Respectful, collaborative counselling for children, teens, and adults with autism or other neurodevelopmental differences, and for the families who support them. Registered Psychologists regulated by the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP). In-person sessions in Edmonton and St. Albert. Virtual sessions available across Alberta. 50-minute sessions, with weekday evening and weekend hours.

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You Might Be Wondering Whether Pervasive Developmental Disorders Counselling Is Right for You

You may have found the words "pervasive developmental disorder" in an old school file or a past report, and you are not sure they still fit. You might also be unsure whether counselling is the right kind of help at all. A developmental difference is not something to talk away, so it is fair to ask what sessions would actually be for.

Maybe you are an adult who was given that label years ago and never had a chance to talk about what it meant. Maybe you are a parent wondering whether your child's struggles are "enough" to bring to someone. Or maybe you are starting to suspect that you are the one who needs support.

People often describe everyday moments like these:

• needing a long stretch of quiet after school or work before you can talk to anyone
• rehearsing a phone call several times, then replaying it for hours afterward
• lying awake as a parent, wondering whether you are pushing too hard or not hard enough

These patterns make sense. Many people spend much of their day adapting to classrooms, workplaces, and social rules that were not built around how they think or take in the world. That effort is tiring. It does not mean something is wrong with who you are, and worry about a child you love is a sign of care, not failure.

If you are trying to work out whether this kind of support fits you or someone in your family, the sections below explain what counselling here includes, what it does not include, and how people usually begin.

Who We Help

This counselling service may be a good fit for:

• adults who were given a label like pervasive developmental disorder in the past, or who identify as autistic or neurodivergent, and want space to talk about daily life, work, relationships, or identity
• teens and children, with parents or caregivers involved in a way that suits the young person's age and needs
• parents and caregivers who want support with their own stress, communication at home, or a recent diagnosis in the family
• people facing a transition, such as a new school, post-secondary studies, a first job, or living on their own
• partners and family members who want to understand each other and communicate more easily
• anyone who is unsure what kind of help they need and would like to talk through options

This service may not be the right fit if you are:

• in crisis or at immediate risk of harm. Please use the crisis resources below.
• looking for a diagnosis or formal documentation. Psychological assessments are a separate service. You can read about autism assessments at Wholesome Psychology on their own page.
• needing a report for court or another legal matter. Forensic and legal needs fall outside this counselling service.

If You Need Help Right Now

Counselling sessions are booked ahead of time and are not set up to respond to emergencies. If you, or someone you support, may be in danger, please contact one of these services:

• Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department if there is immediate danger.
• Alberta Mental Health Help Line: 1-877-303-2642 (24/7)
• Crisis Text Line, powered by Kids Help Phone: text TALK to 686868 (24/7). Young people can text CONNECT to the same number.

Wholesome Psychology is not an emergency or crisis service.

What Pervasive Developmental Disorders Counselling Is

"Pervasive developmental disorders" is an older term. It may still appear in searches, school files, or earlier reports. The World Health Organization's current classification system, ICD-11, lists autism spectrum disorder within a broader group called neurodevelopmental disorders (World Health Organization [WHO], n.d.). On this page, we use the older term so people can find us, and current, person-centred language everywhere else.

Counselling here is a collaborative space to talk about everyday concerns. That can include communication, relationships, routines, stress, life changes, self-advocacy, and family questions. The aim is not to make anyone fit a single idea of how they should communicate or live. It is to understand your situation and decide on goals together.

Counselling is not:

• a diagnostic assessment. Counselling does not diagnose autism or any other condition. Assessments are a separate service.
• a legal service or an investigative process
• crisis intervention
• medical care. Questions about medication belong with a physician or nurse practitioner.

You set the pace. You decide what to talk about, and when. What you share is confidential within limits set by law, which are explained in the confidentiality section below. Clinicians work within their own training and scope of practice, and if another service would suit you better, they can talk with you about options.

Signs Neurodevelopmental Differences May Be Affecting You or Your Family

You do not need a label to notice that something is wearing you down. People often come to counselling after recognizing experiences like these:

• feeling drained after social time, even time you enjoyed
• finding that a small change in plans can throw off a whole day
• feeling misunderstood at school, at work, or within your own family
• hiding or adjusting how you naturally act so you fit in, then feeling worn out afterward
• struggling to say what you need, or saying it and not being heard
• tension at home over routines, school, or how much help to give
• worry, low mood, or irritability that seems tied to ongoing stress
• headaches, poor sleep, or feeling on edge after demanding days
• a new diagnosis, or an old label, raising questions you have not had time to sort through

These experiences are common reactions to ongoing strain and to settings that do not fit well. They are not personal failings. Having them does not mean something is permanently wrong. Structured, respectful support may help you make sense of them and decide what, if anything, you want to change.

How Counselling Works Here

• Find your therapist. You can use the Match with a Therapist tool or browse Our Therapists to read clinician profiles. Areas of practice and availability change over time, so our admin team at 780-904-4880 can tell you who is currently taking new clients.
• Book your first session. You can book online or by phone. The first session covers informed consent, confidentiality and its limits, and what brought you in. If the client is a child or teen, the role of parents or caregivers is discussed too.
• Build your plan together. You and your therapist agree on goals that reflect your values, strengths, and practical needs. Your voice shapes the plan.
• Ongoing sessions. Sessions are 50 minutes. Most people meet weekly or every two weeks, and the schedule can be adjusted. If something about the session format makes it harder to take part, such as noise, lighting, or how questions are asked, you can raise it at any time.
• Progress check-ins. Your therapist reviews with you what is helping and what is not. Plans change as your needs change.

