Special Populations

Non-Insured Health Benefits

Wholetherapy works with eligible First Nations and Inuit clients through the Non-Insured Health Benefits program. Direct billing, culturally aware care, and clinicians with specific experience in Indigenous communities.

Quick Facts

What you need to know

22 hours per year

NIHB covers up to 22 hours of mental health counselling per calendar year for each eligible client. Additional hours may be approved on a case-by-case basis.

Direct billing

We bill NIHB directly through Express Scripts Canada. No out-of-pocket cost to you when we bill direct.

Two-hour assessment

Your first session can be up to 2 hours of assessment without requiring prior approval. This helps your therapist understand your context and plan care.

Indigenous experience

Several of our clinicians have specific experience working with First Nations and Inuit clients. We recognize the cultures of the communities we serve and take that seriously.

What NIHB Covers

Mental health counselling under NIHB

If you're a registered First Nations person or recognized Inuit, you can access mental health counselling through NIHB at no out-of-pocket cost.

Individual psychotherapy with an NIHB-eligible provider
EMDR therapy and other trauma-focused approaches
Treatment for PTSD, depression, anxiety, and related concerns
Intergenerational trauma work
Grief and loss
Substance use concerns
Group counselling with eligible providers
Up to 22 hours of counselling per calendar year
Telehealth sessions (after an initial in-person session, where possible)

First session preference

NIHB recommends that your first session be in person where possible, so you and your therapist can decide together whether in-person or virtual sessions will work best going forward. If geography makes that difficult, we'll talk through options.

How It Works

Getting started with NIHB

Here's the process from first contact to first session.

Get in touch

Contact us by phone or email. Let us know you want to use NIHB coverage. We'll ask for your name, date of birth, and status number (or Inuit beneficiary card number) so we can verify.

We verify your coverage

Our admin team confirms your eligibility through Express Scripts Canada. This usually takes 1 to 2 business days.

We match you with a clinician

We match you with a clinician based on what you're working through and clinical fit. Several of our team have specific experience with Indigenous community work.

Initial assessment session

Your first session can be up to 2 hours, used to understand your context and plan care. This doesn't require prior approval through NIHB.

We bill NIHB directly

After each session, we submit billing directly through Express Scripts Canada. You don't pay at the point of service.

Why Indigenous Clients Choose Wholetherapy

Care that acknowledges your context and culture

We work with First Nations and Inuit clients with full awareness of the historical and ongoing context that shapes mental health and wellbeing for Indigenous people. Intergenerational trauma, residential schools, colonization, displacement. None of this gets minimized in our work. None of it gets centred when it's not what you came in for, either.

Our clinicians who work in this space bring cultural humility, ongoing learning, and direct experience with Indigenous communities. The work happens at the pace that fits, with respect for how you understand healing and what role traditional practices play for you.

Your Care Team

NIHB Approved Providers at Wholetherapy

Several of our EMDR-trained clinicians are NIHB Approved Providers, so First Nations and Inuit clients can begin trauma-focused care with coverage billed directly. Mitzi Mitchell leads this work and carries the most day-to-day availability; a few colleagues can take additional NIHB clients as space allows.

Mitzi's daytime availability

Weekdays 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Mitzi is also the only clinician on our team able to work across every coverage stream we accept — NIHB, VAC, CAF, RCMP, and most private insurance.

Mitzi Mitchell, MSW

Clinical Specialist · EMDR Trained · Indigenous Care · NIHB Approved Provider. Primary NIHB availability, weekdays 9–4.

Book a Free Consult with Mitzi →

Also NIHB approved, with more limited availability

Matthew Hall, MA

Registered Counselling Therapist · EMDR Trained · Indigenous Care · NIHB Approved Provider. Currently accepting new NIHB clients.

Book a Free Consult with Matthew →

Meaghan Mousseau, M.Ed.

Registered Counselling Therapist · Canadian Certified Counsellor · EMDR Trained · NIHB Approved Provider. Limited availability — ask our intake coordinator.

Book a Free Consult with Meaghan →

Carolyn Hauser, MA

Registered Counselling Therapist · EMDRIA Approved Consultant-in-Training · EMDR Trauma Lead · NIHB Approved Provider. Limited availability — ask our intake coordinator.

Book a Free Consult with Carolyn →

Common Questions

Questions about NIHB

Who is eligible for NIHB?↓

NIHB covers registered First Nations people and recognized Inuit. You generally need to provide your status number or Inuit beneficiary card number to verify eligibility. Children may also be covered under specific circumstances. We can help confirm your eligibility when you reach out.

How does the 22-hour limit work?↓

Each calendar year, you can receive up to 22 hours of counselling covered by NIHB. Sessions are typically 50 to 60 minutes. If you need more than 22 hours in a calendar year, your therapist can request additional coverage on a case-by-case basis. We'll handle that process if it comes up.

Can I see a therapist who is Indigenous?↓

We have some clinicians with Indigenous identity or specific Indigenous community experience. When you reach out, let us know if matching with an Indigenous therapist is important to you and we'll work with what we have. If we can't match you internally, we'll be honest about that and can suggest other options.

Does NIHB cover traditional healing?↓

Yes, NIHB acknowledges traditional healing and may cover services with Elders or Traditional Healers in some regions. These services aren't provided directly at Wholetherapy, but we work alongside traditional healing where that's part of your path. We can discuss how the two fit together.

What if I'm not registered yet but eligible?↓

NIHB has provisions for unregistered children up to age 2 who have at least one NIHB-eligible parent. For adults, registration through your First Nation or Inuit land claim organization is generally required. We can talk through options if you're in process.

Can I do sessions virtually?↓

Yes. After an initial in-person session where possible, virtual sessions are covered. If you live in a community where travel to Dartmouth isn't practical, we can discuss starting virtually. Medical transportation support may also be available through NIHB to access an initial in-person session.