Questions people actually ask
NIHB counselling questions, honest answers.
What people ask us about how NIHB counselling works, what it costs and how we match you. If your question isn't here, write to us. A real person answers.
Getting started
A matching service for First Nations and Inuit people: you tell us what you're looking for, and a real person finds you an NIHB-enrolled counsellor near you for in-person sessions.
A real person reads your intake (not a keyword filter) and reaches out to counsellors near you who fit what you asked for. You'll hear from us within 2 business days.
It takes about 10 minutes. It asks where you are, what you're carrying, and what kind of counsellor would feel right (language, focus, gender, whether they should be Indigenous). You can save and come back anytime. Have your status card or Inuit enrolment number handy: counsellors need it to bill NIHB.
No. Matching takes days, and a crisis can't wait. If you need support right now, call Hope for Wellness at 1-855-242-3310 or call or text 988. Both are free, confidential and open 24/7.
Coverage & cost
If you're eligible, NIHB pays for your counselling. You see an NIHB-enrolled counsellor in person, and they bill NIHB directly. You never see an invoice, a receipt or a reimbursement form. If your coverage is complicated, we sort it out with you before anything starts.
Yes, if you're a status First Nations person or Inuit enrolled with a land claim organization. NIHB covers your mental health counselling, so it costs you $0. NIHB doesn't cover Métis or non-status people. If that's you, we'll say so honestly and point you to who can help. Not sure? Send the intake anyway.
NIHB covers up to 22 hours of mental health counselling a year for eligible First Nations and Inuit people. If you need more, your counsellor can request an extension through NIHB. That's their paperwork, not yours.
Honestly, no. We'd rather say it here than after you've filled out a form. NIHB doesn't cover Métis or non-status people, and Wapan is built around NIHB-covered care. Your Métis Nation's health benefits office (MN–S in Saskatchewan, and equivalents in Alberta and Manitoba) may cover counselling for citizens. Friendship Centres and community health centres can point you to low-cost care near you. We wish the federal program drew the line differently.
Yes. The intake asks for your status registration number (the 10-digit number on your status card) or your Inuit enrolment number. Counsellors need it to bill NIHB, so having it up front means nothing holds up your first session. Only our team and the counsellor billing NIHB see it, and it's never sent by email. Can't find yours? Your band office or land claim organization can look it up.
Counsellors & sessions
They are registered professionals enrolled as NIHB mental health providers: social workers (RSW), registered psychologists, certified counsellors (CCC) and registered psychiatric nurses. Every listing in our directory comes from the official NIHB provider list.
Start with your city on our NIHB counselling by city page, or send the intake and we'll do the looking. Sessions are in person, in or near your community. Many counsellors on our lists will travel to you, and we match on location first.
Yes. Browse NIHB-enrolled counsellors in our directory and filter by community, language and focus. Found the right person? We make the introduction, then step back.
Yes. Tell us on the intake. Hundreds of the counsellors on our lists are Indigenous, and we'll be honest with you about who's nearby.
Tell us. There's no penalty and no awkward conversation for you to have. We'll go back to the list and find someone else.
Sessions are available in English, Cree, Dene, Michif, Nakawe and French, depending on where you are. We match on language when you ask us to.
Privacy
A small team at Wapan. They're real people, and only as many as it takes to find you a match. We don't sell or share your information, and we never contact a counsellor about you without telling you first.
No. We share only what's needed to make the introduction: where you are and what you're looking for. What you tell your counsellor after that stays between you and them.
For counsellors
If you're on the NIHB provider list for mental health in Saskatchewan, Alberta or Manitoba, yes. Claim your profile to add your focus, languages and whether you travel. We verify every claim personally before it goes live.
Nothing. Wapan is a matching service, not a marketplace. We don't charge counsellors or take a cut of NIHB billing.
Need support right now?
Don't wait for an intake form. These lines are free, confidential and open 24/7.
Whenever you're ready,
We're here.
Ten unhurried minutes. Save and come back anytime. A real person reads every word.
Start your intake