Collaborative, client-centred counselling for children, youth, and families working through developmental concerns in Edmonton, St. Albert, and across Alberta via virtual care. Registered Psychologists regulated by the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP), Certified Canadian Counsellors (CCCs) regulated by the Canadian Counselling and Psychological Association (CCPA), and Registered Social Workers regulated by the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW), In-person and virtual sessions.

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You Might Be Wondering Whether Childhood Development Counselling Is Right for Your Family

You may have been watching your child struggle with something for weeks or months, unsure whether what you are seeing is just a phase or something that needs support. Maybe mornings have become a daily battle. Maybe school calls have started coming in, or friendships seem harder than they used to be. You might be second-guessing yourself, wondering if you are overreacting or if waiting is the right call.

That uncertainty is common. Many families sit with it for a long time before reaching out. Some are not sure whether counselling is the right step, or whether their child's experiences are "serious enough" to warrant professional support. Others have been told their child will grow out of it, and part of them believes that, while another part keeps noticing the same patterns.

These reactions make sense. Parenting through developmental concerns often means holding a lot of questions at once, without clear answers. You do not need a diagnosis or a crisis to explore whether support could help. You also do not need to have it all figured out before making a call.

If you are weighing whether this kind of support could be useful for your child or your family, the information on this page may help you decide. It describes what childhood development counselling looks like at Wholesome Psychology, what it does and does not include, how to get started, and what to expect along the way.

Who We Help

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

• Noticing patterns with routines, transitions, emotional reactions, communication, attention, or behaviour that are creating daily strain
• Wondering whether their child's experiences are part of typical development or something that could benefit from support
• Looking for guidance on how to respond to a child's struggles at home, school, or socially
• Seeking caregiver-focused sessions to build understanding and practical strategies
• Exploring whether counselling, assessment, or another service might be the best next step
• Gathering information for a child, grandchild, or another young person in their life

This service may not be the right fit for families who need:

• Immediate crisis support (see crisis resources below)
• A formal psychological assessment for learning, attention, behaviour, or developmental questions. Wholesome Psychology offers Child and Youth Assessment Services as a separate service.
• Forensic, legal, or court-ordered evaluations, which fall outside this therapy service

Crisis Resources

Wholesome Psychology is not an emergency or crisis service. If a child or teen is at immediate risk of harm, please contact one of the following:

• 911 for immediate danger
• Alberta Mental Health Help Line: 1-877-303-2642 (24/7)
• Family Violence Info Line (Alberta): 310-1818 (24/7, toll-free)
• Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741

Wholesome Psychology is not an emergency or crisis service.

What This Service Is

Childhood development issues counselling is a form of planned outpatient support for children, youth, and their families. It focuses on understanding patterns, building coping strategies, strengthening communication, and supporting caregivers in responding to their child's needs.

This service is not a diagnostic process, a legal service, a crisis intervention, or a formal assessment. Psychological assessments are a separate service at Wholesome Psychology. If questions about learning, attention, behaviour, or developmental concerns require formal evaluation, that pathway can be discussed as part of the counselling process, and families can be referred to the clinic's assessment services when appropriate.

The pace of counselling is set by the family, not the therapist. What is shared and how sessions are structured is shaped by the child's age, readiness, and the concerns bringing the family in. Confidentiality is maintained within the boundaries described later on this page.

Signs Childhood Development Concerns May Be Affecting Your Family

Families often reach out when they notice patterns that are affecting daily life. These may look different depending on the child's age and circumstances, but some common experiences include:

• Frequent difficulty with transitions, changes in routine, or unexpected events
• Emotional reactions that seem bigger or more intense than the situation calls for
• Struggles with expressing needs, feelings, or frustrations in words
• Ongoing conflict with peers, siblings, or adults that feels hard to resolve
• Difficulty focusing, following through, or staying engaged with age-appropriate tasks
• Withdrawal from activities, friendships, or family interactions
• School-related strain, whether academic, social, or behavioural
• Repetitive behaviours, rigidity, or strong reactions to sensory experiences
• A sense that something feels "off" even if you cannot pinpoint exactly what it is

Having these experiences does not mean something is permanently wrong with your child. Many of these patterns are common reactions to stress, change, or developmental shifts. They can also signal that additional support, whether through counselling, caregiver guidance, or assessment, could be helpful. Structured support can offer a space to understand what is happening and to build practical responses.

