Counselling that brings present-moment awareness into a plan built around your goals, at a pace you set. Psychologists registered with the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP). Registered Psychologists, Provisional Psychologists, Social Workers regulated by the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW), and Counsellors certified by the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA). In person in Edmonton and St. Albert, or virtual across Alberta. 50-minute sessions, seven days a week.

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You Might Be Wondering Whether Mindfulness Therapy Is Right for You

You may be unsure whether mindfulness is something a therapist can actually help with, or whether it is just breathing exercises you could get from an app. You might also suspect you would be bad at it, because your mind rarely goes quiet. Some people worry that paying closer attention to their thoughts will only make the hard ones louder. Those doubts are reasonable, and you do not have to settle them on your own before you ask questions.

Maybe your body is at the dinner table while your mind is still in this afternoon's meeting. Maybe you replay a conversation late at night, or snap at someone before you have even noticed how tense you were. Whole days can pass on autopilot, and only at the end do you realize how little of them you were actually there for.

None of this means something is wrong with you. A mind that keeps planning, checking, and replaying is often a mind that has been working hard to keep up. These patterns are common responses to pressure and long stretches of stress. They do not mean something is permanently wrong with you.

If you are curious whether learning to notice these patterns, with support, might be useful, you may wish to read on and see what this kind of counselling looks like here.

Who Mindfulness Therapy May Suit

This service may be a good fit if you:

• Feel caught in worry, overthinking, or a constant sense of rushing, and want to understand those patterns better
• Want practical, present-moment skills you can use in ordinary moments, alongside talking things through
• Are curious about mindfulness but skeptical, and would rather try it with guidance than alone
• Are already working on stress, low mood, or worry and wonder whether mindfulness-informed strategies could be part of the plan
• Are gathering information for a partner, family member, or friend and want to understand what this support involves

It may not be the right fit if:

• You are in immediate danger or crisis. Please use the crisis resources below, because counselling appointments are not set up for emergencies.
• You need a psychological assessment, a diagnosis, or a report for legal, insurance, or court purposes. These needs are outside this counselling service. Psychological assessments are a separate service.
• You are looking for something to replace medical or psychiatric care. Mindfulness-informed counselling is not a substitute for either.
• You want a structured, multi-week mindfulness class or group course. This page describes individual counselling, and the admin team can tell you what else is currently offered.

Crisis Guidance

If you are thinking about ending your life, are at risk of hurting someone, or are not safe where you are, please contact one of these services now. They can respond in ways a scheduled counselling appointment cannot.

• Call 911 if you are in immediate danger, or go to your nearest emergency department
• Alberta Mental Health Help Line: 1-877-303-2642 (24/7)
• 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline: call or text 988 (24/7)
• Family Violence Info Line (Alberta): 310-1818 (24/7, toll-free), if you are not safe at home

Wholesome Psychology is not an emergency or crisis service.

What Mindfulness Therapy Is, and What It Is Not

Mindfulness is a skill built by slowing down and paying attention, with curiosity, to what you are experiencing in the moment. That includes thoughts, feelings, body sensations, and what is happening around you (Canadian Mental Health Association [CMHA], 2017). In counselling, a therapist may bring mindfulness-based practices into a broader plan, alongside conversation and other approaches such as cognitive behavioural therapy or support for stress management.

Mindfulness is not about emptying your mind, thinking only positive thoughts, or forcing yourself to relax (CMHA, 2017). It is a different way of noticing what is already there.

Mindfulness therapy at Wholesome Psychology is not:

• A crisis or emergency service
• A legal service or an investigative process
• A psychological assessment. Assessments are a separate service and are not included in this counselling.
• A replacement for medical or psychiatric care

You set the pace. Your therapist may suggest a practice, but you decide whether to try it, adapt it, or skip it. What you share is confidential within legal limits, which are explained in the Confidentiality and Privacy section below and reviewed in your first session. Each clinician works within the scope of their own training and professional regulation, and will tell you if something you need falls outside it.

