Supportive, developmentally adapted counselling for children, teens, and their caregivers. Registered Psychologists are regulated by 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), In-person in Edmonton and St. Albert, Virtual across Alberta.

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You Might Be Wondering Whether Counselling Is Right for Your Child

Maybe you have been watching your child or teenager struggle and you are not sure whether what you are seeing is a passing phase or something that deserves outside support. You might be second-guessing yourself, wondering if you are overreacting or if what is happening is really "bad enough" to involve a therapist.

Perhaps your child has become quieter than usual, or their reactions at home feel bigger and harder to manage. They may be pulling away from friends, resisting school, or acting out in ways that feel unfamiliar. You might notice a heaviness in them that does not lift, even when things around them seem fine. Or maybe a caregiver, teacher, or doctor suggested looking into counselling and you are still trying to figure out whether that is the right step.

These patterns are common reactions to the pressures young people face. They do not mean something is permanently wrong with your child. They often reflect the ways a young person's mind and body are trying to cope with experiences they do not yet have the tools or language to work through.

If you are considering whether speaking with a professional could help, this page may be a useful starting point. You can read more about what child and youth counselling involves, what to expect, and how to get started.

Who This Service May Be a Good Fit For

Child and youth counselling at Wholesome Psychology may be helpful for:

• Children or teenagers experiencing stress, worry, sadness, or feeling overwhelmed
• Young people going through family transitions such as separation, divorce, or blended family adjustment
• Children dealing with friendship or peer difficulties, including bullying
• Teenagers navigating identity, self-esteem, or confidence concerns
• Young people experiencing grief, loss, or adjustment after a difficult event
• Families noticing behavioural changes at home or school that feel persistent or hard to understand
• Caregivers looking for guidance on how to support their child through a difficult period

This Service May Not Be the Right Fit If

• Your child needs immediate crisis support. Please see the crisis resources below.
• The primary need is a formal psychological assessment, psychoeducational evaluation, or diagnostic testing. Wholesome Psychology offers a separate Child and Youth Assessment Service for those needs.
• You are seeking court-ordered evaluations, forensic assessments, or custody-related reporting. These fall outside the scope of this counselling service.
• The young person requires a residential, intensive outpatient, or crisis stabilization programme. A referral to a specialized service may be more appropriate.

If Support Is Needed Right Now

Wholesome Psychology is not an emergency or crisis service. If a child or teenager is in immediate danger or needs urgent mental health support, please contact one of the following resources:

• 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 Child and Youth Counselling Is

Child and youth counselling is a structured, supportive process where a trained clinician works with a young person, and often their caregivers, to explore concerns, build coping skills, and set goals. The focus is on creating a space where the child or teenager can express themselves at their own pace.

This service is not a legal process, an investigation, or a crisis intervention. It is also separate from formal psychological assessments or psychoeducational testing, which are offered through a different service at Wholesome Psychology.

The pace of therapy is always set by the client, not the therapist. Children and teenagers are never pressured to share more than they are comfortable with. Confidentiality applies within standard legal and ethical limits, which your clinician will explain clearly in the first session.

Psychologists at Wholesome Psychology practise within the scope defined by the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP) and the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) Code of Ethics. 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 work under the supervision of a senior registered psychologist.

Signs That a Young Person May Benefit from Support

Young people do not always have the words to describe what they are going through. Sometimes the signs show up in changes to behaviour, mood, or daily routines. You may notice patterns such as:

• Withdrawing from friends, family, or activities they used to enjoy
• Increased irritability, anger, or emotional outbursts that feel out of proportion
• Difficulty concentrating at school or a noticeable drop in engagement
• Changes in sleep, appetite, or energy levels
• Frequent physical complaints such as headaches or stomach aches without a clear medical cause
• Heightened anxiety, clinginess, or reluctance to separate from caregivers
• Avoidance of certain places, people, or topics
• Persistent sadness, low mood, or loss of interest in things

Having some of these experiences does not mean something is permanently wrong. Many of these patterns are common reactions to stressful circumstances, developmental transitions, or difficult experiences. Recognizing them early can help families decide whether structured support might be useful.

