Support after birth for mood changes, adjustment, anxiety, relationships, and recovery. Registered psychologists and therapists offering in-person and virtual sessions across Alberta. Registered Psychologists are regulated by the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP), Certified Canadian Counsellors by the Canadian Counselling and Psychological Association (CCPA), and Registered Social Workers by the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW). In-person in Edmonton and St. Albert, Virtual across Alberta, Evening and weekend hours available.

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You Might Be Wondering Whether Postpartum Counselling Is Right for You

You may be unsure whether what you are going through is serious enough to talk to someone about. Maybe things have felt different since birth, but you are not certain whether that difference is just part of adjusting or whether something more is going on. That uncertainty is one of the most common reasons people hesitate before reaching out.

Perhaps you have noticed a heaviness that does not lift even when the day goes well. Or a constant sense of worry that sits in your chest, running through scenarios about your baby, your body, or your ability to keep everything together. You might feel disconnected from people you are close to, or notice that small frustrations have started hitting harder than they used to.

These are common responses to the physical, emotional, and relational changes that follow birth. They do not mean something is permanently wrong with you. They reflect how your mind and body are adjusting to a profound transition, often under conditions of sleep loss, new responsibility, and limited support.

If you are wondering whether counselling could help, this page may be a useful starting point. You can read on to see what postpartum support looks like at Wholesome Psychology, what to expect in a first session, and how to get started when you are ready.

Who This Service May Be a Good Fit For

Postpartum counselling may be helpful if you are:

• Experiencing mood changes, persistent worry, or emotional exhaustion after birth
• Struggling with adjustment to a new parenting role, identity shifts, or the mental load of caregiving
• Recovering from a difficult or unexpected birth experience
• Noticing changes in your relationships, communication, or connection with your partner or family
• Feeling overwhelmed, irritable, or unable to settle your thoughts
• Dealing with sleep-related strain beyond what is expected with a new baby
• Returning to work after maternity leave and finding the transition difficult
• Gathering information for a partner, family member, or friend who may be struggling

This service may not be the right fit if:

• You are in immediate danger or experiencing a crisis. Please see the crisis resources below.
• You are looking for a formal postpartum assessment. Psychological assessments are a separate service at Wholesome Psychology.
• Your primary concern is a medical issue such as physical recovery, medication, infant feeding, or obstetric follow-up. Counselling works best alongside medical care, not as a replacement for it.

Crisis Guidance

If there is immediate danger or someone cannot stay safe, this service is not the right resource. Please contact one of the following:

• 911 for immediate danger
• Alberta Mental Health Help Line: 1-877-303-2642 (24/7)
• Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741

Urgent assessment is appropriate when there are thoughts of self-harm, thoughts of harming the baby, severe confusion, or experiences that suggest a significant loss of contact with reality. Wholesome Psychology is not an emergency or crisis service.

What Postpartum Counselling Is

Postpartum counselling is collaborative talk therapy focused on what has changed since birth and what kind of support would be most useful. It is not about assuming a diagnosis or labelling your experience. Not every postpartum difficulty means there is a mental health condition, and counselling can still be a useful place to talk, reflect, and plan.

Sessions may include space to talk through what has been most difficult, identifying patterns that are increasing stress, developing coping strategies for anxiety or emotional intensity, working on boundaries and communication, or processing a birth experience at a manageable pace. Where it would be helpful, your therapist can coordinate with your family doctor, midwife, psychiatrist, or other provider.

This service is counselling. It does not provide emergency response, infant medical care, medication prescribing, or obstetric care. If physical recovery, medication questions, or infant health concerns are central, counselling may be most useful alongside medical or postpartum healthcare support. If you are looking for a formal assessment rather than counselling, you can ask the clinic about the most appropriate service path.

The pace of therapy is always set by you, not the therapist. Your therapist will explain confidentiality and its limits clearly at the start, and you are welcome to ask questions before sharing anything personal.

Signs That Postpartum Stress May Be Affecting You

You may recognise some of these experiences in yourself or in someone close to you:

• A low mood that persists even on days that go relatively well
• Worry that feels constant or hard to switch off, especially about the baby or your own health
• Feeling detached, numb, or emotionally flat when you expected to feel connected
• Irritability or a short temper that does not match how you normally respond
• Difficulty sleeping even when the baby is asleep, or waking with a sense of dread
• Pulling away from your partner, friends, or family without fully understanding why
• A sense of guilt about how you are feeling, or a belief that you should be coping better
• Replaying the birth experience or feeling distressed by memories of it
• Struggling with the gap between what you expected parenthood to feel like and how it actually feels

Having these experiences does not mean something is permanently wrong. These are common responses to a major life transition. Structured support can help you make sense of what is happening and find ways to manage it.

