No-Cost Coverage · Virtual Across Manitoba

Gut-directed therapy for Veterans & Treaty-status clients — at no cost to you.

If you are a Veteran or a Treaty-status (status First Nations) client in Manitoba, you can access specialized gut-directed psychotherapy for IBS and other disorders of brain-gut interaction with no out-of-pocket cost. Sessions are virtual, there is no waitlist, and you can self-refer.

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🎖️ For Veterans

Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) covers mental health services — including psychotherapy — delivered in person or virtually by a health professional of your choice, for eligible Veterans. That means your gut-directed therapy sessions can be covered with no cost to you.

  • Eligible Veterans can receive covered psychotherapy through VAC, with no cost to you.
  • Sessions are virtual, so you can be seen anywhere in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta or BC.
  • If you are not yet set up with VAC benefits, the VAC Assistance Service offers 24/7 mental-health support and can help you get started.

🪶 For Treaty-status (status First Nations) clients

The Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) program, run by Indigenous Services Canada, covers professional mental health counselling for eligible status First Nations and Inuit clients — generally up to 22 hours per calendar year, with more available case-by-case. This can cover your gut-directed psychotherapy.

  • Eligible clients can access covered counselling through NIHB.
  • Sessions are virtual and available across Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta & BC.
  • Vanessa Klayh is a Registered Nurse (RN, BN) and Certified Canadian Counsellor (CCC), and meets NIHB provider enrolment requirements as a regulated mental-health professional, so NIHB-covered sessions can be provided directly.

🛡️ Not a Veteran or Treaty-status client?

Most extended health plans include a psychotherapy or counselling benefit, and gut-directed therapy is billed the same way as any other counselling session. You are given a receipt after each session that you submit to your insurer.

  • Vanessa Klayh is a Registered Nurse (RN, BN) and Certified Canadian Counsellor (CCC) — the credentials most plans list under counselling or mental-health benefits.
  • Whether your specific plan reimburses, and how much, depends on your policy. Check your benefits booklet for “counselling”, “psychotherapy” or “mental health”.
  • No referral is required, and there is no waitlist.
  • See full cost and insurance details →

How to get started

Three simple steps — no referral required.

1

Reach out

Contact us and let us know you are a Veteran or a Treaty-status client.

2

We confirm coverage

We walk you through the VAC or NIHB coverage steps so there is no cost to you.

3

Book your session

Start virtual gut-directed therapy — no waitlist, anywhere in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta or BC.

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about no-cost coverage.

Is gut-directed therapy really free for Veterans and Treaty-status clients?
Yes. For eligible Veterans, Veterans Affairs Canada covers psychotherapy; for eligible Treaty-status (status First Nations) clients, the NIHB program covers mental health counselling. In both cases there is no out-of-pocket cost to you.
What if I am not a Veteran or Treaty-status client?
You can still be seen. Most extended health plans include a psychotherapy or counselling benefit, and you receive a receipt after each session to submit to your insurer. Whether your plan reimburses, and at what rate, depends on your policy — look for “counselling”, “psychotherapy” or “mental health” in your benefits booklet.
Do I need a referral?
No. You can self-refer — just let us know you are a Veteran or a Treaty-status client when you reach out.
Is it available outside Winnipeg?
Yes — all sessions are virtual and available anywhere in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta or BC.

You've waited long enough.

Let us handle the coverage paperwork. You focus on feeling better.

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Official program references: VAC — Counselling services · NIHB — Mental health counselling benefits

🎖️🪶 Free for Veterans & Treaty-status clients →