How Counselling Works at Wholesome Psychology

• Find your therapist. Use the Match with a Therapist tool, review individual profiles on the Our Therapists page, or call the admin team at 780-904-4880 for guidance on choosing a clinician who works with children and youth.
• Book your first session. Schedule through the online booking system. The first session covers confidentiality, informed consent, and an initial conversation about your child's needs and goals. Caregivers are typically included in part or all of this session.
• Build a plan together. Based on the first session, the clinician and family co-create a therapeutic plan. This plan reflects the young person's goals, the family's priorities, and the clinical context.
• Ongoing sessions. Sessions are typically 50 minutes and scheduled weekly or bi-weekly, adjusted as needed. Depending on the child's age, developmental stage, and goals, sessions may involve conversation, creative or play-based activities, skill building, or a combination of approaches.
• Progress check-ins. The therapist reviews progress regularly. Plans can be adjusted as needs change. Some families benefit from short-term support around a specific concern; others prefer ongoing work over a longer period.

There is no fixed number of sessions required. Therapy is collaborative, and the young person's voice matters at every stage. For a fuller overview of the process, visit Getting Started with Therapy.

Therapeutic Approaches and What the Research Shows

Clinicians at Wholesome Psychology use a range of therapeutic approaches adapted to the young person's age, developmental stage, and presenting concerns. The approaches described below are commonly used in child and youth counselling. Because the specific evidence reviewed for this page was limited to title-level source captures, the summaries below use broad contextual framing rather than modality-specific findings.

Play-Based and Creative Approaches

What it helps with: Play-based approaches can provide younger children with a way to express thoughts and feelings they may not yet have the language to describe verbally.

Evidence summary: Play and creative methods are widely recognized in child mental health practice as developmentally appropriate ways to engage younger clients. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH, n.d.) identifies youth mental health as a core clinical topic, and clinical practice in this area commonly includes age-adapted methods. Research in the field supports the use of structured therapeutic approaches that meet children at their developmental level.

Limitations: The evidence reviewed for this page did not include modality-specific outcome data for play-based therapies. Individual responses vary, and not all children engage equally with play-based methods.

Cognitive-Behavioural Approaches Adapted for Youth

What it helps with: Adapted cognitive-behavioural approaches may help young people recognize patterns in their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, and develop practical coping strategies.

Evidence summary: Cognitive-behavioural therapy is one of the most widely studied approaches in youth mental health. Systematic reviews in this field have examined its use across a range of concerns relevant to children and adolescents. The World Health Organization (WHO, n.d.) recognizes adolescent mental health as a global public health priority, and structured therapeutic interventions are a key part of recommended responses.

Limitations: Specific effect sizes and comparative findings were not available in the evidence reviewed for this page. CBT may need to be adapted significantly for younger children or those with developmental differences.

Family-Involved and Caregiver-Supported Approaches

What it helps with: Caregiver involvement may strengthen the young person's support environment and help families develop shared strategies for managing difficulties at home and in daily life.

Evidence summary: Research in child and youth mental health consistently acknowledges the role of family and caregiver context in therapeutic outcomes. The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC, n.d.) highlights that youth support may involve multiple contexts, including family, school, and community. Plans that include caregiver input can help ensure consistency between the therapy space and the young person's daily environment.

Limitations: The degree and format of caregiver involvement varies depending on the young person's age, preferences, and clinical situation. Not all families are in a position to participate equally, and the evidence reviewed for this page did not include specific outcome data for family-involved approaches.

What Results to Expect

Recovery and growth are not linear processes, especially for young people. Some children and teenagers notice shifts within a few sessions. Others benefit from longer-term work that unfolds over months. There is no single timeline that applies to everyone.

Outcomes depend on many factors, including the nature of the young person's experiences, their current circumstances, the level of family support, and the fit between the client and therapist. Some people find relief from just 2-3 sessions, while others prefer a more sustained process.

No therapy guarantees specific outcomes. What counselling can offer is a structured space to explore concerns, build skills, and work toward meaningful change at a pace that feels manageable for the young person and their family.

Therapeutic fit matters. If a young person does not feel comfortable with their therapist, or if the approach does not feel right, it is always possible to try a different clinician or a different method. The admin team at 780-904-4880 can help with this.

Confidentiality and Privacy

What is shared in therapy is confidential. Psychologists at Wholesome Psychology follow the confidentiality standards set by the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP) and the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) Code of Ethics. 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). Privacy protections are governed by two pieces of Alberta legislation: the Health Information Act (HIA) and the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA).

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

• Risk of serious harm to the client or someone else
• Suspected abuse or neglect of a child (mandatory reporting under Alberta law)
• A court order requiring disclosure

Your clinician will explain these limits clearly during the first session, before any personal information is shared. Families and young people are welcome to ask questions about confidentiality at any point.