How Treatment Works Here

• Find your therapist. Use the Match with a Therapist tool, browse therapist profiles, or call the admin team at 780-904-4880 for guidance on finding a clinician who works with children and families.
• Book your first session. The first session typically includes a conversation about the main concerns, relevant background, confidentiality, consent, and how caregiver involvement will work. It is also a chance to ask questions and see whether the fit feels right.
• Build your plan together. After the initial meeting, the therapist and family co-create a plan. This might focus on the child, the caregivers, or both, depending on what is needed.
• Ongoing sessions. Sessions are typically 50 minutes, scheduled weekly or bi-weekly, and adjusted as the work progresses. The structure may shift as needs change.
• Progress check-ins. The therapist reviews progress regularly and adjusts the plan in collaboration with the family. There is no fixed number of sessions. Some families find value in short-term work; others benefit from longer-term support.

The client's voice matters at every stage. Counselling is collaborative, and families are encouraged to share what is working and what is not.

Evidence and Approaches

Childhood development issues counselling draws on a range of therapeutic approaches, adapted to the child's age, needs, and presenting concerns. The approaches below are commonly used in child and family counselling. Because this page covers a broad category of developmental concerns rather than a single condition, specific treatment efficacy claims are limited. The evidence posture here reflects the available research for this general service area.

Play-Based and Expressive Approaches

What it helps with: Supporting younger children who may not yet have the language to express their experiences verbally.

Evidence summary: Play-based therapies are widely used in child counselling and are recognized by professional bodies such as the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) as developmentally appropriate methods for working with young children. These approaches allow children to communicate through play, art, and movement rather than relying solely on verbal processing.

Limitations: Research on play therapy outcomes varies across populations and presenting concerns. Effectiveness may depend on the child's age, developmental stage, and the nature of the issues being addressed.

Caregiver-Focused Approaches

What it helps with: Helping parents and caregivers understand their child's behaviour, strengthen communication, and build consistent routines and responses.

Evidence summary: Caregiver involvement is recognized as an important component of child therapy across clinical guidelines, including those from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Supporting caregivers in understanding developmental patterns and adjusting their responses can contribute to improved family functioning.

Limitations: Caregiver-focused work may not address all aspects of a child's experience. Some children also benefit from individual therapeutic support alongside caregiver sessions.

Cognitive-Behavioural Approaches

What it helps with: Addressing patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving that may be contributing to difficulty with emotional regulation, anxiety, or social interactions.

Evidence summary: Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) has a broad evidence base for children and adolescents across a range of concerns. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) reference CBT as a common and widely used approach in child and youth mental health contexts (CAMH, n.d.; CMHA, n.d.).

Limitations: CBT may be less suitable for very young children or children who are not yet ready for structured verbal and cognitive work. Adaptations are often needed based on developmental level.

Family Systems Approaches

What it helps with: Understanding how family dynamics, communication patterns, and relational stress may be contributing to a child's difficulties.

Evidence summary: Family-based approaches are recognized in clinical practice as useful when developmental concerns affect the broader family system. These approaches may focus on improving communication, reducing conflict, and building shared understanding of the child's needs.

Limitations: Family systems work requires willingness from multiple family members to participate. It may not be appropriate in all situations, and individual support may be needed alongside or before family sessions.

What Results to Expect

Recovery and growth in counselling are not linear. Some families notice meaningful shifts within a few sessions, particularly when the focus is on caregiver strategies, communication, or specific routines. Others find that longer-term support helps their child build skills and confidence over time.

Several factors influence outcomes, including the nature of the developmental concerns, the child's current circumstances, the strength of the therapeutic fit, and how well the work connects to the child's everyday life. No therapy guarantees specific outcomes, and what works well for one child may not be the right approach for another.

Therapeutic fit matters. If the therapist or approach does not feel right, that is useful information. Families can work with the admin team to find a different clinician or explore a different approach at any point.

Confidentiality and Privacy

What is shared in therapy is confidential. All psychologists at Wholesome Psychology are registered with the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP) and follow the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) Code of Ethics. Confidentiality is governed by Alberta's Health Information Act (HIA) and the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA).

There are legal exceptions to confidentiality. A clinician may be required to disclose information when:

• There is risk of serious harm to the client or someone else
• There is suspected abuse or neglect of a child (mandatory reporting under Alberta law)
• A court order requires disclosure

When working with children and youth, the therapist will discuss how confidentiality works in practice, including how information is shared with caregivers. These boundaries are explained clearly during the first session. Families are welcome to ask questions about privacy before sharing anything personal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my child have to talk about what is bothering them right away?