Signs Stress and a Busy Mind May Be Affecting You

You do not need a diagnosis to notice that something feels off. People who look into mindfulness often describe experiences like these:

• Feeling on edge or irritable much of the time, without a clear reason
• Getting swept up in a feeling before you notice it building
• Replaying past conversations or rehearsing future ones, over and over
• Finding it hard to focus because your mind keeps jumping ahead
• Being hard on yourself for thoughts you cannot seem to switch off
• Being with people you care about while your mind is somewhere else
• Reacting quickly in conversations, then wishing you had paused
• Tight shoulders, a clenched jaw, or shallow breathing that you only notice later
• Trouble winding down at night because your thoughts speed up

These are common reactions to pressure, not signs that something is permanently wrong with you. Talking them through with a therapist may help you understand where they come from. From there, you can decide what, if anything, you want to try differently.

How Mindfulness Therapy Works at Wholesome Psychology

• Find your therapist. Use the Match with a Therapist tool or browse Our Therapists to find someone whose approach interests you. If you would rather talk it through, the admin team can help at 780-904-4880.
• Book your first session. You can book through our online booking system. In the first session, your therapist explains consent and confidentiality, including its limits, and asks what brought you in and what you hope will change. You can ask questions before you share anything personal.
• Build your plan together. You and your therapist decide whether mindfulness-informed strategies fit your goals, and how they sit alongside other approaches. The plan is shaped around your preferences, not a fixed script.
• Ongoing sessions. Sessions are 50 minutes, usually weekly or every two weeks, and adjusted to what works for you. They may include conversation, reflection, and short practices, such as noticing your breath, body sensations, sounds, or thoughts. Any practice between sessions is optional and discussed with you first.
• Progress check-ins. Your therapist checks in regularly about what is helping and what is not. Practices can be changed, paused, or dropped, and the plan can shift as your needs change.

There is no fixed number of sessions. Therapy here is collaborative, and your voice matters at every stage, including when you decide something is not working. Getting Started with Therapy walks through the process in more detail, and Our Unique Approach explains how we think about fit.

Evidence and Approaches

Each approach below covers what it focuses on, what the sources say, and where the evidence stops. Public education resources describe what mindfulness is. They do not show how well it works for a particular person.

Present-Moment Awareness Practice

What it helps with: It focuses on the habit of running on autopilot, so you can notice thoughts, feelings, and body sensations as they happen.

Evidence summary: CMHA (2017) describes mindfulness as a skill with three main parts: attention, curiosity, and acceptance. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health describes it as being aware and present in the moment, with acceptance and without judgment, and notes that anyone can practise it (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health [CAMH], n.d.).

Limitations: These are Canadian public education resources, not clinical trials. They explain what mindfulness involves, not how well it works for any specific concern.

Mindfulness Within Other Therapy Approaches

What it helps with: It brings present-moment skills into a wider counselling plan instead of using them on their own.

Evidence summary: CMHA (2017) notes that mindfulness is part of several formal psychotherapy approaches, including acceptance and commitment therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy, and cognitive behavioural therapy. It suggests talking with your mental health care team about whether one of these approaches may fit you (CMHA, 2017).

Limitations: This describes how mindfulness is used, not how effective any of these therapies are. Evidence for each approach is separate and depends on the concern being addressed.

Everyday and Between-Session Practice

What it helps with: It brings short moments of awareness into ordinary routines, such as meals, walks, and conversations.

Evidence summary: CMHA (2017) offers examples such as eating a meal without screens, walking while paying close attention to your surroundings, and gently returning your attention to the breath when a thought pulls you away. It notes there is no right or wrong way to practise, and suggests a walking practice if sitting still feels restless (CMHA, 2017).

Limitations: These examples are general. Not every exercise suits every person, so what you try between sessions, if anything, is worked out with your therapist.

Clinical Guidance on Mindfulness and Low Mood

What it helps with: This area looks at whether structured mindfulness-based approaches may have a role for some adults living with depression.

Evidence summary: Clinical guidance on treating depression in adults discusses mindfulness-based options among other psychological approaches (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence [NICE], 2022). Guideline recommendations are written for specific groups and formats, so they cannot be applied to one person from a general summary.

Limitations: The guideline comes from the United Kingdom and is specific to depression. This page does not claim that mindfulness will reduce depression for any particular person, and whether it fits your situation is a question to discuss with a clinician.

What Results to Expect

Change with mindfulness is rarely a straight line. Some weeks you may notice yourself pausing before you react. Other weeks, old habits may come back. That is part of learning any new skill, not a sign of failure.

Some people notice small shifts in how they relate to stress or difficult thoughts within a few months. Others find mindfulness most useful as one part of longer-term work. Some find it is not the right fit and prefer a different approach. Outcomes vary, and no therapy can guarantee a particular result.

