Supportive counselling for children, teens, and families in Edmonton and St. Albert, with virtual sessions available across Alberta. Registered Psychologists and Provisional Psychologists regulated by the College of Alberta Psychologists, Certified Canadian Counsellors regulated by the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA), and Mental Health Therapists, In-person and virtual sessions.

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You Might Be Wondering Whether Counselling Is Right for Your Child

You may not be sure whether what your child is going through is serious enough to reach out for help. Maybe they have been more withdrawn lately, or their mood has shifted in ways you cannot quite explain. Maybe school has become harder, friendships have changed, or something happened in the family that no one has fully talked about yet. You might be wondering whether this is a phase they will move through on their own, or whether it is something more.

These questions are common, and they do not have to be resolved before you reach out. Many parents and caregivers notice patterns at home or school that feel concerning without being able to name exactly what is wrong. A child who used to be easygoing may now seem tense or easily upset. A teenager who once talked openly may have stopped sharing. Sleep may have changed. Eating may have changed. Some young people become more irritable or angry; others seem flat or disconnected.

These responses often reflect the ways young people adapt to difficult circumstances, transitions, or experiences they do not yet have the tools to process. They are not signs that something is permanently broken. They are signals worth paying attention to.

If you are considering whether structured support could help your child or teen, reading on may give you a clearer sense of what this kind of counselling involves and whether it feels like a good fit.

Who We Help

This service may be a good fit for:

• Children, preteens, and teens experiencing emotional ups and downs, school-related stress, or friendship difficulties
• Young people going through family transitions such as separation, conflict, blending families, or relocation
• Families seeking support around grief, loss, or adjustment after a difficult experience
• Children or teens dealing with self-esteem concerns, identity questions, or behavioural changes that are creating strain at home or school
• Caregivers who want guidance on how to support a young person through a challenging period
• Families looking for a space to work on communication and understanding together

This service may not be the right fit for:

• Young people who need immediate crisis support (see crisis resources below)
• Families seeking a formal psychological assessment, such as an ADHD, learning disorder, or autism assessment. Assessments are a separate service
• Court-ordered evaluations or forensic assessments, which fall outside the scope of this counselling service

Crisis and Urgent Support

If a child or teen is in immediate danger or there is a medical emergency, call 911.

• 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)
• Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868 (for young people)

Wholesome Psychology is not an emergency or crisis service.

What This Service Is

Child and youth mental health counselling is a structured, supportive process in which a young person works with a trained clinician to better understand what they are experiencing and build skills to cope. Depending on the child's age and goals, sessions may involve the young person alone, the caregiver alone, or a combination of both.

Counselling is not a medical procedure, a legal process, or a crisis intervention. It is a collaborative space where a young person's thoughts, feelings, and experiences are taken seriously, at a pace that respects their comfort and readiness.

This service does not include formal psychological assessments. If your primary concern is whether your child meets criteria for a specific diagnosis, an assessment service may be more appropriate.

Confidentiality is discussed at the first session, including how privacy and caregiver involvement are handled. A more detailed explanation appears in the Confidentiality and Privacy section below.

All clinicians practise within the scope of their professional registration and are bound by the standards of their regulatory bodies. The pace and direction of therapy are set by the client and their family, not the therapist.

Signs That a Young Person May Benefit from Support

Young people do not always have the language to describe what they are going through. Instead, the changes often show up in behaviour, mood, or daily functioning. You might notice patterns such as:

• Increased irritability, anger, or emotional outbursts that seem out of proportion
• Withdrawal from friends, family, or activities they used to enjoy
• Difficulty concentrating or a noticeable drop in school performance
• Sleep changes, including difficulty falling asleep, frequent waking, or sleeping much more than usual
• Physical complaints such as stomach aches or headaches without a clear medical cause
• Clinginess, fearfulness, or regression to earlier behaviours in younger children
• Low self-esteem, persistent sadness, or a sense of hopelessness
• Avoidance of situations, places, or conversations connected to a difficult experience

These patterns are common reactions to stress, transition, loss, or difficult experiences. They do not mean something is permanently wrong with your child. They are often the mind and body's way of signalling that extra support could help. Structured counselling can offer a young person tools and space to work through what they are carrying.

