.

Preventive counselling services are proactive support designed to build resilience, enhance well-being, and empower individuals, families, and communities to successfully navigate life's challenges before issues escalate into crisis.

Eligible organizations interested in joining a non-exclusive roster of service providers under the program, which will use a direct-billing service model, are invited to complete an Expression of Interest (EOI) application.

Applicants are expected to read the Expression of Interest document for details on eligibility and service delivery expectations before proceeding to the application.

Core Objectives of the Program

Improve access to preventive counselling and mental wellness services.
Reduce service waiting times and barriers to access.
Promote client choice through access to a diverse roster of qualified service providers.
Support coordinated community referral pathways.
Advance early intervention and preventative approaches that strengthen individual, family, and community well-being.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the eligibility requirements?

To be eligible for consideration, service providers must demonstrate compliance with all mandatory requirements listed below.

Service providers must:

Be a currently licensed counselling professional (e.g., Registered Psychologist, Registered Social Worker, Occupational Therapist, etc.) in good standing with the relevant national and/or provincial regulatory bodies.
Maintain professional and liability insurance with a minimum limit of two million dollars ($2,000,000) and provide proof of coverage certificate.
Adhere to all applicable federal, provincial, and municipal business operation, professional, and privacy laws and regulations.
Demonstrate a strong understanding of and commitment to privacy regulations governing client information (e.g., PIPEDA, PIPA).
Demonstrate the operational capacity to provide timely access to services, including an ability to schedule initial appointments within at least fourteen (14) calendar days of referral/initial assessment whenever reasonably practicable.
Eligible service providers may include Indigenous Wellness and Mental Health Practitioners (Elders, Knowledge Keepers, Cultural Advisors, and Indigenous Wellness Practitioners).

What is preventive counselling?

Preventive counselling refers to services designed to support mental, emotional, behavioural, and personal well-being before challenges become more serious. Rather than focusing solely on diagnosed conditions or crisis situations, preventive counselling helps individuals build resilience, strengthen coping skills, and address issues early to promote long-term wellness and stability.

Examples include:

Stress management counselling to prevent burnout
Workplace or career counselling to address job-related concerns early
Relationship or family counselling to improve communication and prevent conflicts from escalating
Grief preparedness and support during major life transitions
Parenting counselling to develop effective parenting strategies
Mental wellness coaching focused on resilience, coping skills, and emotional regulation
Anxiety prevention strategies for individuals experiencing increased worry but not necessarily an anxiety disorder
Counselling related to major life events such as marriage, divorce, retirement, relocation, or becoming a caregiver

How is preventive counselling different from crisis intervention?

Preventive counselling focuses on addressing concerns early to reduce the likelihood of a crisis occurring. Crisis intervention, on the other hand, responds after a crisis has developed and often requires more immediate and intensive support.

Who can make a referral for preventive counselling?

Referrals will typically come from access points. Access points are services or programs that individuals initially turn to for assistance, information, or referrals. They serve as a gateway into the broader support system and can connect individuals with service providers for preventive counselling and related supports.

Referrals may also be made through other pathways established by the Municipality.

Self-referrals are accepted. Individuals may refer themselves, and eligibility will be assessed using the client assessment tool.

What services are included in preventive counselling?

Services and methods of delivery may include:

Individual counselling
Family and relationship counselling
Group counselling
Culturally responsive wellness and healing services
In-Person, Virtual and hybrid service delivery models, where applicable

Where can services be delivered?

Applicants must provide services within the geographic boundaries of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo and operate a physical office, facility, or established place of business within the municipality.

How long does preventive counselling support last?

Adhere to a maximum of five (5) counselling sessions for adults and up to seven (7 for children, youth, and Families per client/family per twelve-month period (unless otherwise approved in writing by the Municipality).

What if a client requires more intensive support?

If a client's needs exceed the scope of preventive counselling, the service provider will work with the client and referring organization to connect them with appropriate specialized, long-term, or crisis-based supports outside the Preventive Counselling Program model.

Does the client need to have a diagnosed mental health condition?

No. Preventive counselling services are proactive support designed to build resilience, enhance well-being, and empower individuals, families, and communities to successfully navigate life's challenges before issues escalate into crisis.

How does direct billing work?

The program employs a direct-billing, pay-per-service model.

Service providers must submit a detailed schedule of proposed service rates for all counselling and wellness service modalities offered under the program, including but not limited to individual, group, family, in-person, virtual, hybrid, and culturally responsive wellness and healing services, where applicable.
The Municipality will review proposed rates against market conditions, industry benchmarks, and program budget considerations.
The Municipality reserves the right to:
- Negotiate rates with one or more service providers;
- Establish standardized rates for all successful service providers;
- Reject rates deemed unreasonable or inconsistent with market conditions; and
- Enter into agreements with multiple service providers.
Approved providers will invoice the Municipality directly for services delivered to eligible clients in accordance with the negotiated rates set out in the service agreement.
The Municipality will make reasonable efforts to process payments promptly upon receipt and approval of complete and accurate invoices.
Invoices must include client and service information specified by the Municipality for program monitoring, performance measurement, and financial reconciliation purposes.