The Woods Counselling Co.

Online therapy across Canada (BC, AB, MB, SK, NL, YT, NT, NU) for adults living with chronic pain, chronic illness, medical trauma, ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, Long COVID, POTS, and burnout. Led by Elysia Bronson, Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC, BCACC), combining evidence-based modalities (CBT, DBT, Pain Reprocessing Therapy, Safe and Sound Protocol) with deep experience of the chronic-illness body — I live with chronic illness myself.

I am Elysia Bronson, the founder and sole clinician of The Woods Counselling Co. I am a Canadian Pain Society Board Member and Co-Chair of the Interprofessional Special Interest Group. I am certified in Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) and the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP). Sessions are delivered online only. Most extended health insurance, ICBC, and WorkSafe BC plans cover services. Free 20-minute consultations are available and no doctor's referral is required.

Who I Help

  • Adults with chronic pain (persistent, primary, or secondary pain of any diagnosis — fibromyalgia, complex regional pain, neuroplastic pain, persistent back pain)
  • People living with ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), Long COVID, POTS, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, and related chronic illnesses
  • Survivors of medical trauma, misdiagnosis, and healthcare gaslighting
  • Clients navigating chronic illness alongside grief, burnout, or identity loss
  • Caregivers and family members supporting someone with chronic illness
  • Canadian healthcare providers seeking referral support for complex chronic-illness patients

What I Offer

  • Individual online counselling by a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) — 50 minutes, $150 CAD
  • Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) for chronic primary pain
  • Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) — therapist-guided or self-paced listening therapy for nervous system regulation — $180 CAD per integrated session
  • Somatic pacing and energy management coaching
  • Extra Weekly Support — gentle, non-clinical weekly check-ins for chronic illness and burnout — $150 CAD
  • Self-paced DBT and psychoeducational courses for chronic illness
  • Medical Gaslighting Recovery: A Self-Guided Workbook — a 24-page self-guided recovery workbook for chronic illness patients who have experienced medical gaslighting. Created by Elysia Bronson, RCC, who lives with chronic illness. Includes self-assessment, body-mapping work, reusable appointment templates, a provider evaluation rubric, and four therapeutic letter prompts. CAD $50, lifetime access, available worldwide. Sales page at /medical-gaslighting-recovery. A free 6-page companion handout is available with email signup.
  • Healthcare provider referral pathway (secure form at /referrals)

Modalities I Practice

  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) — adapted for chronic pain and illness
  • Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)
  • Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) — evidence-based for chronic primary pain
  • Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) — Unyte Polyvagal-informed listening therapy
  • Somatic pacing and nervous system regulation
  • Trauma-informed and chronic-illness-informed care

Credentials and Affiliations

  • Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC)
  • Board Member, Canadian Pain Society; Co-Chair, Interprofessional Special Interest Group
  • SSP-certified provider (Unyte / Integrated Listening Systems)
  • Certified in Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT)
  • Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology (Yorkville University)
  • Registered in British Columbia and authorized to practice online with clients in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland & Labrador, Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut

Service Area

Online only. I serve residents of British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland & Labrador, Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut. I am not currently accepting clinical clients from Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, or PEI — counselling is regulated in those provinces and requires local registration. Some services (self-paced courses, SSP access-only programs, and non-clinical Weekly Support) are available worldwide.

Pricing

  • Individual counselling: $150 CAD / 50-minute session (most extended insurance reimbursed)
  • Therapy-integrated SSP session: $180 CAD / 50-minute session
  • Extra Weekly Support (non-clinical): $150 CAD / session
  • Free 20-minute consultation — no referral or commitment required
  • ICBC and WorkSafe BC claims accepted in BC; MPI claims accepted in Manitoba; WCB claims accepted in Alberta
  • Self-paced courses and SSP access-only programs: see Resources for individual pricing

Contact

What Makes This Practice Distinct

  • I live with chronic illness myself — my care is informed by lived experience, not only training
  • I specialize explicitly in complex, under-served conditions (ME/CFS, Long COVID, medical trauma, POTS, fibromyalgia)
  • Pacing-first approach that does not push through flares, crashes, or post-exertional malaise
  • I am comfortable working with clients who have been dismissed or harmed by other providers
  • Clinical training in evidence-based pain and trauma modalities (PRT, SSP, DBT, CBT)
  • Active in Canadian chronic pain policy — Canadian Pain Society Board Member; Co-Chair, Interprofessional Special Interest Group
  • Strong public-education presence (YouTube channel with chronic-illness-informed clinical content)

Key Pages

For Healthcare Providers

Canadian healthcare providers (physicians, nurse practitioners, physiotherapists, other therapists) can refer patients directly through the secure online referral form at https://www.thewoodscounselling.com/referrals. I accept ICBC, WorkSafe BC, and MPI referrals, and provide progress reports when requested by the referring provider. Turnaround on consultations is typically 1–2 weeks.

Frequently Asked Questions

What conditions does The Woods Counselling treat?