Things that can influence how therapy goes include:

• What you are dealing with and how long it has been going on
• Your current circumstances, including stress, health, and support
• How comfortable mindfulness practices feel for you
• The fit between you and your therapist

Therapeutic fit matters. If the approach or the therapist does not feel right, you can say so. Changing therapist or approach is always an option.

Confidentiality and Privacy

What you share in therapy is confidential. Psychologists at Wholesome Psychology are registered with the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP), which regulates the practice of psychology in Alberta. They also follow the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists.

Two Alberta privacy laws are relevant. The Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) generally governs how private clinics in Alberta collect, use, and protect personal information, including what you share in counselling. The Health Information Act (HIA) governs health information held by custodians such as Alberta Health Services, and applies to psychologists when they work for or are contracted by those custodians.

There are legal limits to confidentiality. Your therapist may need to share information without your consent when:

• There is a risk of serious harm to you or to someone else
• A child may be experiencing abuse or neglect, which must be reported under Alberta law, including the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act
• A court orders the release of records

Your therapist will explain these limits clearly in your first session. You are welcome to ask questions about privacy before you share anything personal. Virtual sessions follow the same confidentiality standards as in-person sessions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to talk about everything that is bothering me in detail?

No. You decide what to share and when. Mindfulness-informed work often focuses on what is happening now, such as how stress shows up in your body or how you respond to certain thoughts. You do not need to go through every past experience to begin, and you can pause or change direction at any time.

Is what I share kept private?

Yes, within legal limits. Your therapist will not share information without your consent unless there is a risk of serious harm, a child may be at risk of abuse or neglect, or a court orders records. The Confidentiality and Privacy section explains these limits and how PIPA and the HIA apply.

How many sessions will I need?

There is no set number. Some people want a few sessions to learn and try out practical skills. Others work with mindfulness as part of longer-term counselling. You and your therapist review progress regularly and decide together whether to continue, change the plan, or finish.

What if the therapist is not the right fit?

Fit matters, and it is fine to say so. You can raise it with your therapist directly, or call the admin team at 780-904-4880 and ask to see someone else. 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 do mindfulness therapy online?

Yes. Virtual sessions are available across Alberta, although availability can vary by clinician. Online sessions follow the same confidentiality standards as in-person sessions. You can read more about online counselling.

Do I need meditation experience?

No. You do not need any background in meditation. Sessions can start with conversation, and any practice is introduced gradually and only if you want to try it. CAMH notes that anyone can practise mindfulness (CAMH, n.d.).

Is mindfulness therapy religious?

It does not have to be. Mindfulness has roots in Buddhism, but therapies used in mainstream settings that include mindfulness are not religious, and you can approach it as religiously or non-religiously as you like (CMHA, 2017). If faith or culture matters to you, you can bring that into how your plan is shaped.

What if paying attention to my thoughts makes me feel worse?

Tell your therapist. Practices can be shortened, adapted, or set aside. You might start by paying attention to sounds or your surroundings, or try a walking practice instead of sitting still (CMHA, 2017). Mindfulness is one option among several, and your plan can change.

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. Student Therapists are master's-level practicum students.

Training and approaches differ from one clinician to the next. Individual profiles on Our Therapists describe each person's areas of focus, so you can look for someone who mentions mindfulness or related approaches. If choosing feels overwhelming, the Match with a Therapist tool or a call to the admin team at 780-904-4880 can help narrow it down.

Children and Youth

Wholesome Psychology offers counselling for children, adolescents, and young people. Therapists who work with younger clients use age-appropriate approaches and work with parents and caregivers to support the child's environment at home. Whether mindfulness-informed strategies are part of a young person's plan is decided with the family, based on the child's age, needs, and comfort. You can learn more about counselling for children and youth.

Taking a Next Step

If you would like to explore mindfulness therapy, you can take the next step in whichever way feels easiest:

• Book a session online
• Use the Match with a Therapist tool
• Call the admin team at 780-904-4880
• Email info@wholesomepsychology.ca
• Read Getting Started with Therapy to see what the process looks like

You do not need the right words or a clear goal before you reach out. Starting the conversation is enough.

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

References

• Canadian Mental Health Association. (2017). Mindfulness [Brochure].
• Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. (n.d.). Mindfulness programs: Where to go when you're looking for help [Information sheet].
• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (2022). Depression in adults: Treatment and management [NICE guideline].