How Treatment Works Here

• Find your therapist. Use the Match Tool to answer a few questions and receive therapist suggestions, or browse therapist profiles directly. You can also call the admin team at 780-904-4880 for guidance.
• Book your first session. Book online through Jane App. The first session includes a confidentiality and consent discussion, along with a conversation about goals and what the young person and family hope to gain from counselling.
• Build your plan together. After the first session, the clinician and family co-create a therapeutic plan based on the young person's needs, preferences, and context. This plan is not fixed; it evolves as goals become clearer.
• Ongoing sessions. Follow-up sessions are typically weekly or bi-weekly, each lasting 50 minutes. Frequency is adjusted as needs change. Sessions may involve the child or teen, the caregiver, or both.
• Progress check-ins. The therapist reviews progress regularly with the family. Plans are adapted as the young person's needs shift. There is no fixed number of sessions; therapy is collaborative and responsive.

Evidence and Approaches

Child and youth counselling at Wholesome Psychology is grounded in a collaborative, client-centred approach. The specific techniques and methods used can vary depending on the clinician's training, the young person's age, and the goals identified together at the start.

The evidence base for child and youth mental health counselling is broad, and the available evidence pack for this page does not include full-text systematic reviews or clinical guideline details for specific therapeutic modalities. As a result, this section describes the general therapeutic framework rather than making modality-specific efficacy claims.

Collaborative and Client-Centred Counselling

What it helps with: Supporting young people and families through emotional distress, behavioural challenges, relationship difficulties, and adjustment to life transitions.

Evidence summary: Client-centred counselling is widely used in child and youth mental health practice across Canada, with family and caregiver involvement recognized as a recurring theme in Canadian practice frameworks (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health [CAMH], 2014). Statistics Canada data indicate that youth mental health concerns have been increasing, with about one in five youth who self-rated their mental health positively in 2019 reporting a decline by 2023 (Statistics Canada, 2025).

Limitations: This evidence pack does not include full-text systematic reviews specific to child and youth counselling modalities. Efficacy claims for specific approaches such as CBT, play therapy, or family therapy cannot be made from the current evidence set.

Family and Caregiver Involvement

What it helps with: Building a supportive environment around the young person by helping caregivers understand what their child is experiencing and how to respond.

Evidence summary: Family-inclusive language and caregiver involvement are recurring themes in Alberta provider content and Canadian practice examples (CAMH, 2014; Government of Alberta, n.d.). The level and format of caregiver involvement may vary depending on the young person's age, maturity, and the goals of counselling.

Limitations: The evidence pack does not include controlled studies measuring the independent effect of caregiver involvement in child counselling outcomes. The claim is supported by practice-level themes rather than systematic review evidence.

What Results to Expect

Recovery and growth are not linear. Some young people notice meaningful shifts within a few sessions. Others benefit from longer-term work, especially when the experiences they are processing are complex or ongoing.

Factors that influence outcomes include the nature of the young person's experiences, their current circumstances, the quality of the therapeutic relationship, and the support available at home and school. No therapy guarantees specific outcomes, and progress can look different for each young person.

Therapeutic fit matters. If the relationship between the young person and the therapist does not feel right, changing clinicians or trying a different approach is always an option. The admin team at 780-904-4880 can help with this.

Some people find relief from just 2 to 3 sessions. Others may work with a therapist for several months. The length and frequency of counselling are discussed collaboratively and adjusted as the young person's needs evolve.

Confidentiality and Privacy

What is shared in counselling is confidential. Clinicians follow the professional and ethical standards set by their applicable professional and regulatory bodies, including the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP) for registered psychologists, the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA) for Certified Canadian Counsellors, and the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW) for registered social workers.

Confidentiality is governed by Alberta legislation, specifically the Health Information Act (HIA) and the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA). These laws set out how personal and health information must be collected, used, and protected.

