Respectful, nonjudgmental counselling for adults working through questions about sexual interests, behaviours, boundaries, shame, or relationship strain. Registered psychologists regulated by the College of Alberta Psychologists, Certified Canadian Counsellors regulated by the Canadian Counselling and Psychological Association (CCPA), and Registered Social Workers regulated by the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW). In-person in Edmonton and St. Albert, or virtual across Alberta.

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You Might Be Wondering Whether Alternative Sexual Behaviours Is Right for You

Maybe you have been turning something over in your mind for a long time and still are not sure whether it is the kind of thing you could bring to a therapist. You might be wondering whether what you are experiencing is common enough, serious enough, or even the right fit for counselling. That uncertainty is one of the most common reasons people wait before reaching out.

You might notice that you carry a quiet tension around certain sexual interests or behaviours, one that shows up as secrecy, guilt, or a gap between what you do and what you feel comfortable talking about. Perhaps you have been replaying the same patterns and struggling to make sense of them. Or maybe it is not about any single behaviour at all, but about the strain it places on a relationship, the way it complicates trust, or the feeling that something in your life does not quite line up with what you want it to look like.

These experiences do not mean something is fundamentally wrong with you. Many people carry questions about their sexual lives without knowing where to take those questions. The discomfort, confusion, or shame you may feel often reflects the weight of navigating private concerns in silence, not a permanent flaw.

If you are considering whether a structured, private conversation might help, this page describes what this service involves, who it may be a good fit for, and how to get started. You may wish to read on and see whether any of it feels relevant to your situation.

Who We Help

This service may be a good fit for adults who are:

• Questioning or concerned about sexual interests, fantasies, or behaviours
• Experiencing shame, secrecy, or fear of judgment related to their sexual life
• Struggling with repetitive sexual behaviour that feels difficult to manage or interrupt
• Noticing tension between their behaviour and their personal values or goals
• Dealing with trust, communication, or intimacy concerns in a relationship connected to sexual topics
• Wanting help talking with a partner about preferences, limits, or agreements
• Unsure whether sex therapy, couples therapy, or a different service would be a better starting point

This service may not be the right fit if you:

• Are in immediate crisis or danger. Please see the crisis resources below.
• Need a forensic or legal assessment. Psychological assessments are a separate service.
• Are seeking a court-ordered program or mandated treatment. Your therapist can discuss referral options if needed.
• Are looking for medical care or sexual health testing. Counselling is not a substitute for medical services, and your therapist can help coordinate with a physician if that would be useful.

Crisis Resources

If you or someone you know is at immediate risk of harm, counselling is not the right resource in that moment. 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

Wholesome Psychology is not an emergency or crisis service.

What This Service Is

Alternative sexual behaviour counselling is a structured, private space for adults to explore questions about their sexual interests, behaviours, boundaries, consent, values, and relationship dynamics. The goal is not to apply a label or push toward a particular outcome. Instead, counselling focuses on what matters to you: understanding patterns, reducing distress, improving communication, addressing shame, or clarifying what kind of support would help most.

This service is not a legal process, an investigation, a crisis intervention, or a medical assessment. It is not a substitute for sexual health care. The pace of counselling is set by you, not the therapist. You choose what to share and when.

What you discuss in sessions is confidential within legal and ethical limits. Your therapist will explain these limits during your first appointment, and you are welcome to ask questions before sharing anything personal. A more detailed explanation of confidentiality appears further down this page.

This service focuses on counselling. It does not include psychological assessments, which are available as a separate service.

Signs Alternative Sexual Behaviour Concerns May Be Affecting You

People reach out for many different reasons. You do not need a diagnosis or a label to benefit from counselling. Some patterns you might recognize include:

• Feeling preoccupied with certain sexual thoughts, urges, or behaviours in a way that creates distress
• Carrying shame or guilt that makes it hard to talk about your sexual life openly
• Keeping parts of your sexual behaviour secret from people close to you
• Noticing a gap between how you behave sexually and what you value or want for yourself
• Experiencing conflict in a relationship because of sexual preferences, boundaries, or trust
• Feeling unable to stop or change a sexual pattern even when you want to
• Avoiding intimacy, emotional closeness, or honest conversations because of what it might reveal
• Worrying about the consequences of your behaviour on your health, safety, relationships, or daily life

These experiences are more common than they may feel. They are not proof that something is permanently broken. Many reflect the difficulty of carrying private concerns without a structured place to sort through them. Counselling can offer that structure.

How Treatment Works Here

• Find your therapist. Use the Match with a Therapist tool to find a clinician whose background fits your needs. You can also browse therapist profiles or call the admin team at 780-904-4880 for guidance.
• Book your first session. Your first appointment will include a discussion about what brings you in, your goals, and any questions you have about the process. Your therapist will explain confidentiality, consent, and the limits of the service.
• Build your plan together. You and your therapist will develop a plan that reflects your goals. This plan is co-created, not assigned. If individual work is not the right fit, your therapist can explore whether couples counselling or another format might be more useful.
• Ongoing sessions. Sessions are 50 minutes, typically weekly or bi-weekly, with flexibility to adjust as things shift.
• Progress check-ins. Your therapist reviews progress with you regularly. If something is not working, the plan changes. If a different clinician or approach would serve you better, that is a normal part of the process.

There is no fixed number of sessions. Some people benefit from short-term, focused work. Others prefer longer-term support. Your voice matters at every stage.

Evidence and Approaches

Clinicians at Wholesome Psychology may draw on a range of therapeutic approaches when working with alternative sexual behaviour concerns. Because the research base for this specific service area is limited and does not yet include strong, directly applicable adult treatment trials, the descriptions below reflect the general therapeutic frameworks that clinicians may use. They are not claims of demonstrated efficacy for this particular population.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

What it may focus on: Identifying connections between thoughts, emotions, and sexual behaviours, and developing strategies to shift patterns that cause distress.

