A confidential place to talk through how pandemic-related changes are still shaping your life, at a pace you set. Registered Psychologists regulated by the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP). Registered Provisional Psychologists, Registered Social Workers regulated by the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW), Canadian Certified Counsellors (CCCs) certified by the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA), Mental Health Therapists, and Student Therapists. Appointments available in Edmonton, St. Albert, and virtually across Alberta.

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You Might Be Wondering Whether COVID-19 Coping Counselling Is Right for You

You may be unsure whether it still makes sense to talk about the pandemic. Most of daily life has moved on, and the people around you may seem to have put it behind them. If you never became seriously ill, or your losses seem smaller than someone else's, you might be asking whether what you are carrying is worth bringing to a counsellor at all.

Some people continue to reflect on or feel affected by changes connected with the COVID-19 pandemic. It can look like friendships that drifted during lockdowns and never quite came back. It can be a goodbye that happened over a screen, or a graduation, wedding, or funeral that passed without the gathering it deserved. For others, it is a quieter unease about getting sick, or a routine that came apart and has not fully settled since.

These reactions make sense after a long stretch of disruption and uncertainty. People's responses to disruption and uncertainty vary, and they can shift over time. Feeling unsettled now does not mean something is wrong with you, or that you should have "moved on" by now.

If you are considering whether speaking with someone could help, this page may be a useful starting point. It covers what this kind of counselling involves, what it does not offer, what it costs, and how to begin. You may also be reading on behalf of a partner, parent, or child. The sections below are written with you in mind too.

Who We Help

COVID-19 coping counselling may be a good fit if you:

• are still feeling the effects of changes to work, school, caregiving, or daily routines
• are grieving a person, a relationship, or a milestone connected with the pandemic years
• feel uneasy about your health, about crowds, or about returning to activities you used to enjoy
• notice that relationships at home, at work, or with friends shifted and have not settled
• worked in health care or another essential role and are still processing that time (see mental health support for front-line workers)
• are adjusting to a life that looks different from the one you had planned (see counselling for life transitions and adjustment)
• are a parent, partner, or family member looking for information on behalf of someone else

This service may not be the right fit if:

• You are in immediate danger or thinking about ending your life. Please use the crisis resources below.
• You need a legal opinion, a report for court, insurance, or a workplace claim, or a formal diagnosis. These needs fall outside this counselling service. Psychological assessments are a separate service.
• You have questions about COVID-19 infection, testing, vaccines, long COVID, or medication. A family doctor or another health-care provider is the right place for those questions.

If You Need Help Right Now

Counselling sessions are booked ahead of time and are not set up to respond to emergencies. If you or someone else is at risk, these services can help right away:

• 911, or go to the nearest emergency department, if there is immediate danger
• Alberta Mental Health Help Line: 1-877-303-2642 (24/7)
• 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline: call or text 9-8-8 (24/7)
• Family Violence Info Line (Alberta): 310-1818 (24/7, toll-free), if home does not feel safe

Wholesome Psychology is not an emergency or crisis service.

What COVID-19 Coping Counselling Is

COVID-19 coping counselling is talk-based support for the emotional and practical effects of pandemic-related change. General coping advice can be a reasonable place to start, but it cannot account for your particular circumstances. Counselling can offer a confidential space to explore what has been difficult, what matters now, and what supports may fit. It does not assume everyone had the same pandemic, and it starts from your own reasons for reaching out.

It also has clear limits:

• It is not a crisis or emergency response service.
• It is not a legal service or an investigative process.
• It is not a psychological assessment and does not include a diagnosis. Assessments are offered as a separate service.
• It is not medical care. Clinicians here do not give advice about COVID-19 infection, vaccines, or long COVID, and they do not prescribe medication.
• Each clinician works within the scope of their own training and professional registration, and may suggest another provider if your needs fall outside it.

You set the pace. Your therapist will not push you to talk about anything before you are ready. What you share is confidential within legal and professional limits, which are explained in the Confidentiality and Privacy section further down this page.