No. Therapists who work with children understand that readiness varies. Sessions are paced according to the child's comfort. For younger children, play-based or expressive approaches may be used instead of direct conversation. For older children and teens, the therapist will follow their lead. There is no requirement to describe everything in detail, and some work focuses on present-day patterns rather than retelling difficult experiences.

Is what we share in sessions kept private?

Yes, with limited exceptions. Sessions are confidential under Alberta's Health Information Act (HIA) and the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA). Exceptions include situations involving risk of serious harm, suspected child abuse or neglect, or a court order. When working with children, the therapist will explain how information is shared with caregivers. More detail is available in the Confidentiality and Privacy section above.

How many sessions will my child need?

There is no fixed answer. Some families benefit from a small number of sessions focused on a specific concern or caregiver strategy. Others find that longer-term support is more helpful. The therapist reviews progress regularly and adjusts the plan in collaboration with the family. Some people find relief from just 2-3 sessions, particularly when the focus is on caregiver guidance or specific routines.

What if the therapist is not the right fit for my child?

Fit matters, especially when working with children and young people. If the therapist or approach does not feel right, the admin team can help find a different clinician. New clients may access their first session at 50% off to help find the right therapeutic fit. You can also use the Match with a Therapist tool, browse therapist profiles, or call 780-904-4880 for guidance.

Can we access therapy online?

Yes. Virtual sessions are available across Alberta. The same confidentiality and professional standards apply to virtual sessions as to in-person appointments. Virtual counselling may work well for some families, though it is worth discussing with the therapist whether it is the best fit for your child's age and needs.

How do I know whether counselling or assessment makes more sense?

If the main goal is support with coping, communication, routines, caregiver guidance, or day-to-day functioning, counselling may be a reasonable starting point. If the main goal is clarification about learning, attention, behaviour, or another developmental question, a formal assessment may be worth discussing. In some cases, families use both. Wholesome Psychology offers Child and Youth Assessment Services as a separate service.

What if our family is in an unsafe situation?

If a child or anyone in the family is at immediate risk, please call 911. For urgent but non-emergency support, contact the Alberta Mental Health Help Line at 1-877-303-2642 (24/7) or the Family Violence Info Line at 310-1818 (24/7, toll-free). Wholesome Psychology provides scheduled outpatient counselling and is not a crisis service. If you are currently in an unsafe situation, a crisis resource can help you access immediate safety and plan next steps.

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 (CAP). Certified Canadian Counsellors (CCCs) are regulated by the Canadian Counselling and Psychological Association (CCPA), and Registered Social Workers are regulated by the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW). Provisional psychologists practise under the supervision of a senior registered psychologist.

Many clinicians have training and experience working with children, youth, families, and developmental concerns. To see individual profiles, visit the Our Therapists page. For help choosing a therapist, try the Match with a Therapist tool or call the admin team at 780-904-4880.

Children and Youth

Wholesome Psychology offers counselling for children, adolescents, and young people across a range of developmental and emotional concerns. Therapists who work with younger clients use age-appropriate approaches, including play-based, expressive, and family-focused methods, adapted to the child's developmental level and comfort.

Clinicians also work with caregivers to support the child's environment outside of sessions. This may include discussions about routines, communication strategies, school-related challenges, and how to respond when difficulties arise at home. For families preparing a child for their first therapy experience, the Preparing Children for Therapy page may be helpful.

Next Steps

If you are considering childhood development issues counselling for a child, youth, or family in Edmonton or St. Albert, you can take the next step in the way that feels most comfortable:

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

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

Starting the conversation is enough.

References

• Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. (n.d.). Mental illness and addiction index. Retrieved May 2, 2026, from https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-illness-and-addiction-index
• Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario Division. (n.d.). Child and youth mental health. Retrieved May 2, 2026, from https://ontario.cmha.ca/mental-health/child-and-youth-mental-health/
• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (2017). Autism spectrum disorder in under 19s: Support and management (NICE Guideline CG170). https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg170
• Canadian Psychological Association. (2021). Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and youth [Fact sheet]. https://cpa.ca/
• Public Health Agency of Canada. (2024). Autism: For professionals. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/autism-spectrum-disorder-asd/professionals.html
• College of Alberta Psychologists. (2023). Standards of practice. https://www.cap.ab.ca/