Not sure if your shopping is a real concern or just a habit you should be able to fix on your own? Counselling can offer a private, non-judgmental place to look at the pattern and decide what you want to change. Registered Psychologists regulated by the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP). Registered Provisional Psychologists, Registered Social Workers regulated by the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW), Canadian Certified Counsellors certified by the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA), Mental Health Therapists, and Student Therapists. In-person sessions in Edmonton and St. Albert. Virtual sessions for people in Alberta.

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You Might Be Wondering Whether Counselling for Out-of-Control Shopping Is Right for You

You may be asking yourself whether this is really a problem. It is only shopping, after all. Most people buy things they do not need now and then, so it can be hard to tell whether your spending is worth talking to someone about, or whether you just need more willpower.

Maybe you open a shopping app without really deciding to, and an hour slips by. Maybe there is a quick lift when you place an order, then a sinking feeling when the bank statement arrives. Or you find yourself tucking bags and boxes out of sight before anyone else sees them.

Patterns like these can be understandable responses to stress, boredom, loneliness, or the offers that land on your phone all day. Shopping may become a way to cope, to celebrate, or to take a break, and over time it can turn into a habit that is hard to pause. Noticing this does not mean something is wrong with you as a person. It also does not mean you have a diagnosis.

If you are trying to work out where you stand, the sections below describe what this kind of counselling involves and what it does not. If you are reading on behalf of a partner, parent, or friend, the information may help you understand what support could look like. And if you already know you want to talk to someone, details about getting started, fees, and locations are further down the page.

Who We Help

Counselling for shopping concerns may be a good fit if you:

• shop or browse more often, or for longer, than you intend
• want to understand how shopping connects with stress, emotions, or daily routines
• feel tension with a partner or family member about spending or shared money
• have tried your own strategies and would like a different kind of support
• are affected by someone else's spending and want support for yourself
• would rather start with what you have noticed than with a label or diagnosis

This service may not be the right fit if:

• You are in crisis or worried about your safety right now, including your safety at home. Please use the crisis resources below.
• You need financial, debt-management, credit, or legal advice. Counselling can sit alongside these services, but it does not replace them.
• You are looking for a psychological assessment, a diagnosis, or a report for legal or court purposes. Forensic and legal needs are outside this therapy service. Psychological assessments are a separate service and are not part of this counselling.

If You Need Help Right Now

Counselling appointments are booked ahead of time and are not set up to respond to emergencies. If you are in immediate danger, feel unable to stay safe, or are thinking about suicide, please contact one of these services:

• Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department if you are in immediate danger.
• Alberta Mental Health Help Line: 1-877-303-2642 (24/7)
• Suicide Crisis Helpline: call or text 9-8-8 anywhere in Canada
• Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741

Wholesome Psychology is not an emergency or crisis service.

What This Service Is

Out-of-control shopping counselling is a confidential, collaborative conversation about shopping patterns that feel difficult to manage. You and your therapist look at what tends to happen before, during, and after shopping. You also talk about what matters to you and what you would like to be different.

Depending on your goals, sessions may include:

• noticing patterns and the situations that tend to come before shopping
• exploring emotional, situational, relationship, or online influences
• clarifying your values and financial priorities
• building pauses, boundaries, or routines that feel realistic to you
• talking through how to communicate about shared spending
• identifying other supports that may be useful

Counselling for shopping concerns is not:

• a crisis or emergency service
• financial, debt-management, credit, or legal advice
• a legal or investigative process
• a psychological assessment, and it does not provide a diagnosis

You set the pace, not your therapist. You will not be pushed to share more than you are ready to, and you can change the focus of sessions as your priorities shift. What you share is confidential within legal and ethical limits, which are explained in the confidentiality section below. Each therapist works within the scope of their own training and professional regulation, and if a concern falls outside that scope, they can talk with you about other supports.

You can read more about how the clinic works in Our Unique Approach.

Signs Out-of-Control Shopping May Be Affecting You

You do not need a label to start counselling. This is not a test or a checklist. It is a list of experiences some people describe:

• Shopping or browsing takes up more time or attention than you would like.
• You shop to feel better after a hard day, or when you feel bored, lonely, or restless.
• There is a rush of excitement or relief while buying, then guilt, regret, or worry afterward.
• Thoughts about items, sales, or deliveries keep pulling your attention, even when you are busy.
• You keep purchases, receipts, or account balances to yourself.
• Money conversations with a partner or family member have become tense.
• You feel tense, restless, or have trouble sleeping when you think about spending or bills.
• Purchases pile up unopened, or you return items and then buy more.
• Your plans to cut back have not worked the way you hoped.

These are understandable human responses to stress, strong feelings, and shopping that is always within reach. They are not a sign of weak character, and they do not mean something is permanently wrong. A structured, private place to look at them may help you understand what drives the pattern and what you want to do about it.

How Treatment Works Here

• Find your therapist. Use the Match with a Therapist tool or browse Our Therapists. If you would rather talk it through, the administrative team can help at 780-904-4880.
• Book your first session. You can book online. Your first session covers consent, confidentiality, and what you would like help with. It is also a chance to see whether the therapist's approach feels like a good fit.
• Build your plan together. You and your therapist create a plan based on your goals. You decide what to focus on, whether that is understanding the pattern, easing conflict at home, or something else.
• Ongoing sessions. Sessions are 50 minutes. Most people meet weekly or every two weeks, and this can be adjusted to suit your needs and schedule.
• Progress check-ins. Your therapist reviews progress with you regularly. The plan changes as your needs change.