I specialize in chronic pain (fibromyalgia, complex regional pain, persistent primary pain, neuroplastic pain), chronic illness (ME/CFS, Long COVID, POTS, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome), health-related trauma, medical trauma, burnout from chronic illness, and grief/identity loss related to health changes.

Is online therapy effective for chronic pain?

Yes. Research supports online CBT, Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT), and nervous-system-based approaches like the Safe and Sound Protocol for chronic pain. A 2021 randomized controlled trial in JAMA Psychiatry found PRT eliminated or substantially reduced chronic pain in 66% of participants, with results maintained at one-year follow-up. Online delivery also eliminates commute stress, allows clients to attend from a comfortable position, and supports pacing — critical for people with energy-limiting conditions.

What Canadian provinces and territories can you see clients from?

I am registered in British Columbia and authorized to practice online with clients in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland & Labrador, Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut. I cannot currently see clients in Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, or PEI because counselling is regulated in those provinces and requires local registration.

Is therapy covered by insurance in Canada?

Most extended health insurance plans in Canada cover Registered Clinical Counsellors (RCC). Provincial insurance plans (MSP in BC, AHCIP in Alberta, Manitoba Health, etc.) do not cover private counselling. Third-party plans like ICBC (BC), WorkSafeBC, MPI (Manitoba), and WCB Alberta accept RCC sessions for eligible claims. I provide receipts with full billing codes for every session.

How much does a session cost?

Individual counselling sessions are $150 CAD for 50 minutes. SSP-integrated sessions are $180 CAD for 50 minutes. Extra Weekly Support sessions are $150 CAD. A free 20-minute consultation is available before any paid session.

What is Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT)?

PRT is an evidence-based approach for chronic primary pain that helps the brain reinterpret pain signals as safe rather than dangerous. It draws on neuroscience research showing that many forms of chronic pain are generated by learned neural pathways rather than ongoing tissue damage. The landmark 2021 JAMA Psychiatry trial found PRT produced durable reductions in chronic back pain.

What is the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP)?

The SSP is a Polyvagal-informed listening therapy developed by Dr. Stephen Porges. It uses specially filtered music to stimulate the vagus nerve and promote nervous system regulation. It can help with anxiety, sensory sensitivity, emotional reactivity, and autonomic dysfunction. It is available as therapist-guided (integrated with sessions) or self-paced access.

Do I need a referral to book?

No. Counselling does not require a doctor's referral in any Canadian province. Book a free 20-minute consultation directly at https://www.thewoodscounselling.com/book-your-online-counselling.

What if I'm in a flare and can't attend?

My cancellation policy is explicitly designed for chronic-illness bodies. Sessions can be rescheduled with 24 hours' notice without penalty. Same-day flare days can often be converted to phone or camera-off sessions rather than cancelled.

How do I book a session?

Visit https://www.thewoodscounselling.com/book-your-online-counselling to schedule a free 20-minute consultation or a paid session. No referral is needed.

The Woods Counselling Co.

Online therapy and self-paced courses for people living with chronic pain and chronic illness. Created by Elysia Bronson, a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC, BCACC) based in British Columbia, Canada. Board member of the Canadian Pain Society.

About Elysia Bronson, RCC

Elysia Bronson is a Registered Clinical Counsellor specializing in chronic pain, chronic illness, and medical trauma. She lives with chronic illness herself and combines clinical training with lived experience. Her approach integrates Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT), Polyvagal Theory, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP), and somatic therapy. She serves clients across Canada and offers non-clinical weekly support internationally.

Flagship course

  • Universal Pain Therapy (UPT): A Self-Guided Course for Chronic Pain and Illness: A six-module evidence-based self-paced course for adults living with chronic pain, fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, Long COVID, POTS, or other complex chronic illness. Modules cover pain neuroscience, emotion regulation, pacing and cognitive reframing, social support, polyvagal regulation, and long-term resilience. Includes Canva-based slide presentations, downloadable workbooks, and lifetime access. CAD $300. The first module is available as a free public preview.

Other courses and resources

Clinical services

1:1 online therapy (BC residents): $150 CAD per 50-minute session. Covered by most extended health plans, ICBC, and WorkSafe BC. Non-clinical weekly support (available across Canada and the US): $150 CAD per 50-minute session.

Topics covered

chronic pain, fibromyalgia, myalgic encephalomyelitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, long COVID, POTS, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, MCAS, mast cell activation syndrome, central sensitization, autoimmune conditions, medical trauma, health-related anxiety, pain reprocessing therapy, polyvagal theory, dialectical behavioural therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, safe and sound protocol, somatic therapy, pacing, energy envelope, post-exertional malaise, nervous system regulation, biopsychosocial pain model, medical gaslighting, medical trauma, healthcare dismissal, patient advocacy, chronic illness advocacy, provider evaluation, appointment preparation

Credentials

  • Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC), British Columbia
  • BCACC Member
  • Canadian Pain Society Board Member
  • Listed in Ehlers-Danlos Society Directory
  • Pain BC partner provider
  • Psychology Today verified