General context: CBT is a widely studied approach across many areas of mental health. Its application in the context of alternative sexual behaviours draws on established CBT principles, though direct trial evidence for this specific service area was not available in the current evidence base.

Limitations: Effectiveness may depend on individual circumstances, motivation, and the nature of the concerns. This approach may not suit everyone.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

What it may focus on: Reducing shame and avoidance by helping clients move toward actions aligned with their values, even in the presence of difficult thoughts or feelings about sexuality.

General context: ACT has a growing evidence base across several mental health domains, including areas involving shame, avoidance, and values-based conflict. Its use in sexual behaviour counselling is clinically reasonable but not yet supported by direct trials specific to this population.

Limitations: ACT relies on willingness to engage with uncomfortable internal experiences. Outcomes vary and are not guaranteed.

Motivational Interviewing (MI)

What it may focus on: Exploring ambivalence about change without pressure, helping clients clarify what they want and whether change aligns with their own goals.

General context: MI is an established technique used across addiction, health behaviour, and counselling contexts. It is well suited to situations where the client is uncertain about whether or how to change. Direct evidence for its application to alternative sexual behaviours specifically was not available in the current evidence base.

Limitations: MI is a collaborative process. It does not impose goals and may not be sufficient as a standalone treatment for complex concerns.

Your therapist will discuss which approach or combination may be most relevant to your situation. Approaches can be adjusted as counselling progresses.

What Results to Expect

Progress in counselling is rarely a straight line. Some people notice shifts in how they relate to their concerns within a few sessions. Others benefit from longer-term work that unfolds gradually. There is no single timeline that applies to everyone.

Several factors influence outcomes, including the nature and history of your concerns, your current life circumstances, and the quality of the therapeutic relationship. Some people find relief from just 2-3 sessions. Others choose to continue longer. The pace is yours to set.

No therapy guarantees outcomes. What counselling can offer is a structured space to understand your patterns, reduce distress, and move toward choices that feel more aligned with your values. If the approach or the therapist is not the right fit, that feedback is welcomed, and changes can be made.

Confidentiality and Privacy

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

There are legal exceptions to confidentiality. Your therapist is required to break confidentiality if:

• There is a risk of serious harm to you or someone else
• There is suspected abuse or neglect of a child (mandatory reporting under Alberta law)
• A court orders the release of your records

Your therapist will explain these limits clearly during the first session. You are encouraged to ask questions about confidentiality before sharing anything personal. Understanding how your information is protected can make the process of opening up feel safer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to describe what happened or what I do in detail?

No. You decide what to share and when. Some people prefer to begin by talking about the feelings around a behaviour rather than the behaviour itself. Others want to describe their experience directly. Your therapist will follow your lead. Counselling can work with present-day patterns, relational concerns, or emotional responses without requiring detailed disclosure of specific acts unless you choose to go there.

Is what I share kept private?

Yes. Counselling is confidential within legal and ethical limits. Your therapist is required to break confidentiality only in specific situations: risk of serious harm to you or someone else, suspected abuse or neglect of a child, or a court order. These limits are explained during the 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 a small number of focused sessions. Others find that longer-term work helps them address deeper patterns. Your therapist will review progress with you regularly and adjust the plan as your needs evolve. Some people find relief from just 2-3 sessions.

What if the therapist is not the right fit?

Therapeutic fit matters. If you feel that the connection with your therapist is not working, you are welcome to let the admin team know. They can help you find a different clinician within the practice. This is a normal part of finding the right support. New clients may access their first session at 50% off to help find the right therapeutic fit.

Can I access therapy online?

Yes. Virtual sessions are available for clients located anywhere in Alberta. The same confidentiality standards apply. Virtual counselling uses a secure platform, and your therapist will confirm that the setup meets privacy requirements before you begin.

What is the difference between a psychologist and a counsellor?

Registered Psychologists hold a doctoral or master's degree in psychology and are regulated by 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). Mental Health Therapists hold graduate-level training in counselling and are governed by their respective professional standards. All clinicians at Wholesome Psychology work within defined scopes of practice. The Our Therapists page describes each clinician's credentials and areas of focus.

Do I need a referral?

No referral is required. You can book directly through the online booking system, use the Match with a Therapist tool, or call 780-904-4880.

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. Provisional psychologists practise under the supervision of a senior registered psychologist. 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).

Many clinicians on the team have training in areas relevant to sexual concerns, relationships, intimacy, and shame. To find a therapist whose background aligns with your needs, visit the Our Therapists page, try the Match with a Therapist tool, or call 780-904-4880 and the admin team can help guide you.

Children and Youth

This page is written for adults. If your concern involves a child or adolescent, Wholesome Psychology offers counselling for younger clients through age-appropriate approaches delivered by clinicians trained to work with children and families. Caregivers are involved in supporting the child's recovery environment.

For concerns specifically related to harmful sexual behaviour in children or adolescents, please see the Harmful Sexual Behaviour in Children page. You can also call 780-904-4880 to discuss the right pathway.

Getting Started

If anything on this page resonated, the next step can be as simple as a phone call or a few minutes on the booking page. You do not need to have everything figured out before reaching out.

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

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

Starting the conversation is enough.

References

• College of Alberta Psychologists. (2023). Standards of Practice. https://www.cap.ab.ca/
• World Health Organization. (2019). International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision (ICD-11). https://icd.who.int/
• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (2016). Harmful sexual behaviour among children and young people (NICE Guideline NG55). https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng55