Reflective, conversation based counselling that makes room to think through meaning, choice, and the direction your life is taking. Wholesome Psychology offers existential therapy with clinicians who practise under Alberta regulation, including Registered Psychologists registered with the College of Alberta Psychologists. Sessions are available in person at our Edmonton and St. Albert locations and virtually across Alberta.

Book a Session | Match with a Therapist

You Might Be Wondering Whether Existential Therapy Is Right for You

You may not be sure whether what you are feeling counts as a real problem or whether it is just part of being a person. Maybe nothing is obviously wrong, and yet something feels off. That uncertainty is a common reason people pause before reaching out.

Some people notice a quiet restlessness that does not lift even when things look fine on paper. Some feel like they are going through the motions and have lost track of what any of it is for. Others find themselves stuck at a crossroads, turning the same decision over and over without landing anywhere.

These responses make sense. They are familiar human reactions to loss, change, and the work of figuring out what matters to you. They do not mean something is permanently wrong with you.

If you are curious whether a more reflective kind of counselling could help, you may wish to read on and see what existential therapy actually looks like.

Who We Help

Existential therapy may be a good fit if you:

• want a reflective, exploratory style of counselling rather than a skills only format
• are sitting with questions about meaning, purpose, or identity
• are reconsidering priorities after a major change
• are facing uncertainty about relationships, work, or who you want to be
• are grieving a loss or adjusting to a changed life circumstance
• want to make decisions that feel more aligned with your values

This approach may not be the right starting point if:

• You are in immediate danger or crisis. Please use the crisis resources below.
• You need a forensic or legal opinion, a court report, or a custody evaluation. Those are outside this therapy service, and psychological assessments are a separate service we do not cover on this page.
• You are mainly looking for a formal diagnosis or testing. That is a different service from counselling.

If You Need Help Right Now

Existential therapy is scheduled counselling, not urgent care. If you need immediate support, please use one of these resources:

• Call 911 if you or someone else is in 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).

Wholesome Psychology is not an emergency or crisis service.

What This Service Is

Existential therapy is a form of talk therapy that draws on philosophical ideas to explore how a person relates to meaning, choice, responsibility, and life direction (Cleveland Clinic, n.d.). Instead of assuming one fixed explanation for distress, it makes space to look closely at how you understand your circumstances and the decisions in front of you.

It is worth being clear about what this service is not. Therapy here is not a legal service, an investigation, or a crisis intervention. The main focus of this page is existential therapy, and assessments or formal testing are handled as a separate service. The pace is set by you, not by the therapist. What you share is confidential, with some limits explained further down this page.

Access to mental health support is an ongoing consideration for many people in Canada (Statistics Canada, n.d.), and supporting positive mental health is recognized as a public health goal (Public Health Agency of Canada [PHAC], n.d.). Existential therapy is one of several approaches a person might choose within that broader picture.

Signs These Questions May Be Weighing on You

People are often drawn to this kind of work when certain experiences keep showing up. You may recognize some of the following:

• a sense that life has lost meaning or direction, even when little has obviously changed
• feeling like you are performing a role rather than living as yourself
• turning a major decision over and over without being able to choose
• grief or loss that has reshaped how you see the future
• a feeling of disconnection from people, even ones you care about
• questioning values or beliefs you used to take for granted
• discomfort with uncertainty, mortality, or how little is in your control
• wanting your choices to line up with what actually matters to you

Noticing these experiences does not mean something is permanently wrong with you. They are common reactions to change and to the ordinary difficulty of making sense of a life. For some people, a structured space to reflect on them can help.

How Treatment Works Here

• Find your therapist. You can use the Match with a Therapist tool or review Our Therapists to see who might suit you. Our admin team can also help by phone at 780-904-4880.
• Book your first session. The first appointment covers confidentiality and consent and a discussion of what you are hoping to work on. There is no requirement to have everything figured out before you arrive.
• Build your plan together. You and your therapist shape the focus of the work. Existential therapy is collaborative, and your goals guide the direction.
• Ongoing sessions. Sessions are usually weekly or every two weeks and can be adjusted as needed. Each session runs about 50 minutes.
• Progress check-ins. Your therapist reviews how things are going on a regular basis, and the plan can change as your needs change.

There is no fixed number of sessions, and your voice matters at every stage. If existential therapy does not feel like the right fit, your therapist can talk through other approaches or a blend of approaches.

Evidence and Approaches

Existential Therapy

What it helps with: A reflective, conversation based way of working through questions of meaning, choice, responsibility, identity, and life direction.

Evidence summary: Existential therapy is described as a form of talk therapy that uses philosophical ideas to explore personal responsibility, beliefs, meaning, and purpose (Cleveland Clinic, n.d.). A published meta-analysis has examined the effects of existential therapies on psychological outcomes, which shows the approach has been studied in the research literature.

Limitations: The research materials available for this page do not include usable effect sizes, timelines, or comparisons with other therapies, so no specific outcome can be promised. Individual responses vary, and fit depends on the person, the therapist, and the goals of therapy.