Signs the Pandemic May Still Be Affecting You

COVID-19-related changes may have shaped routines, relationships, work, caregiving, or social connection. You do not need a label for what you are feeling in order to reach out. Some patterns people describe include:

• a background worry about getting sick, or about someone you love getting sick, that shows up more than it used to
• feeling out of step in social settings, or more drained by gatherings you once enjoyed
• friendships or family relationships that changed during lockdowns and have not found their footing again
• grief that feels unfinished, especially for losses that happened when people could not gather
• a sense that a stretch of time went missing, along with plans for school, work, or family
• sleep, movement, or work routines that shifted and never quite reset
• getting pulled into news or online arguments and coming away more unsettled than before
• tension or tiredness in your body that seems to rise when something reminds you of that time

Canadian public health bodies have continued to look at how the pandemic affected mental health. The Public Health Agency of Canada has published information on what Canadians did for their mental health during the pandemic (Public Health Agency of Canada [PHAC], 2022). Statistics Canada also reported on its Survey on COVID-19 and Mental Health, carried out from February to May 2023 (Statistics Canada, 2023).

The experiences listed above are common responses to a long period of uncertainty. They are not signs of personal weakness, and they do not mean something is permanently wrong. They can ease, change, or come and go. Having a structured place to sort through them is one option some people find worthwhile.

How Treatment Works Here

• Find your therapist. You can use the Match with a Therapist tool or browse therapist profiles on our Our Therapists page. If you would like help choosing, the admin team can talk it through with you at 780-904-4880.
• Book your first session. Early sessions commonly include a discussion of consent, confidentiality, and goals for care. You can ask how sessions work before deciding what to share. Getting Started with Therapy walks through the process in more detail.
• Build your plan together. Wholesome Psychology describes therapy as collaborative and client-centred. You and your therapist decide on priorities together, and the plan can change as you go.
• Ongoing sessions. Sessions are 50 minutes, usually weekly or every two weeks. Frequency is adjusted to suit your needs and schedule.
• Progress check-ins. Your therapist reviews how things are going with you regularly. The plan adapts as your needs change.

There is no fixed number of sessions. Your voice matters at every stage, including decisions about focus, pace, and when to finish.

Evidence and Approaches

The research gathered for this page is limited. It includes a rapid review on the psychological impact of quarantine and Canadian public education material, but no systematic reviews testing specific therapies for pandemic-related concerns. For that reason, this page does not claim that any single therapy works for COVID-19-related stress. The approaches below describe what counselling here may involve, with the evidence and its limits stated plainly.

Supportive, Client-Centred Counselling

What it helps with: Talking through pandemic-related changes, sorting out what matters now, and deciding together what kind of support fits.

Evidence summary: A rapid review published in The Lancet examined the psychological impact of quarantine and how it might be reduced (Brooks et al., 2020). It supports the general point that quarantine and disruption can affect well-being. It did not evaluate counselling itself.

Limitations: Research on counselling for pandemic-related concerns was not part of the evidence available for this page, so no claim is made about how well it works. Responses to counselling vary, and outcomes are not guaranteed.

Practical Coping: Routines, Rest, and Information Limits

What it helps with: Looking at which parts of daily life feel manageable and which ones need more support.

Evidence summary: Canadian public education guidance has addressed taking care of yourself during COVID-19 (Canadian Mental Health Association, British Columbia Division [CMHA BC], 2020). Depending on your situation, counselling may include discussion of routines, information boundaries, connection, rest, and practical supports. These are options to consider, not a set plan.

Limitations: This is a public education resource rather than clinical research, and its specific recommendations were not fully reviewed for this page. What suits one person may not suit another.

What Results to Expect

Progress in counselling is rarely a straight line. Some weeks may feel lighter and others heavier, and that is a normal part of the process. Some people notice shifts within a few months, while others find longer-term work more useful.

Many things can shape how counselling goes, including:

• what you went through during the pandemic and what has happened since
• your current circumstances, such as work, health, finances, and support at home
• how well you and your therapist work together

No therapy can guarantee a particular result. If the fit with your therapist does not feel right, you can change therapists or try a different approach at any time. You can read more about how the clinic thinks about fit on Our Unique Approach.

Confidentiality and Privacy

What you share in counselling is confidential. Psychologists in Alberta are regulated by the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP) and follow its Standards of Practice, along with the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists. Registered Social Workers are regulated by the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW).

