Confidential, client-centred support for individuals and couples working through the impact of a breach of trust. Registered Psychologists regulated by the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP), Certified Canadian Counsellors regulated by the Canadian Counselling and Psychological Association (CCPA), and Registered Social Workers 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 Infidelity Counselling Is Right for You

You may not be sure whether what you are going through is something that calls for outside help. Maybe you have been telling yourself you should be able to handle this on your own, or that things are not bad enough to talk to a professional about. That kind of doubt is common, and it does not mean you are overreacting or wasting anyone's time.

Perhaps you have been replaying the same conversations in your head without reaching a resolution. You may be carrying a weight that follows you into work, sleep, and interactions with people who have nothing to do with what happened. You might find yourself checking things you never used to check, or pulling away from someone you still care about without fully understanding why.

These responses make sense. They reflect the ways your mind is trying to process something that has shaken the ground you were standing on. They do not mean something is permanently broken in you or in your relationship.

If you are considering whether speaking with someone could help, this page may be a useful starting point. You can read through what this kind of support looks like and decide what feels right from there.

Who We Help

This service may be a good fit for:

• Individuals trying to understand the emotional impact of infidelity, whether it happened recently or in the past
• Couples who want a structured space to talk about what happened, clarify boundaries, and consider next steps
• People who are unsure whether the goal is repair, separation, or something in between
• Partners gathering information for a loved one who may not be ready to reach out yet
• Individuals in any type of relationship structure, including dating, common-law, and married partnerships

This service may not be the right fit for:

• People in immediate crisis or danger (see crisis resources below)
• People seeking legal advice, mediation, or forensic investigation related to infidelity
• Situations where a formal psychological assessment is needed (assessments are a separate service)

Crisis Resources

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger or experiencing a mental health crisis, this clinic is not the right resource in this moment. Please contact one of the following:

• 911 for immediate danger
• Alberta Mental Health Help Line: 1-877-303-2642 (24/7)
• Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741

Wholesome Psychology is not an emergency or crisis service.

What This Service Is

Infidelity counselling at Wholesome Psychology is a space for individuals or couples to process the impact of a breach of trust or agreed relationship boundaries. People use the word infidelity in different ways. For some, it refers to sexual contact outside the relationship. For others, it may involve emotional intimacy, secrecy, online communication, or another form of boundary crossing. Part of the work may involve clarifying what happened and what each person needs now.

Counselling may focus on emotional processing, communication, boundary clarification, and decision-making support. Some people use counselling to explore whether repair, discernment, or separation feels right. Others want individual space to process their own experience before or instead of couple sessions.

This service is not emergency care, legal advice, mediation, or forensic fact-finding. The pace of therapy is set by the client, not the therapist. Confidentiality and its limits are reviewed at the start of every therapeutic relationship, and your clinician will explain these clearly during the first session.

Signs the Impact of Infidelity May Be Affecting You

You may recognize some of these patterns in your own experience:

• Replaying events or conversations in your mind without reaching any resolution
• Difficulty sleeping or concentrating on everyday tasks
• Feeling a mix of anger, grief, confusion, and numbness that shifts unpredictably
• Withdrawing from people you care about, even when they have not done anything wrong
• Checking your partner's phone, email, or social media more than you want to
• Struggling to trust your own judgement about the relationship
• Experiencing physical tension, headaches, or stomach discomfort tied to emotional stress
• Difficulty having a conversation about the relationship without it escalating quickly

These are common reactions to a breach of trust. They do not define who you are, and they do not have to remain permanent. Structured support can help you work through them at a pace that feels manageable.

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.
• Book your first session. The first appointment includes a review of confidentiality, informed consent, and an initial conversation about your goals. You do not need to share everything in the first session.
• Build your plan together. Your therapist will work with you to develop a therapeutic plan based on what you want to focus on. This plan is collaborative and adjusts as your needs change.
• Ongoing sessions. Sessions are typically 50 minutes, scheduled weekly or bi-weekly depending on what works for you. Frequency can be adjusted at any point.
• Progress check-ins. Your therapist reviews progress regularly. If the approach or fit does not feel right, you can change direction or work with a different clinician.

There is no fixed number of sessions required. Therapy is collaborative, and your voice matters at every stage. Some people find what they need in a few sessions. Others benefit from longer-term support. Both are valid.

Evidence and Approaches

Clinicians at Wholesome Psychology may draw on several evidence-informed approaches depending on your goals and circumstances. The research base for infidelity-specific treatment outcomes is limited, so this page avoids claiming one proven method. The approaches below have support for related concerns such as relationship distress, communication difficulties, and emotional processing.

Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT)

What it helps with: EFT may help couples identify and express the unmet emotional needs that underlie relationship conflict and disconnection.

Evidence summary: The Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) notes that clinical trials of EFT show that the majority of couples report improved satisfaction by the end of treatment, with some studies indicating gains are maintained at two-year follow-up (CPA, 2021). A Cochrane systematic review of couple therapy for depression found limited studies overall, with most evidence supporting behavioural approaches rather than a single superior model (Barbato et al., 2018).

Limitations: Most EFT research focuses on general relationship distress rather than infidelity-specific outcomes. Individual responses vary, and not all couples experience the same degree of change.

Cognitive-Behavioural Couple Therapy (CBCT)

What it helps with: CBCT may help couples improve communication patterns and develop constructive approaches to conflict resolution.

Evidence summary: The CPA identifies Behavioural Marital Therapy and Cognitive-Behavioural Couple Therapy as approaches that help couples communicate more effectively and resolve conflicts constructively (CPA, 2021). These approaches have research support for relationship distress more broadly.

Limitations: Evidence is drawn from studies on general relationship distress, not infidelity recovery specifically. Outcomes depend on both partners' willingness to engage in the process.

