Virtual Care Directory: Chronic Pain, Illness & Trauma Resources for Canadians
Virtual Care Directory
for Chronic Pain & Illness in Canada
Curated care options for people living with ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, Long COVID, POTS, chronic pain, and complex health conditions — organized by province.
✦ Maintained by Elysia Bronson, RCC — CPS Co-Chair · Last updated April 2026
⚠ Not a referral service. Provider panels change — always contact providers directly to confirm they are accepting patients. Listings are reviewed periodically. This directory does not constitute medical advice. If you are in crisis, contact a crisis line or your nearest emergency department.
Province
Cost
National Platforms
Available across most or all provinces
Private Pay
Virtual MDs & Nurse Practitioners — 24/7 Across Canada
Maple connects patients with Canadian-licensed doctors and NPs via chat, video, or text. While not chronic illness–specialized, it fills a critical gap for people without a family doctor — providing prescriptions, lab requisitions, specialist referrals on demand.
Primary CareNo ReferralPrescriptionsLab Referrals
Free Mental Health & Substance Use Support — Canada-Wide
Government-funded platform offering free mental health tools, peer support, and sessions with counsellors and therapists. Available to all Canadians at no cost, 24/7.
Mental HealthTherapyFree24/7
1-833-261-PAIN — Navigation & Peer Support for All Canadians
Staffed by people with lived experience of chronic pain. Call or text to get connected with resources, support groups, and care navigation — regardless of province. One of the most underused, most valuable resources available.
Highly RecommendedNavigationPeer SupportFree
International ME/CFS & Long COVID Support Groups — Virtual
Directory of virtual support groups for people with ME/CFS, Long COVID, and related conditions. Groups are peer-led and available to Canadians regardless of province.
ME/CFSLong COVIDSupport GroupsFree
Lanyard Program for Non-Visible Disabilities — Airports, Retailers & Transit
The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is an internationally recognized symbol that discreetly signals to staff that the wearer has a non-visible disability and may need additional support, patience, or time. Accepted at major Canadian airports (YVR, YYZ, YYC), retailers, transit systems, and healthcare settings. Free to request. Particularly useful for people with ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, POTS, chronic pain, and cognitive or sensory disabilities who need accommodation but don't want to explain their condition.
CoverageCanada-wide — airports, retail, transit, healthcare
CostFree — order online
Hidden Disabilities
Airports
Travel
ME/CFS
POTS
Fibromyalgia
Free
Working with a therapist who's been in the system too
Sometimes the most useful thing isn't another resource list — it's having someone in your corner who understands what you're navigating, clinically and personally. Sessions are online, camera-optional, flare-day friendly.
British Columbia
Virtual care for BC residents
MSP Covered
Dr. Ric Arseneau & Dr. R. Jane McKay — Virtual Group Medical Visits
One of the only clinics in Canada built specifically around ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and Long COVID. Over 5,200 patients, no time limit on participation. Gold standard for this population in BC. Requires referral from MD or NP.
AccessReferral from MD or NP required
FormatVirtual group visits + 1:1
⭐ Highly RecommendedME/CFSFibromyalgiaLong COVIDPOTS
MSP Covered
BC Women's Hospital — Provincial Referral Centre
The first program in Canada established to formally diagnose and treat ME/CFS and fibromyalgia. Waitlist exists but worth joining early. Serves all of BC through virtual group education and medication review.
AccessReferral from MD or NP required
⏱ Wait12–24 months — get on list early
ME/CFSFibromyalgiaLyme-Attributed
MSP + Private
Burnaby — BC's Only CPSBC-Accredited Pain Centre — Virtual Province-Wide
Physician-led interdisciplinary pain clinic. MSP-covered virtual group medical visits are open to all BC residents with no referral required — self-book the orientation session as your entry point.
MSP AccessSelf-book — no referral needed
Phone604-566-9101
Chronic PainNo Referral for GroupsFibromyalgia
BC Searchable Directory of Pain Care Providers
Comprehensive searchable directory for finding chronic pain care providers in BC. Call or text the support line at 1-833-261-7246 for direct navigation help.
Provider DirectoryNavigationFree
Private Pay
BC — Private Specialist Access & Second Opinions
For BC patients struggling to access specialist care due to long wait times or a GP who won't refer. Private-pay pathway to specialist consultation and second opinions for complex presentations.
AccessDirect — no referral needed
Second OpinionsComplex ConditionsNo Referral
Free
BC Advocacy, Support & Navigation — ME/CFS, Long COVID & Fibromyalgia
BC's dedicated non-profit for ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and Long COVID — patient support, advocacy, and healthcare system navigation. Interdisciplinary Advisory Committee with physicians and researchers.