There is no fixed number of sessions. Your voice matters at every stage, including decisions about how often to meet and when to stop. The Getting Started with Therapy page explains each step in more detail.

Evidence and Approaches

We describe an approach on this page only when we have been able to review the research behind it. For shopping concerns, the research available to us was limited, so this section is short and cautious. Your therapist can tell you about the specific approaches they use and why.

Collaborative Counselling for Shopping Concerns

What it helps with: Understanding shopping patterns that feel hard to manage, the situations and feelings around them, and what you want to change.

Evidence summary: Treatment for compulsive buying-shopping disorder, the term researchers use for this area, has been studied, and a 2023 systematic review gathered updated treatment studies on the topic (Müller et al., 2023). The review's methods, results, and conclusions were not available in the material used to prepare this page. So this page does not say which approaches were studied or how well they worked.

Limitations: Without access to the findings, we cannot say which approach works best or what results to expect. How counselling unfolds varies from person to person.

What Results to Expect

Change rarely happens in a straight line. Some weeks may feel steady, and others may bring old patterns back, especially during stressful stretches. That is a normal part of the process, not a failure.

Some people come for a shorter stretch with one focused goal. Others choose longer-term support. What helps, and how quickly, can depend on what is happening in your life, the pressures around money and relationships, and how well you connect with your therapist.

No form of counselling can guarantee a particular result. That includes changes in spending, finances, or relationships. If the fit with your therapist does not feel right, you can change therapists or try a different approach at any time.

Confidentiality and Privacy

What you share in counselling is kept confidential. Psychologists at Wholesome Psychology are regulated by the College of Alberta Psychologists and follow the Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists published by the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA). Other clinicians follow the privacy and ethics standards of their own professions.

Two Alberta privacy laws are especially relevant to counselling. The Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) sets rules for how private organizations, including private clinics, collect, use, and protect personal information. The Health Information Act (HIA) governs health information held by health custodians, such as Alberta Health Services, and by the people who work for or are contracted by them. Your therapist can explain which rules apply to your records.

There are a few legal and ethical limits to confidentiality. Your therapist may need to share information without your consent if:

• there is a risk of serious harm to you or to someone else
• there is reason to believe a child is being abused or neglected, which must be reported under Alberta law
• a court orders the release of records

Your therapist will explain these limits clearly in your first session, along with how your records are kept. You are welcome to ask questions about privacy before you share anything personal, and you can ask again at any time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to go into detail about every purchase or how much I owe?

No. You decide how much to share and when. You can start with what is happening now, such as the patterns you notice from week to week, rather than a full history of purchases or debts. Your therapist will follow your pace.

Is what I share kept private?

Yes, within legal and ethical limits. Your therapist may need to share information if there is a risk of serious harm, a concern that a child is being abused or neglected, or a court order. These limits are explained in your first session, and the confidentiality section above covers them in more detail.

How many sessions will I need?

There is no set number. It depends on your goals and circumstances. Some people come for a shorter, focused stretch, and others prefer longer-term support. You and your therapist review progress regularly and decide together.

What if the therapist is not the right fit?

Feeling comfortable with your therapist matters. If the fit does not feel right, you can tell your therapist or the administrative team, and they can help you find a different clinician. The Match with a Therapist tool can also help you compare options. New clients may access their first session at 50% off to help find the right therapeutic fit.

Can I have sessions online?

Yes. Virtual sessions are available for people located in Alberta, and the same confidentiality standards apply as in person. Your therapist can talk with you about privacy on your end, such as finding a quiet space where you will not be overheard.

Do I need a diagnosis to start counselling for shopping concerns?

No. You can begin with your own description of what feels hard and what you would like to be different. Counselling does not provide a diagnosis. Psychological assessments are a separate service.

Can I talk about financial stress or debt in therapy?

Yes. Therapy can make space for the emotional, relationship, and behaviour sides of money stress. It does not replace financial, legal, debt-management, or credit advice. You may also find it useful to read about financial risk stress counselling or impulsivity in adults counselling.

My partner's shopping is affecting our household. Can counselling help me?

You can come to counselling for your own stress and for support in talking about shared money. If you and your partner would like to work on it together, you can ask the administrative team about couples counselling.

Meet Your Clinicians

The team includes Registered Psychologists, Registered Provisional Psychologists, Registered Social Workers, Canadian Certified Counsellors, Mental Health Therapists, and Student Therapists. All psychologists are registered with the College of Alberta Psychologists. Registered Provisional Psychologists practise under the supervision of a senior registered psychologist. Registered Social Workers are regulated by the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW), and Student Therapists are master's-level practicum students.

Clinicians bring different training and areas of focus. The Our Therapists page describes each person's experience, and the Match with a Therapist tool can help you find someone suited to shopping or spending concerns. You can also call the administrative team at 780-904-4880 for guidance.

Getting Started

If you would like to talk about shopping patterns, spending-related stress, or how these are affecting your life, you can take the next step in whichever way suits you:

• Book a session online
• Match with a therapist
• Call 780-904-4880
• Email info@wholesomepsychology.ca
• Read Getting Started with Therapy

Starting the conversation is enough.

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

References

• Müller, A., et al. (2023). Update on treatment studies for compulsive buying-shopping disorder: A systematic review. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 12(3). https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.2023.00033