Individual Counselling

What it helps with: Individual sessions may support emotional processing, decision-making, and personal coping when joint sessions are not the preferred or safest starting point.

Evidence summary: The International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) recognizes individual psychological or behavioural counselling (QA16) as a distinct service category (World Health Organization [WHO], ICD-11). Individual counselling can provide space for a person to process their own experience of a relationship rupture before, alongside, or instead of couple work.

Limitations: This classification supports the legitimacy of the service format but does not establish treatment effectiveness for infidelity-related distress specifically.

Discernment Counselling

What it helps with: Discernment counselling may help couples who are uncertain whether to commit to working on the relationship or to move toward separation.

Evidence summary: The CPA describes discernment counselling as a brief intervention that helps couples determine whether they wish to take steps toward divorce or to commit to working on the relationship for a set period (CPA, 2021).

Limitations: Evidence for discernment counselling as a distinct modality is emerging, and controlled trials are limited. It is designed as a short-term decision-making framework, not a comprehensive treatment.

What Results to Expect

Recovery after infidelity is not linear. Some people notice meaningful shifts within a few sessions. Others benefit from longer-term work. Both paths are normal.

Not every person or couple wants the same outcome after infidelity. Some want to repair the relationship. Others want clarity about whether to stay or leave. Some want individual support regardless of what happens in the partnership. Counselling can support any of these directions without pushing toward a predetermined answer.

Outcomes vary depending on many factors, including the nature of the breach, the current circumstances of each person, the quality of therapeutic fit, and the willingness of those involved to engage in the process. No therapy guarantees a specific result. What it can offer is a structured, confidential space to work through difficult questions with professional support.

If the therapeutic fit does not feel right, that is worth naming. Changing therapist or approach is always an option, and the admin team at 780-904-4880 can help with that transition.

Confidentiality and Privacy

What you share 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 Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA).

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

• Risk of serious harm to yourself or others
• 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 you share anything personal. You are welcome to ask questions about confidentiality at any point.

In couple work, clinicians may have different policies regarding individual disclosures made outside joint sessions. It is helpful to discuss these boundaries early so that everyone understands how information is handled.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to describe what happened in detail?

No. You set the pace. Some people want to talk through the details of what happened, and others prefer to focus on how they are feeling right now and what they want going forward. Your therapist can work with either approach. You do not have to share anything before you are ready.

Is what I share kept private?

Yes, with limited exceptions. What you discuss in therapy is confidential under Alberta's Health Information Act and Personal Information Protection Act. Exceptions include situations involving risk of serious harm, suspected child abuse or neglect, and court orders. Your clinician will review these limits with you at the start. For more detail, see the confidentiality section above.

How many sessions will I need?

There is no fixed answer. Some people find relief from just 2 to 3 sessions focused on a specific concern. Others benefit from longer-term support as they work through more complex feelings or relationship decisions. Your therapist will check in on progress regularly, and you can adjust the plan at any point.

What if the therapist is not the right fit?

Therapeutic fit matters, and it is not always a match on the first try. If the connection does not feel right, you can speak with the admin team about working with 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 for anyone in Alberta. They follow the same confidentiality standards and session structure as in-person appointments. Many clients find virtual sessions convenient for fitting therapy into their schedule.

Do we need to attend together?

No. Some people start individually, some start as a couple, and some use a combination over time. The starting format depends on your goals, readiness, and whether joint conversations feel safe and useful at this point. Your therapist can help you think through the best starting point.

What if we are not sure whether we want to stay together?

You do not need to arrive with a decision. Early sessions can focus on slowing things down, clarifying what each person needs, and exploring whether the direction is repair, discernment, or separation. Counselling can support any of these paths without pushing toward a particular answer.

What if there are safety concerns in the relationship?

If there is ongoing intimidation, coercive control, recent violence, or fear about speaking openly, joint sessions may not be the safest starting point. Individual support and safety-focused planning may be more appropriate first. Your therapist can help you think through what kind of support makes sense. If you are in immediate danger, please call 911 or the Alberta Mental Health Help Line at 1-877-303-2642.

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. Certified Canadian Counsellors 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 have training and experience in relationship distress, couples counselling, communication difficulties, and the emotional impact of trust breaches. You can browse individual profiles on the Our Therapists page, use the Match with a Therapist tool, or call 780-904-4880 for guidance in choosing someone who fits your needs.

Children and Youth

When infidelity affects a family, children and young people may also feel the impact, even if they are not directly involved. Wholesome Psychology offers counselling for children, adolescents, and young people. Therapists working with younger clients use age-appropriate approaches and can work alongside caregivers to support the family environment during a difficult period.

Next Steps

If you are thinking about reaching out, here are some ways to get started:

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

Related pages

• Couples Counselling
• Marriage and Relationship Concerns
• Divorce or Separation
• Emotionally Focused Therapy
• Gottman Couples Therapy
• Online Counselling

References

• Barbato, A., D'Avanzo, B., & Parabiaghi, A. (2018). Couple therapy for depression. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (6), CD004188. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD004188.pub3
• Canadian Psychological Association. (2021). "Psychology Works" fact sheet: Relationship distress. https://cpa.ca/psychologyfactsheets/relationshipdistress/
• Public Health Agency of Canada. (2020). Promoting safe intimate partner relationships. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/health-promotion/stop-family-violence/promoting-safe-intimate-partner-relationships.html
• Rokach, A., & Chan, S. H. (2023). Love and infidelity: Causes and consequences. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(5), 3904. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20053904
• Statistics Canada. (2023). How do we measure love? Let me count the ways! https://www.statcan.gc.ca/
• World Health Organization. (2025). ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics. https://icd.who.int/