ME/CFSFibromyalgiaLong COVIDAdvocacy
The emotional weight of treatment-resistant pain is real
Being told there's nothing more to try — or spending years fighting to be believed — leaves a mark. Therapy with someone who understands the medical complexity and the emotional toll can be part of the path forward.
Alberta
Virtual care for Alberta residents
Free — AHS Funded
Alberta Health Services — Interdisciplinary — Self-Referral Welcome
Free province-wide program for Albertans with chronic pain, delivered by physio, OT, pharmacist, dietitian, mental health therapist, and peer support workers. No diagnosis required — self-referrals accepted.
Self-Referral1-877-719-7707
Self-Referral OKChronic PainFreeNo Diagnosis Required
AHS Covered
Chronic Pain Centre — Fibromyalgia-Specific, Province-Wide
Virtual program built specifically for people with a primary fibromyalgia diagnosis. Available province-wide with internet and smartphone. Ask your GP to refer through the Alberta Referral Directory specifying FibroFOCUS.
FibromyalgiaVirtual ProgramAHS Covered
Private Pay
Calgary — Ketamine-Assisted Therapy for Chronic Pain & PTSD
Calgary-based clinic offering ketamine-assisted therapy under CPSA-approved protocols. Anesthesiologists and psychiatrists providing supervised IV ketamine for treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, and chronic pain including fibromyalgia.
Cost~$400–$750/infusion — not AHCIP covered
KetamineChronic PainPTSDCalgary
Ontario
ℹ️ The Woods Counselling Co. does not provide therapy to Ontario residents. Resources listed for reference only.
Toronto — Ontario's Only Clinic for ME/CFS, Fibromyalgia & Environmental Illness
The only clinic of its kind in Ontario, established by the Ministry of Health as a provincial resource for ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and environmental sensitivities. University of Toronto affiliated with a research mandate.
AccessReferral from MD or NP required
Phone416-351-3764 / 1-800-417-7092
ME/CFSFibromyalgiaMCSOHIP Covered
Private Pay
North Toronto — IV Ketamine & Lidocaine Infusions for Fibromyalgia & CRPS
One of the few Ontario clinics offering both IV ketamine and IV lidocaine infusions specifically for chronic pain. Anesthesiologist-supervised protocol. 20,000 sq ft facility.
AccessSelf-referral — online intake, 72hr review
KetamineLidocaineCRPSFibromyalgiaSelf-Referral
Private Pay
Oakville — Canada's Only Private Clinic for SCS & DRG Stimulator Implantation
Led by Dr. Aaron Hong — Canada's only private clinic offering both spinal cord stimulator (SCS) and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) stimulator insertions. Eliminates public system waitlist for patients who have exhausted other options.
NeuromodulationSCSRefractory PainOntario
Pacing is a skill — and it's one Elysia teaches in sessions
Apps are useful, but learning to apply pacing to your real life — with its demands, its relationships, its pressure to push through — takes more than tracking data. Energy envelope management is central to how Elysia works with chronic illness clients.
Mental Health Crisis Resources
Available across Canada — 24/7
988 Suicide & Crisis Helpline
Free — 24/7
Call or text 988 — available across Canada
Canada's national crisis line. Call or text 988 any time to reach a trained crisis responder. Confidential.
Crisis Support24/7FreeCanada-Wide
Crisis Text Line Canada
Free — 24/7
Text 686868 — Text-based crisis support
Text-based crisis support for those who prefer not to call. Text 686868 any time. Also available via Kids Help Phone for young people.
Crisis SupportText-BasedFree
You've done the research. Now let's talk about what you actually need.
Elysia Bronson is a Registered Clinical Counsellor and Canadian Pain Society Co-Chair who works with people at exactly this intersection — chronic illness, complex pain, health trauma, and a system that wasn't built for you.
Clinical therapy — BC residents · Weekly support — Canada & U.S. · Both $150/session · Therapy covered by most extended health plans
Not sure if therapy or weekly support is right for you? The consult is the right place to figure that out.
No matching providers found. Try clearing your filters or searching a different term.
This directory is maintained by Elysia Bronson, RCC, MA — founder of The Woods Counselling Co. and Interprofessional Co-Chair of the Canadian Pain Society. Updated regularly but not a substitute for professional medical or legal advice.
Notice a broken link or want to suggest a resource? Email Elysia →