How Treatment Works Here

• Find your therapist. Use the Match with a Therapist tool, browse therapist profiles, or call the admin team at 780-904-4880 for help with fit, scheduling, and format options.
• Book your first session. Your first session includes a review of confidentiality and consent, a conversation about what brings you in, clarification of your goals and priorities, and discussion of whether the therapist feels like the right fit. You can book online or call the clinic.
• Build your plan together. You and your therapist will develop a collaborative plan based on what matters most to you right now. This might focus on a single transition, a specific difficulty, or broader emotional support.
• Ongoing sessions. Follow-up sessions are typically weekly or bi-weekly, but the pace can be adjusted. Each session is 50 minutes.
• Progress check-ins. Your therapist reviews how things are going at regular intervals. Plans adapt as your needs change. There is no fixed number of sessions required.

Evidence and Approaches

Psychological treatment for postpartum difficulties is supported by research, though outcomes vary from person to person. The approaches below reflect what the available evidence suggests may help. Your therapist will work with you to determine which approach fits best.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

What it helps with: CBT targets patterns of thinking and behaviour that may be maintaining low mood, worry, or overwhelm after birth.

Evidence summary: A systematic review found that CBT provides a moderate reduction in depression symptoms both immediately after treatment and at follow-up, compared to usual care (Swedish Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Assessment of Social Services [SBU], 2022). An earlier Cochrane review also found psychosocial and psychological interventions, including CBT-based approaches, to be beneficial for postpartum depression (Dennis & Hodnett, 2007).

Limitations: Most research has studied women meeting clinical thresholds for depression. Evidence for people with milder adjustment difficulties or non-depressive postpartum concerns is more limited.

Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)

What it helps with: IPT focuses on relationship changes, role transitions, and interpersonal stressors that are common after the birth of a child.

Evidence summary: A systematic review found that IPT may produce a significant decrease in depression symptoms immediately after treatment, compared to usual care, though the certainty of evidence is lower than for CBT (SBU, 2022).

Limitations: The evidence base for IPT in postpartum populations is smaller, with fewer studies and fewer participants. Data on longer-term follow-up effects are limited.

Supportive Counselling

What it helps with: Supportive counselling provides a structured space to talk through postpartum experiences, emotional responses, and practical concerns with a trained professional.

Evidence summary: Research suggests that supportive counselling may help reduce depression symptoms in the months following treatment, compared to usual care, though the evidence base does not currently support formal meta-analysis (SBU, 2022). The Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) also notes that psychological support is a recognised part of care for postpartum depression (CPA, n.d.).

Limitations: The evidence for supportive counselling is less robust than for structured therapies like CBT. Individual responses vary.

What Results to Expect

Recovery after birth is not linear. Some people notice shifts within a few sessions. Others benefit from longer-term work, especially when the postpartum period has been complicated by a difficult birth, relationship changes, or earlier life experiences. Some people find relief from just 2-3 sessions focused on a specific concern.

Outcomes are influenced by many factors, including the nature of what you are experiencing, your current support system, sleep and physical recovery, and the fit between you and your therapist. No therapy guarantees a specific result.

If the approach or therapist does not feel right, that information is useful and not a failure. Therapeutic fit matters, and switching to a different clinician or approach is always an option. You can talk to the admin team at 780-904-4880 for help finding a better match.

Confidentiality and Privacy

What you share in therapy is confidential. Depending on your clinician's designation, your therapist is bound by the ethical standards of their regulating or professional body, including the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP) for Registered Psychologists, the Canadian Counselling and Psychological Association (CCPA) for Certified Canadian Counsellors, and the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW) for Registered Social Workers, as well as Alberta's Health Information Act (HIA) and Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA).

There are specific legal limits to confidentiality. Your therapist may be required to act if:

• There is a risk of serious harm to you or to someone else
• There is suspected abuse or neglect of a child (mandatory reporting under Alberta law)
• A court order requires disclosure

These limits are explained clearly during your first session. You are welcome to ask questions about confidentiality at any point, including before you share anything personal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to describe what happened in detail?

No. You do not need to recount every detail of your birth experience or anything else that has been difficult. Your therapist will follow your pace. Some people find it helpful to work with present-day patterns, like sleep, worry, or relationship strain, rather than revisiting specific events in detail. You are always in control of what you share.