In child and youth counselling, confidentiality has an additional layer. Depending on the young person's age and the clinical context, some information shared by the child or teenager may be kept private from caregivers, while general progress updates are shared. Your clinician will discuss how this works during the initial session so that everyone involved understands the boundaries.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my child have to talk about everything that happened?

No. Children and teenagers are never required to describe difficult experiences in detail. The pace of therapy is always guided by the young person. Some young people prefer to focus on present-day patterns, feelings, and coping skills rather than recounting specific events. Clinicians working with children and youth use developmentally appropriate methods, which may include conversation, creative activities, or play, depending on what feels manageable.

Is what my child shares kept private?

Yes, within standard legal and ethical limits. What is discussed in therapy is confidential, with a few exceptions required by law: risk of serious harm, suspected child abuse or neglect, and court orders. For children and youth, confidentiality also involves age-appropriate boundaries between the young person and their caregivers. Your clinician will explain how this works during the first session. For more detail, see the Confidentiality and Privacy section above.

How many sessions will my child need?

There is no fixed answer. Some families benefit from a few focused sessions around a specific concern. Others find that ongoing, regular support works better. Your clinician will review progress with you regularly and adjust the plan as needed. The length of therapy depends on the young person's goals, the nature of their concerns, and how things unfold over time.

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

Therapeutic fit is one of the most important factors in effective counselling, especially with children and youth. If your child does not feel comfortable with their therapist, or if the approach does not seem to be working, the admin team can help you find a different clinician within the practice. 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 or call 780-904-4880 for guidance.

Can we access therapy online?

Yes. Wholesome Psychology offers virtual sessions across Alberta. Virtual counselling uses the same confidentiality standards and clinical practices as in-person sessions. This can be a helpful option for families in rural areas, those managing busy schedules, or young people who feel more comfortable in their own space.

What if my child is unsure about counselling?

That is very common. Many young people are uncertain or hesitant about therapy at first. Early sessions often focus on getting comfortable, building rapport with the clinician, and understanding what the counselling space is for. There is no expectation that a child or teenager will open up immediately. The clinician will follow the young person's lead.

Do I need a referral?

No referral is needed to book an appointment at Wholesome Psychology. Families 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 (CAP). Certified Canadian Counsellors (CCCs) are regulated by the Canadian Counselling and Psychological Association (CCPA). 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 on the team have training and experience working with children, adolescents, and families across a range of concerns, including anxiety, behavioural challenges, family transitions, grief, and adjustment difficulties. To find a clinician who works with young people, visit the Our Therapists page, use the Match with a Therapist tool, or call the admin team at 780-904-4880.

Working with Children and Youth

Wholesome Psychology offers counselling for children, adolescents, and young people at various developmental stages. Therapists working with younger clients use age-appropriate methods, including play, creative expression, and adapted conversational approaches. The goal is to meet the young person where they are, not where adults think they should be.

Clinicians also work with caregivers to support the child's environment outside of the therapy room. This may include strategies for managing difficult moments at home, improving communication, or helping caregivers understand what their child is experiencing. Related pages that may be useful include Preparing Children for Therapy, Teen Therapy for Youth 13 to 15 Years, and Parenting Support.

Getting Started

If you are considering counselling for your child or teenager, you can start by exploring what feels right for your family. There are several ways to begin:

• Book a session online
• Match with a Therapist
• Call: 780-904-4880
• Email: info@wholesomepsychology.ca
• Learn more: 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

• Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. (n.d.). Youth mental health. Retrieved March 6, 2026, from https://www.camh.ca/
• Public Health Agency of Canada. (n.d.). Youth mental health: Integrated youth services. Retrieved March 6, 2026, from https://www.canada.ca/
• Statistics Canada. (n.d.). Mental disorders and access to mental health care. Retrieved March 6, 2026, from https://www.statcan.gc.ca/
• World Health Organization. (n.d.). Adolescent mental health. Retrieved March 6, 2026, from https://www.who.int/
• Canadian Psychological Association. (n.d.). Fact sheets: Bullying, giftedness, and learning disabilities. Retrieved March 6, 2026, from https://cpa.ca/
• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (n.d.). Social, emotional and mental wellbeing in primary and secondary education. Retrieved March 6, 2026, from https://www.nice.org.uk/
• College of Alberta Psychologists. (2023). Standards of practice. https://www.cap.ab.ca/