A collaborative counselling approach that makes room for your experiences, values, and goals, in person in Edmonton and St. Albert or virtually across Alberta. Psychologists registered with the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP). A team of psychologists, social workers regulated by the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW), counsellors certified by the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA), and therapists. In-person and virtual sessions, subject to clinician and appointment availability.

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You Might Be Wondering Whether Person-Centred Therapy Is Right for You

You may be unsure whether a therapy that follows your lead can really make a difference. Maybe you have wondered if you need something more structured, or a clear set of techniques, before talking with someone is worth the time. You might not even have a single, tidy problem to name. And you may be questioning whether that is a good enough reason to reach out.

Perhaps you get through each day doing what is expected of you, but have lost track of what you actually want. You might talk with friends or family and still come away feeling unheard. Or you may be facing a decision or a change in your life and keep circling back to the same place.

These are common responses to long stretches of pressure, change, or not feeling listened to. They make sense given what many people carry. They do not mean something is wrong with you, and they do not need a label before you can talk about them.

If you are trying to work out whether this kind of counselling fits, for yourself or for someone close to you, the sections below explain what person-centred therapy is, what sessions look like, and where its limits are. You may wish to read on and see whether it feels relevant. If you are not safe right now, the crisis resources below on this page are a better first step.

Who We Help

Person-centred therapy may be a good fit if you:

• want space to talk through what is happening without being told what to do
• are going through a transition, a relationship change, or a major decision
• feel stuck, or out of touch with your own priorities and values
• would like to help set the focus and pace of therapy
• are not sure where to begin and would rather start with a conversation than a set plan
• are a partner, parent, or friend looking into options for someone else (the choice to begin stays with them)

This service may not be the right fit in these situations:

• You are in crisis or in immediate danger. Please use the crisis resources below. Therapy appointments are not an emergency service.
• You need a legal, forensic, or court-related report. These needs are outside this therapy service. Psychological assessments are a separate service and are not part of person-centred therapy.
• You have questions about medication or physical health. A family physician or psychiatrist is the right place for those questions.
• You mainly want a structured, skills-based approach. You can talk with the admin team or a clinician about other options, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).

If You Need Help Right Now

Our clinic is not set up to respond to emergencies. If you or someone else is at risk, please contact one of these services:

• 911 for immediate danger, or go to the nearest emergency department
• Alberta Mental Health Help Line: 1-877-303-2642 (24/7)
• Family Violence Info Line (Alberta): 310-1818 (24/7, toll-free), if you are being hurt or threatened at home
• Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741

Wholesome Psychology is not an emergency or crisis service. Online booking and email are not monitored for urgent messages.

What Person-Centred Therapy Is and Is Not

Person-centred therapy, sometimes called client-centred therapy, is a humanistic approach to counselling. Rather than starting from a fixed method, your therapist works to understand your experiences, values, goals, and point of view. That understanding then shapes the work you do together.

Sessions are mostly conversation. You might talk through what is happening now, notice patterns that matter to you, think through a decision, or name what you want from counselling. Your therapist may also discuss whether person-centred work on its own, or combined with other approaches, suits your needs. Our page on humanistic and client-centred therapy covers this wider family of approaches.

Some clear boundaries:

• Therapy is not a legal service, an investigation, or crisis intervention.
• This page describes counselling only. Psychological assessments are a separate service with their own process.
• You set the pace. You decide what to talk about and when, and you can slow down, pause, or change direction.
• What you share is confidential, within limits set by law. Your clinician explains those limits in the first session. The confidentiality section below has more detail.
• Each clinician works within the scope of their training and professional registration. If your needs fall outside that scope, they may suggest another service, a consultation, or a different level of support.

Signs That Feeling Stuck or Unheard May Be Affecting You

You do not need a diagnosis to start counselling. People who look into person-centred therapy often describe experiences like these:

• Going through the motions without a clear sense of what you want
• Second-guessing yourself, or leaning heavily on what others think you should do
• An inner critic that is louder than any kindness you show yourself
• Feeling unseen in close relationships, even when people mean well
• Finding it hard to put feelings into words, or not knowing what you feel
• Tension or restlessness that shows up in your body, your sleep, or your energy
• Pulling back from people or activities you used to enjoy
• Struggling to settle after a move, a loss, a breakup, a job change, or a new stage of life

These are common reactions to stress, change, and relationships that have not left much room for you. They are not fixed parts of who you are. A steady, collaborative space to talk can be one way to make sense of them, and a therapist can help you think about what kind of support fits.

How Treatment Works Here

• Find your therapist. Browse Our Therapists or use the Match Tool to narrow your options. Approaches vary from one clinician to the next, so you can ask the admin team at 780-904-4880 which therapists offer person-centred work.
• Book your first session. Your therapist will go over consent and confidentiality and ask what you hope to get from counselling. You can ask about their approach before you share anything personal.
• Build your plan together. You and your therapist shape a plan around your goals and preferences. In person-centred work, your sense of what matters leads the way.
• Ongoing sessions. Sessions are 50 minutes. Most people meet weekly or every two weeks, and you can adjust the schedule together.
• Progress check-ins. Your therapist reviews with you what is helping and what is not. The plan can change 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 to take a break or finish. Our Getting Started with Therapy page walks through the process in more detail.

Evidence and Approaches

We want to be open about what the research reviewed for this page does and does not show. The evidence available at the time of writing is limited. This section is short for that reason, and it describes how one study was set up rather than what it found.

Person-Centred Experiential Therapy

What it helps with: This approach gives people space to explore their own experiences, feelings, and priorities within a supportive, collaborative relationship.

Evidence summary: Person-centred experiential therapy has been compared with cognitive behavioural therapy in a pragmatic, randomized, non-inferiority trial called PRaCTICED (The Lancet Psychiatry, n.d.). The trial involved people receiving care for moderate or severe depression through England's Improving Access to Psychological Therapies service. Its results have not yet been reviewed for this page, so no conclusions about effectiveness are drawn here.

Limitations: The study took place in England, and its relevance to Alberta has not been established. How any one person responds to therapy varies.

What Results to Expect

No therapy can guarantee a particular outcome, and person-centred therapy is no exception. Some people notice shifts in how they understand themselves or relate to others. Others find the process slower, or find a different approach suits them better. Change rarely moves in a straight line, and good weeks and harder weeks are both part of it.

How long people attend varies a great deal. Some notice changes within a few months, while others find longer-term work more useful. Several things can shape what you get from therapy:

• what you are dealing with and how long it has been going on
• what else is happening in your life, such as stress at work or home, or the support around you
• how comfortable you feel with your therapist
• whether the approach suits the way you like to work

Fit matters. If the relationship or the approach does not feel right, you can say so. Changing therapists or trying a different approach is always an option, and it is not a failure on your part.

Confidentiality and Privacy

What you share in therapy is confidential. Psychologists at Wholesome Psychology are regulated by the College of Alberta Psychologists and follow the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists. Other clinicians follow the standards of their own professional bodies, such as the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW) for registered social workers.

Your personal and health information is also protected under Alberta privacy law. The Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) generally governs how private clinics collect, use, and disclose personal information. The Health Information Act (HIA) sets rules for health information held by health custodians, such as Alberta Health Services, and by those who provide services on their behalf.

There are a few situations where a clinician may be required 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

Your clinician 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. You can also ask the admin team for a copy of the clinic's privacy policy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to talk about painful experiences in detail?

No. You decide what to share and when. In person-centred therapy, the focus usually stays on what feels most pressing to you, and you can work on present-day patterns without going back through past events in detail. If you want to slow down or stop at any point, you can say so.

Is what I share kept private?

Yes, within limits set by Alberta law. A clinician may need to share information if there is a risk of serious harm, suspected abuse or neglect of a child, or a court order. Your clinician explains this in the first session, and the confidentiality 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, how the process feels to you, and what else is going on in your life. Some people prefer shorter-term work and others prefer longer-term support. You and your therapist review progress regularly and can change the plan at any point.

What if the therapist is not the right fit?

That happens, and it is worth raising. Feeling comfortable with your therapist matters. You can talk about it with your therapist directly, or contact the admin team at 780-904-4880 for help finding a different clinician. 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 to clients anywhere in Alberta, subject to clinician availability. The same confidentiality standards apply as for in-person sessions. You can read more about online counselling.

Do I need to know exactly what I want to talk about?

No. Some people arrive with a clear concern. Others come with a vague sense that something needs to change, or simply want room to think. Working out what you want from therapy can be part of your first few conversations.

What if I would like more structure or practical tools?

You can ask for that. Your therapist can talk with you about your preferences, and about whether combining person-centred work with other approaches, or choosing a different approach, would suit you better.

Is person-centered therapy the same as person-centred therapy?

Yes. Both spellings describe the same approach. "Person-centred" is the usual Canadian spelling, and "person-centered" is common in American writing. You may also see it called client-centred therapy.

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

Training and approaches differ between clinicians. Some draw on person-centred and other humanistic approaches, while others focus on different methods. Each profile on Our Therapists describes that clinician's background, and the Match Tool can help you choose. If you would rather talk it through, the admin team can help at 780-904-4880.

Children and Youth

Wholesome Psychology offers counselling for people of all ages, including children, adolescents, and young adults. Therapists who work with younger clients may adapt their approach to the young person's age and stage of development. They may also work with caregivers to support the child at home.

If you are a parent or caregiver, the admin team can help you find a clinician who works with your child's age group. Our child and youth counselling page has more information.

Taking a Next Step

If you would like to learn more or arrange a first session, you can:

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

You do not need to have everything worked out before you get in touch. Starting the conversation is enough.

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

References

• The Lancet Psychiatry. (n.d.). Person-centred experiential therapy versus cognitive behavioural therapy delivered in the English Improving Access to Psychological Therapies service for the treatment of moderate or severe depression (PRaCTICED): A pragmatic, randomised, non-inferiority trial.