How Existential Work Fits With Other Approaches

Existential ideas are not always used on their own. Depending on the therapist and what you are working toward, this kind of reflection may be woven together with other counselling approaches. Whether that happens, and how, depends on your goals and the therapist you work with rather than on a fixed protocol. If you prefer a more structured or skills based format, your therapist can discuss that with you.

What Results to Expect

Change in therapy is rarely a straight line. Some people notice shifts after a small number of sessions, while others find longer term work more useful. Both are normal.

Several things shape how therapy goes, including the nature of what you are working through, what is happening in your life right now, and how well you and your therapist fit together. No therapy can guarantee a particular outcome, and existential therapy is no exception.

If the approach or the therapist does not feel right, changing either is always an option. Finding a good fit is part of the process, not a sign that something has gone wrong.

Confidentiality and Privacy

What you share in therapy is kept confidential. Our clinicians work within the standards of their applicable regulatory or professional bodies, including the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP) for registered psychologists, the Canadian Counselling and Psychological Association (CCPA) for Certified Canadian Counsellors, and the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW) for registered social workers. Psychologists also work within the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) Code of Ethics, and your personal health information is handled in line with Alberta's Health Information Act (HIA) and Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA).

There are a few situations where a clinician may be required by law to share limited information:

• when there is a risk of serious harm to you or someone else
• when there is suspected abuse or neglect of a child, which carries a duty to report under Alberta law
• when a court orders disclosure

Your therapist will explain these limits clearly in the first session. You are welcome to ask questions about privacy before you share anything personal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to talk about specific events or have everything figured out first?

No. You set the pace, and you do not need a tidy explanation before you start. Existential therapy often works with what is alive for you in the present, such as a decision you are facing or a sense of being stuck, rather than requiring a detailed account of the past. You can share as much or as little as feels right.

Is what I share kept private?

Yes. Therapy is confidential, and your therapist reviews how this works in the first session. There are limited legal exceptions, such as a risk of serious harm or a duty to report concerns about a child. You can read more in the Confidentiality and Privacy section above.

How many sessions will I need?

There is no fixed answer. Some people find a few sessions helpful, while others prefer longer term work, and your therapist reviews progress with you along the way. The number depends on your goals and what feels useful rather than a set package.

What if the therapist is not the right fit?

Fit matters, and it is reasonable to want a therapist whose style and pace suit you. If the match does not feel right, our admin team can help you find a different clinician, and you can also use the Match with a Therapist tool or review Our Therapists. New clients may access their first session at 50% off to help find the right therapeutic fit.

Can I access existential therapy online?

Yes. Virtual sessions are available across Alberta, in addition to in-person appointments in Edmonton and St. Albert. The same confidentiality standards apply to online sessions.

Is existential therapy only about philosophy?

No. While it draws on philosophical ideas, the focus stays on your lived experience. In practice the work tends to centre on how you understand your choices, values, relationships, losses, and direction in everyday life.

What is the difference between a psychologist and a counsellor?

Both can provide counselling, and they differ in training, regulation, and fees. At Wholesome Psychology, psychologists are registered with the College of Alberta Psychologists, Certified Canadian Counsellors are regulated by the Canadian Counselling and Psychological Association, and registered social workers are regulated by the Alberta College of Social Workers. Other therapists hold their own credentials and often work at a lower fee. The admin team can help you decide which option suits your needs and budget.

Meet Your Clinicians

Wholesome Psychology 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. Registered Provisional Psychologists practise under the supervision of a senior registered psychologist. Certified Canadian Counsellors are regulated by the Canadian Counselling and Psychological Association, and registered social workers are regulated by the Alberta College of Social Workers.

Many of our clinicians have training in reflective and humanistic styles of counselling relevant to existential work, such as meaning, identity, grief, and life transitions. You can review individual profiles on the Our Therapists page or use the Match with a Therapist tool. For guidance, call the admin team at 780-904-4880.

Next Steps

If you are considering existential therapy in Edmonton or St. Albert, you can take the next step whenever you feel ready. You may wish to review our therapists, use the Match with a Therapist tool, read Getting Started with Therapy, or book a session online. You can also call 780-904-4880 or email info@wholesomepsychology.ca.

You may also find these related pages useful: Humanistic Client-Centered, Person Centered Therapy, Life Transitions and Adjustment Challenges, Grief and Loss Therapy, and Online Counselling.

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

References

• Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). Existential therapy. Source captured in the provided evidence pack.
• Existential therapies: A meta-analysis of their effects on psychological outcomes [Meta-analysis]. PubMed record identified in the provided evidence pack. Author names and publication details were not available in the supplied materials.
• Statistics Canada. (n.d.). Mental disorders and access to mental health care. Statistics Canada. Source captured in the provided evidence pack.
• Public Health Agency of Canada. (n.d.). Promoting positive mental health. Government of Canada. Source captured in the provided evidence pack.