Collaborative, client-centred therapy, in person in Edmonton and St. Albert or virtually anywhere in Alberta. Psychologists registered with the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP). Registered Psychologists, 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 at five Edmonton and St. Albert locations and Virtual sessions across Alberta available.

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You Might Be Wondering Whether Therapy Is Right for You

You may not be sure that what you are dealing with is big enough to bring to a therapist. Maybe nothing dramatic has happened. Maybe you keep telling yourself that other people have it worse, or that you should be able to sort this out on your own.

Part of you may want to talk to someone. Another part may wonder what the point would be, or feel uneasy about saying things out loud to a stranger. Both of those can be true at the same time.

Perhaps you have been lying awake running through the same conversations. You might be snapping at people you care about and then feeling bad about it. Or you may be getting through each day fine on the surface while feeling flat, tired, or a little lost underneath.

These patterns are common responses to stress, change, loss, and pressure that has gone on for a while. They usually make sense once you look at what you have been carrying. They do not mean something is wrong with you as a person.

Some people reading this are looking for themselves. Others are here for a partner, a parent, a child, or a friend. If you are considering whether speaking with someone could help, this page explains what therapy looks like at Wholesome Psychology, what it can and cannot offer, and how to start if you decide to.

Who We Help

Therapy here may be a good fit if you:

• are dealing with stress, overwhelm, or a lot of change at once
• are having a hard time in a relationship, in your family, or at work
• are grieving a person, a role, or a way of life you have lost
• want to understand your emotions or reactions better
• are facing a major decision or transition, such as a move, a new job, or becoming a parent
• have been in therapy before and want to return
• are looking into support for a child, a teen, or another person in your life

This service may not be the right fit if:

• You are in crisis or in immediate danger. Please use the crisis resources below.
• You need a psychological assessment, for example for a diagnosis, school, work, or insurance. Assessments are a separate service. You can read about mental health assessment services on their own page.
• You need a report or opinion for a court case or other legal process. Forensic and legal work is outside this therapy service.
• A court or agency has told you to complete a specific program. General therapy may not meet that requirement. Check with the referring agency first, and the admin team can talk through what the clinic does and does not offer.
• You have questions about medication. Therapists at the clinic do not prescribe. Your family doctor or a psychiatrist can help with medication questions.

If You Need Help Right Now

Therapy appointments are booked ahead of time, so they are not the right place for an urgent safety concern. If you or someone else is in danger, please reach out to one of these services:

• 911 or your nearest emergency department if there is immediate danger
• Alberta Mental Health Help Line: 1-877-303-2642 (24/7, toll-free)
• Family Violence Info Line (Alberta): 310-1818 (24/7, toll-free), for anyone affected by abuse or violence at home
• Crisis Text Line, powered by Kids Help Phone: text CONNECT to 686868 (24/7)

Wholesome Psychology is not an emergency or crisis service.

What Therapy at Wholesome Psychology Is and Is Not

Therapy is a series of conversations with a trained clinician about what you want to understand, cope with, or change. At Wholesome Psychology, therapy is collaborative and client-centred. You and your therapist talk about your goals, your background, your preferences, and the pace that feels right, and you shape the plan together. You can read more about our approach to therapy.

Therapy here is not:

• a crisis or emergency service
• a legal service or an investigation. Your therapist will not decide who is right in a dispute or collect evidence.
• a psychological assessment. This page describes therapy only, and assessments are booked as a separate service.
• medical care or medication management

You set the pace. You decide what to talk about and when, and you can say "not yet" to any topic. Your therapist may suggest directions, but the work moves at a speed that feels manageable to you.

What you share is kept confidential, with some limits set by law. Your therapist explains those limits during informed consent in your first session, and the confidentiality and privacy section below covers them in more detail.

Every clinician works within their own training and scope of practice. If what you need falls outside what your therapist can offer, they will tell you and talk with you about other options.

Signs Stress or Emotional Strain May Be Affecting You

Many people do not notice how much they have been carrying until it starts to show up in everyday life. Here are some patterns people describe:

• feeling tired even after a full night in bed, or not sleeping well at all
• replaying conversations or worrying about things you cannot control
• getting irritated or tearful more quickly than usual
• losing interest in things you used to enjoy
• pulling back from friends or family without being sure why
• finding it hard to focus at work or at school
• feeling it in your body, such as a tight jaw, headaches, or an unsettled stomach
• ending up in the same argument with someone close to you, again and again
• a sense that you are just going through the motions

This is not a checklist for a diagnosis. Having some of these experiences does not mean something is permanently wrong with you. They are common reactions to stress, change, and pressure. Talking them through with a trained clinician may make it easier to see what is going on and what you would like to do about it.

How Therapy Works at Wholesome Psychology

• Find your therapist. You can browse profiles on our Our Therapists page or use the Match Tool for help choosing. If you would rather talk it through with a person, the admin team can help at 780-904-4880.
• Book your first session. You can book online through our booking system. In the first session you will go over informed consent and confidentiality, talk about what brings you in, and discuss what you hope to get out of therapy. You do not need to have it all figured out.
• Build your plan together. Your therapist works with you to shape a plan that reflects your goals and preferences. You have a say in what you focus on and how.
• Ongoing sessions. Sessions are 50 minutes, usually weekly or every two weeks. The schedule can change as your needs change.
• Progress check-ins. Your therapist checks in with you about what is helping and what is not, and the plan is adjusted along the way.

There is no fixed number of sessions. Therapy is a collaboration, and your voice matters at every stage, including when you feel ready to take a break or finish. For a fuller picture, see Getting Started with Therapy and What to Expect From Therapy.

Evidence and Approaches

Therapists draw on different approaches depending on their training and what you want to work on. Your therapist can explain the options and why they might suggest one over another. No single approach is right for everyone.