Alberta privacy law also applies. The Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) generally governs how private clinics collect, use, and disclose personal information. The Health Information Act (HIA) governs health information held by designated custodians and their affiliates, so which law applies can depend on the setting. Your clinician can explain how these rules apply to your records.

There are a few situations where information may need to be shared without your consent:

• when there is a risk of serious harm to you or to someone else
• when there is reason to suspect a child is being abused or neglected, which must be reported under Alberta law
• when a court orders the release of records

Your clinician will explain these limits 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 describe everything that happened during the pandemic in detail?

No. You decide what to share and when. Many people start with what is getting in the way now, such as sleep, relationships, or worry, rather than going back over every event. Your therapist will follow your lead and check in with you about pace.

Is what I share kept private?

Yes, within legal limits. Information may need to be shared if there is a risk of serious harm to you or someone else, if a child may be at risk of abuse or neglect, or if a court orders it. Your clinician will go over this in your first session. The Confidentiality and Privacy section above explains the details, including how Alberta's HIA and PIPA apply.

How many sessions will I need?

There is no set number. Some people come for a few sessions to talk through a specific concern. Others prefer longer-term support. You and your therapist will review progress regularly and decide together what makes sense.

What if the therapist is not the right fit?

Fit matters, and it is reasonable to say so. If a therapist does not feel right, the admin team at 780-904-4880 can help you find a different clinician. New clients may access their first session at 50% off to help find the right therapeutic fit.

Can I have sessions online?

Yes. Virtual sessions are available across Alberta, and the same confidentiality standards apply as for in-person sessions. Availability can vary by clinician. You can read more on the online counselling page.

Is this only for people who had COVID-19 or lost someone to it?

No. People reach out about many pandemic-related experiences, including changes in work, relationships, caregiving, routines, or social connection. Counselling begins with your own reasons for coming. If grief is a large part of what you are carrying, you may also want to read about grief and loss counselling.

Can counselling help with long COVID or other ongoing health changes?

Counselling does not treat physical symptoms. Questions about long COVID, testing, or medication belong with your doctor or another health-care provider. Counselling can be a place to talk about the emotional side of living with health changes, such as frustration, uncertainty, or shifts in work and family life. The page on counselling for chronic illness and pain has more on this.

I am looking into this for someone else. What can I do?

You can share this page with them and let them decide whether and when to reach out. You are welcome to call the admin team at 780-904-4880 with general questions about how counselling works. If you are a parent or caregiver, the Children and Youth section below explains how younger clients are supported. If you are worried about someone's immediate safety, use the crisis resources listed earlier on this page.

Meet Your Clinicians

The team at Wholesome Psychology 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. Student Therapists are master's-level practicum students.

Clinicians have different areas of focus. Each profile on the Our Therapists page describes that person's training and experience, so you can look for someone whose background fits what you want to work on, such as stress, grief, or life changes. The Match with a Therapist tool can narrow the options, and the admin team at 780-904-4880 can help if you are unsure.

Children and Youth

Pandemic-related changes, such as time away from school and friends, may also have shaped how children and teens feel and connect. Wholesome Psychology offers counselling for children, adolescents, and young people. Therapists who work with younger clients use age-appropriate approaches. They also work with parents and caregivers to support the child's environment at home. You can find more on the child and youth mental health page.

Taking a Next Step

If you would like to learn more or start counselling, you can:

• Book a session online through the booking system
• 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 first steps look like

Starting the conversation is enough.

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

References

• Brooks, S. K., Webster, R. K., Smith, L. E., Woodland, L., Wessely, S., Greenberg, N., & Rubin, G. J. (2020). The psychological impact of quarantine and how to reduce it: Rapid review of the evidence. The Lancet.
• Canadian Mental Health Association, British Columbia Division. (2020, March 25). COVID-19: Take care of yourself. https://bc.cmha.ca/covid-19-take-care-of-yourself/
• Public Health Agency of Canada. (2022). COVID-19: What Canadians did for their mental health during the pandemic. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/what-did-canadians-do-for-mental-health-during-covid-19.html
• Statistics Canada. (2023, December 12). Survey on COVID-19 and Mental Health, February to May 2023. The Daily. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/231212/dq231212c-eng.htm