There is no fixed number of sessions. You can slow down, pause, or change direction. To learn more about the steps, see Getting Started with Therapy.

Evidence and Approaches

Research on support for autistic people is broad and uneven. Each approach below is described alongside what the evidence shows and where it falls short. Which approach fits depends on your goals, preferences, and circumstances.

Individualized Counselling and Psychosocial Support

What it helps with: Exploring personal goals around daily routines, communication, relationships, stress, and self-advocacy.

Evidence summary: An umbrella review of research on psychosocial interventions for autism found a varied evidence base, with the strength of support differing across approaches and outcomes (Gosling et al., 2022). This suggests that broad claims about any single approach need care and context. For that reason, counselling goals and methods here are individualized rather than assumed in advance.

Limitations: The review covered many types of intervention and age groups, so its findings do not speak directly to talk-based counselling for any one person. Individual responses vary.

Caregiver and Family-Involved Support

What it helps with: Supporting parents, caregivers, and family members who want to talk through communication at home, routines, transitions, and their own stress.

Evidence summary: Canada's federal Framework for Autism in Canada describes autism supports as often involving coordination across different settings and systems (Government of Canada, n.d.). In counselling, family involvement is discussed case by case, based on the client's age, preferences, and consent.

Limitations: The framework is a policy document, not a treatment study, so it does not measure how well any counselling approach works. This page does not draw on treatment research specific to caregiver counselling.

Related pages: autism spectrum disorder counselling, neurodiversity counselling, and parenting support.

What Results to Expect

Progress is rarely a straight line. Some weeks feel productive and others feel stuck, especially during transitions or stressful stretches. That is a normal part of the process.

Some people use counselling for a short time around one question, such as starting a new job or adjusting after a diagnosis. Others prefer ongoing support over many months. What suits you depends on what you want from it.

Several things can shape how counselling goes:

• the concerns that brought you in
• what is happening at home, school, or work
• the supports already around you
• how well you connect with your therapist

No counselling approach can guarantee a particular outcome. Fit matters, and you can change therapists or try a different approach at any time. Your therapist will check in with you about what is and is not helping.

Confidentiality and Privacy

What you share in counselling is confidential. Psychologists at Wholesome Psychology are regulated by CAP and follow the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists. Clinicians in other professions follow the ethical standards that apply to them.

Two Alberta laws shape how personal information is handled. The Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) sets rules for how private organizations in Alberta collect, use, and share personal information. The Health Information Act (HIA) governs health information held by custodians, such as Alberta Health Services, and can also apply when a clinician works with one of those custodians.

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

• a risk of serious harm to yourself or someone else
• suspected abuse or neglect of a child, which must be reported under Alberta law
• a court order requiring records

Your clinician will explain these limits in your first session, before you share anything personal. If the client is a child or teen, how information is shared with parents or guardians is discussed with everyone at the start. You are welcome to ask privacy questions before booking by calling 780-904-4880.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to go over my whole history or talk about hard experiences in detail?

No. You decide what to share and when. You can focus on what is happening now, such as a stressful routine, a relationship, or a transition, without going back through your past. If you have older reports that use terms like pervasive developmental disorder, you can bring them if they feel useful, but you do not have to.

Is what I share kept private?

Yes, within limits set by law. Those limits include a risk of serious harm, suspected abuse or neglect of a child, and a court order. Your clinician explains them in the first session. The confidentiality section above has more detail, including the Alberta privacy laws that apply.

How many sessions will I need?

There is no set number. Some people come for a short time to work on one question. Others prefer longer-term support. You and your therapist review progress regularly and decide together whether to continue, change focus, or pause.

What if the therapist is not the right fit?

Fit matters, and it is fine to say so. Our admin team can help you find a different clinician at any point. New clients may access their first session at 50% off to help find the right therapeutic fit.

Can I access counselling online?

Yes. Virtual sessions are available across Alberta, and the same confidentiality standards apply. Whether online sessions suit a particular person, such as a young child, can be discussed when you book.

Do I need a diagnosis, and can counselling give me one?

Counselling focuses on your concerns and goals, so you can talk with our admin team about starting whether or not you have a formal diagnosis. Counselling does not provide a diagnosis. If diagnostic clarity matters to you, a separate autism assessment may be a better starting point.

Can parents, caregivers, or partners take part in sessions?

Often, yes. It depends on the client's age, preferences, consent, and goals. Sessions may involve individual counselling, caregiver participation, or family-focused conversations. This can be discussed at the first appointment.

Meet Your Clinicians

Our 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 in supervised training.

Training, areas of practice, and availability differ from one clinician to the next and change over time. You can read individual profiles on the Our Therapists page or use the Match with a Therapist tool. If you would rather talk it through, call our admin team at 780-904-4880.

Support for Children and Youth

Wholesome Psychology offers counselling for children, adolescents, and young people. Therapists who work with younger clients use age-appropriate approaches. You can read more on our child and youth counselling page.

Clinicians also work with parents and caregivers to support the child's environment at home. Information is shared with schools or other professionals only with appropriate consent, except where the law requires otherwise.

Taking a Next Step

If you would like to learn more, you can start in whichever way feels easiest:

• 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

• Gosling, C. J., Cartigny, A., Mellier, B., et al. (2022). Efficacy of psychosocial interventions for autism spectrum disorder: An umbrella review. Molecular Psychiatry.
• Government of Canada. (n.d.). Framework for Autism in Canada.
• World Health Organization. (n.d.). ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics: Neurodevelopmental disorders.