Is what I share kept private?

Yes. What you discuss in therapy is confidential, with specific legal exceptions: risk of serious harm to yourself or others, suspected child abuse or neglect, and court orders. These limits are explained in your first session. For more detail, see the Confidentiality and Privacy section above.

How many sessions will I need?

There is no fixed answer. Some people benefit from short-term support focused on a specific transition or concern. Others prefer ongoing therapy over a longer period. Your therapist will review progress with you regularly, and the plan can change as your needs shift.

What if the therapist is not the right fit?

Therapeutic fit matters. If your therapist does not feel like the right match, the admin team can help you find a different clinician within the practice. This is a normal part of the process and reflects good self-awareness, not a problem. New clients may access their first session at 50% off to help find the right therapeutic fit.

Can I access therapy online?

Yes. Wholesome Psychology offers virtual sessions for clients anywhere in Alberta. The same confidentiality standards apply to virtual and in-person sessions. Virtual therapy can be especially practical when caring for a newborn or when travel is difficult.

Is postpartum counselling only for depression?

No. People seek support after birth for many reasons, including anxiety, overwhelm, relationship strain, identity changes, difficult birth experiences, or general adjustment to a new routine. You do not need a diagnosis to benefit from counselling.

Do I need a referral?

A referral is not required. You can book directly through the online booking system or call 780-904-4880. Some people also choose to involve a family doctor, midwife, or other medical provider, especially when physical recovery, medication, or feeding concerns are part of the picture.

Meet Your Clinicians

Wholesome Psychology's team includes Registered Psychologists, Registered Provisional Psychologists, Registered Social Workers, Certified Canadian Counsellors, Mental Health Therapists, and Student Therapists. All psychologists are registered with the College of Alberta Psychologists. Certified Canadian Counsellors are regulated by the Canadian Counselling and Psychological Association (CCPA). Registered Social Workers are regulated by the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW). Provisional psychologists practise under the supervision of a senior registered psychologist.

Many clinicians have training in postpartum and perinatal mental health, mood difficulties, anxiety, relationship concerns, and adjustment after major life transitions. You can browse individual profiles on the Our Therapists page, use the Match with a Therapist tool, or call 780-904-4880 for guidance.

Children and Youth

Wholesome Psychology also offers counselling for children, adolescents, and young people. When a parent is experiencing postpartum difficulties, the family system can be affected. Therapists working with younger clients use age-appropriate approaches and can work with caregivers to support the child's wellbeing alongside the parent's recovery.

If you are concerned about how your postpartum experience may be affecting your child or older children in the household, you can discuss this with your therapist or contact the clinic to explore options.

Related Support

You may also want to explore:

• Perinatal Mental Health
• Postpartum Mental Health
• Postpartum Depression
• Difficult Birth Recovery
• Relationships After Birth
• Returning to Work After Maternity Leave
• Getting Started with Therapy

Getting Started

If you are considering postpartum counselling, you can take the next step in whatever way feels most comfortable:

• Book a session online
• Match with a therapist
• Call: 780-904-4880
• Email: info@wholesomepsychology.ca
• Learn more about the process on the Getting Started page

New clients may access their first session at 50% off to help find the right therapeutic fit.

Starting the conversation is enough.

References

• Canadian Mental Health Association. (n.d.). Postpartum depression. Retrieved May 2, 2026, from https://novascotia.cmha.ca/documents/postpartum-depression/
• Canadian Psychological Association. (n.d.). Psychology works fact sheet: Post-partum depression. https://cpa.ca/
• Dennis, C.-L., & Hodnett, E. D. (2007). Psychosocial and psychological interventions for treating postpartum depression. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (4), CD006116. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD006116.pub2
• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (2014). Antenatal and postnatal mental health: Clinical management and service guidance (Clinical Guideline CG192). https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg192
• Public Health Agency of Canada. (n.d.). Chapter 5: Postpartum care. Government of Canada. https://www.canada.ca/
• Statistics Canada. (2024). Access to postpartum health care and perinatal mental health support, 2024 Parental Experiences Survey. The Daily. https://www.statcan.gc.ca/
• Swedish Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Assessment of Social Services. (2022). Psychological treatment for postpartum depression: A systematic review including health economic and ethical aspects (SBU Assessment No. 358). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK588870/
• World Health Organization. (2024). ICD-11 for mortality and morbidity statistics. https://icd.who.int/