There are limited exceptions where a clinician may be required to share information:

• When there is a risk of serious harm to the client or someone else
• When there is suspected abuse or neglect of a child (mandatory reporting under Alberta law)
• When disclosure is required by a court order

For children and youth, how privacy and caregiver involvement work can depend on the young person's age, maturity, goals, and the service arrangement. The clinician will explain these boundaries clearly during the first session, and the young person and family are encouraged to ask questions before sharing anything personal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my child have to describe what happened in detail?

No. Counselling does not require a young person to recount difficult experiences in detail before they are ready. Therapists work at the young person's pace and may focus on present-day patterns, coping skills, and emotional regulation rather than detailed recall. The child or teen has control over what they share and when.

Is what my child shares kept private?

Yes, counselling is confidential. There are specific exceptions required by Alberta law: when there is a risk of serious harm to the client or others, when there is suspected child abuse or neglect, or when a court orders disclosure. How privacy and updates to caregivers are handled depends on the young person's age, maturity, and the arrangement discussed at the first session. See the Confidentiality and Privacy section above for more detail.

How many sessions will my child need?

There is no fixed answer. Some young people benefit from short-term work, while others find longer-term counselling more helpful. Some people find relief from just 2 to 3 sessions. Progress is reviewed regularly, and the number and frequency of sessions are adjusted based on the young person's needs and the family's goals.

What if the therapist is not the right fit?

Therapeutic fit matters, and it is not always clear from the first meeting. If the relationship between the therapist and the young person 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.

Can we access therapy online?

Yes. Wholesome Psychology offers virtual sessions across Alberta. Virtual counselling follows the same confidentiality standards as in-person sessions and is available for children, teens, and families.

Do parents or caregivers attend sessions?

This depends on the young person's age, the goals of counselling, and what works best for the family. Some sessions may involve the young person alone, others may include caregivers, and some may alternate between both. The structure is discussed at the beginning so expectations are clear.

What if my child is still in an unsafe situation?

If a child or teen is currently in an unsafe situation, safety planning becomes a priority. Counselling can still be helpful, but the therapist may also connect the family with crisis or community resources. If there is immediate danger, call 911. The Family Violence Info Line (310-1818) and the Alberta Mental Health Help Line (1-877-303-2642) are available 24/7.

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

Many clinicians on the team have training and experience working with children, adolescents, and families experiencing a range of concerns including emotional distress, behavioural challenges, family transitions, and adjustment after difficult experiences.

To find a therapist who works with young people, you can browse individual therapist profiles, use the Match Tool, or call 780-904-4880 for guidance from the admin team.

Children and Youth

Wholesome Psychology offers counselling for children, adolescents, and young people. Therapists working with younger clients use age-appropriate approaches, adapting the pace, language, and methods of each session to the young person's developmental stage.

Clinicians also work with caregivers to support the child's broader environment. This may include conversations about what is happening at home or school, how to respond to difficult behaviours, or how to create conditions that support the young person's wellbeing outside of sessions.

For more information, see the Child and Youth counselling page, the Adolescent Mental Health page, or the Preparing Children for Therapy page.

Getting Started

If you are considering counselling for a child or teen, you can begin whenever you are ready. There are several ways to take the next step:

• Match with a Therapist
• Browse Therapist Profiles
• Book a Session Online
• Call: 780-904-4880
• Email: info@wholesomepsychology.ca
• Learn More About Getting Started
• View Fees

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. (2014). Aboriginal child and youth mental health counselling: Wholistic child and youth (EENet Promising Practices). Retrieved March 6, 2026, from https://kmb.camh.ca/eenet/resources/aboriginal-child-and-youth-mental-health-counselling-wholistic-child-and-youth
• Government of Alberta. (n.d.). Child and youth mental health. Retrieved March 6, 2026, from https://www.alberta.ca/child-and-youth-mental-health
• Statistics Canada. (2025). Rising mental health concerns among youth. https://www.statcan.gc.ca/o1/en/plus/7642-rising-mental-health-concerns-among-youth
• College of Alberta Psychologists. (2023). Standards of practice. https://www.cap.ab.ca/