This section summarizes research on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). Other approaches have their own pages, including acceptance and commitment therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy, EMDR therapy, and person-centred therapy. Evidence for those approaches is not summarized here.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

What it helps with: CBT is a structured, skills-based approach that may be one option for adults working through a range of mental health concerns.

Evidence summary: A 2025 unified series of meta-analyses examined the effects of CBT across multiple mental health conditions in adults (Cuijpers, 2025). This points to a broad and active research base for CBT in adult mental health. It does not mean CBT works the same way for every person or every concern.

Limitations: Results vary from person to person, and CBT is not the best fit for everyone. This research focused on adults, so it does not speak directly to children or teens.

What Results to Expect

Therapy can be a place to make sense of what is happening and to try new ways of responding. Progress is rarely a straight line. Some weeks may feel like a step forward and others like a step back, and that is a normal part of the process.

Some people notice changes within a few months. Others find that longer-term work suits them better. How therapy goes can depend on:

• what you are dealing with and how long it has been going on
• what else is happening in your life, such as work, health, money, or relationships
• how well you and your therapist work together
• whether the approach suits you

No therapy can guarantee a particular result. If something is not working, it helps to say so. Your therapist can adjust the approach, and you can change therapists at any point. Fit matters, and switching is a normal part of finding support that works for you.

Confidentiality and Privacy

What you share in therapy is kept confidential. Psychologists at Wholesome Psychology are regulated by the College of Alberta Psychologists and follow the CAP Standards of Practice and the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists. Other clinicians follow the ethical and privacy standards that apply to their role.

Two Alberta laws set rules for how personal and health information is handled: the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) and the Health Information Act (HIA). PIPA generally applies to private clinics in Alberta. The HIA applies when health information is handled by, or on behalf of, a health custodian such as Alberta Health Services. Together, these laws and professional standards govern how your information is collected, used, stored, and shared, and they give you the right to access your own records.

There are a few situations where a therapist may have to share information without your consent:

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

Your therapist will explain these limits clearly in your first session. You are welcome to ask questions about privacy before you share anything personal. You can also ask the admin team about the clinic's privacy practices before you book.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to go into detail about everything that is going on?

No. You decide what to share and when. Many people start with what is happening day to day, such as sleep, stress, or a relationship that feels hard, and that is a good place to begin. Your therapist will follow your lead on pacing, and you can say you are not ready to talk about something at any point.

Is what I share kept private?

Yes, with some limits. Alberta privacy laws (PIPA and the HIA) and professional standards protect your information. A therapist may have to share information without your consent if someone is at serious risk of harm, if a child may be experiencing abuse or neglect, or if a court orders it. Your therapist will go over these limits in your first session. The confidentiality and privacy section above has more detail.

How many sessions will I need?

There is no set number. It depends on what you want to work on, what else is going on in your life, and how things progress. Some people come for a short stretch to work through one concern. Others find longer-term support helpful. You and your therapist review progress regularly and decide together.

What if my therapist is not the right fit?

Fit matters, and therapists understand that. You can raise it with your therapist directly, or contact the admin team at 780-904-4880 for help finding a different clinician. You can also use the Match Tool to look at other options. New clients may access their first session at 50% off to help find the right therapeutic fit.

Can I have therapy online?

Yes. Virtual sessions are available to people anywhere in Alberta, though availability varies by clinician. The same confidentiality standards and Alberta privacy laws apply to virtual sessions as to in-person ones. It can help to find a private spot where you will not be overheard. See online therapy for more.

I am not sure what I want to talk about. Can I still book?

Yes. You do not need a clear goal before you start. Part of the first session is working out together what you would like to focus on. Some people come in with only a sense that something feels off, and that is enough to start a conversation.

I am looking into therapy for someone else. How can I help?

Adults usually choose their own therapist and book for themselves. You can share this page, offer to look at profiles together, or sit with them while they call. For a child or teen, a parent or guardian typically arranges the first appointment, and the section on children and youth below has more information.

The Government of Canada also keeps a page listing mental health supports available across the country (Government of Canada, n.d.). If you are worried about someone's immediate safety, use the crisis resources listed earlier on this page. Our page on supporting someone's mental health may also be useful.

Meet Your Clinicians

The team at Wholesome Psychology 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 are completing the requirements for full registration and practise under the supervision of a fully registered psychologist.

Registered Social Workers are regulated by the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW). Student Therapists are master's-level practicum students who see clients under supervision at a lower fee.

Training and areas of focus vary from one clinician to the next. You can read about each person's background on Our Therapists. If you are not sure where to start, the Match Tool can help you narrow it down, or you can call the admin team at 780-904-4880.

Children and Youth

Wholesome Psychology offers counselling for children, teens, and young adults as well as adults. Therapists who work with younger clients adapt their approach to the young person's age and stage of development. For younger children, that may include play or activity-based work.

Caregivers are usually part of the process. Therapists work with parents and guardians to understand what is happening at home and at school and to support the young person between sessions. Confidentiality works a little differently for minors, and the therapist will explain how it applies to your family.

You can learn more about child and youth counselling, teen mental health support, and preparing a child for therapy.

When You Feel Ready

If you would like to take a next step, here are a few ways to start:

• Book a session online
• Match with a therapist using the Match Tool
• Call the admin team at 780-904-4880
• Email info@wholesomepsychology.ca
• Read Getting Started with Therapy for an overview of the process

You are also welcome to call or email with questions before you decide anything. Starting the conversation is enough.

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

References

• Cuijpers, P. (2025). Cognitive behavior therapy for mental disorders in adults: A unified series of meta-analyses. JAMA Psychiatry.
• Government of Canada. (n.d.). Mental health support: Get help. Canada.ca.