Confidential, collaborative therapy for people facing the emotional weight of trying to conceive, fertility testing, or treatment. Sessions are provided by Registered Psychologists, counsellors, and other clinicians who practise under their applicable professional standards. Available in person in Edmonton and St. Albert, and virtually across Alberta.

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You Might Be Wondering Whether Fertility Counselling Is Right for You

You may be asking yourself whether this is really worth talking to someone about. Maybe nothing has been diagnosed yet. Maybe you have been told to "stay positive" and wait, and part of you wonders whether your reaction is too much for what is happening.

For many people, the hardest part is not a single moment. It is the quiet accumulation of it: tracking dates, holding your breath each month, smiling through other people's announcements, and carrying a tension that does not ease even on good days. Some people notice themselves pulling back from friends without quite knowing why. Others feel a distance opening up with a partner who is going through the same thing in a different way.

These reactions make sense. Fertility challenges touch hopes that are deeply personal, and the uncertainty alone can be exhausting. Feeling this way does not mean you are coping badly or that something is wrong with you. In 2024, fewer than 1 in 5 people in Canada said they had ever discussed their fertility with a health care provider, so if this has felt like a private struggle, that is a common experience, not a failing (Statistics Canada, 2025).

If you are trying to decide whether this kind of support fits your situation, you may find it useful to read on and see what fertility counselling actually involves.

Who We Help

Fertility counselling at Wholesome Psychology may be a good fit if you are:

• trying to conceive and finding the uncertainty hard to carry
• moving through testing, treatment, or a pause in treatment
• grieving a loss, a diagnosis, or a plan that has changed
• feeling strain with a partner, family, or friends around this topic
• seeking support on your own, or alongside someone you love
• exploring family-building decisions and want space to think them through

Fertility care can be relevant to people across different backgrounds, relationship structures, and paths to building a family (World Health Organization [WHO], 2025). You do not need to fit a particular picture to reach out.

This service may not be the right fit in some situations:

• If you are in crisis or immediate danger: please use the urgent resources listed below rather than waiting for an appointment.
• If you need medical fertility care: diagnosis, testing, and treatment are provided by physicians and fertility clinics. Counselling can sit alongside that care but does not replace it.
• If you need a formal psychological assessment or a report for legal purposes: those are separate services and are not part of this counselling service.

If You Need Urgent Help Right Now

Wholesome Psychology is not an emergency or crisis service. If you need immediate support, please use one of these resources:

• Call 911 if you or someone else is in immediate danger.
• 988 Suicide Crisis Helpline: call or text 9-8-8, available 24/7 across Canada.
• Alberta Mental Health Help Line: 1-877-303-2642, available 24/7.
• Health Link: call 811 for 24/7 health advice and navigation in Alberta.

Wholesome Psychology is not an emergency or crisis service.

What This Service Is

Fertility counselling is talking-based therapy focused on the emotional side of trying to conceive. Psychotherapy is a form of treatment built around structured conversation with a therapist, with the aim of easing distress (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health [CAMH], n.d.). Here, that means a confidential space to process feelings, sort through decisions, and find steadier ways to cope.

It helps to be clear about what this service is not. It is not a medical fertility assessment, and it does not provide diagnosis, testing, or treatment of fertility conditions (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence [NICE], 2014). It is not a legal or investigative process, and it is not a crisis service. Emotional and mental wellbeing are part of overall health before and during pregnancy, which is one reason support can be useful at any stage (Public Health Agency of Canada [PHAC], 2023).

The pace is set by you, not by your therapist. You decide what to talk about and when. Wholesome Psychology describes its care as inclusive, client-centred, and tailored to the person and their goals. What you share is confidential, within limits that are explained at the start of care, and you can read more about that in the confidentiality section below.

Signs Fertility Struggles May Be Affecting You

There is no checklist that decides whether your experience counts. Still, some people recognize patterns like these in themselves:

• a low mood or grief that lingers, even when life is otherwise going well
• anxiety around appointments, test results, or each new cycle
• feelings of shame, guilt, or a sense of letting others down
• irritability or anger that surfaces more easily than before
• pulling away from pregnancy announcements, baby showers, or certain conversations
• tension or distance with a partner, including around intimacy
• trouble concentrating, sleeping, or switching off from fertility thoughts
• physical exhaustion from the ongoing effort of tracking and waiting

Experiences like these are common reactions to a stressful and uncertain situation. They do not mean something is permanently wrong with you. Structured support can give these feelings somewhere to go and help you find footing again.

How Treatment Works Here

• Find your therapist. You can browse profiles on Our Therapists or use the Match with a Therapist tool. If you would like a hand choosing, the admin team can help at 780-904-4880.
• Book your first session. The first session is used to review confidentiality and consent, understand what brings you in, and begin setting goals together. There is no need to have everything figured out before you arrive.
• Build your plan together. You and your therapist shape a plan around what matters to you. Support may be individual, or it may include couple-focused conversations, depending on your goals.
• Ongoing sessions. Sessions are 50 minutes. Many people meet weekly or bi-weekly, and the frequency can be adjusted as your needs change.
• Progress check-ins. Your therapist reviews how things are going on a regular basis, and the plan adapts as you go.

There is no fixed number of sessions. Therapy here is collaborative, and your voice guides the work at every stage. You can read more about the process on the Getting Started with Therapy page.

Evidence and Approaches

Therapists draw on approaches suited to your goals. The summaries below describe what the research suggests and where it is limited. Outcomes vary from person to person.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

What it helps with: Working with the anxious thoughts, worry cycles, and low mood that can build up during fertility challenges.

Evidence summary: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 39 studies (total N = 2,746) found that psychosocial interventions for people in fertility treatment could be efficacious for reducing psychological distress, with cognitive behavioural approaches among the stronger performers in that analysis (Frederiksen et al., 2015).

Limitations: Studies varied in quality and design, and individual responses differ. The same review's findings on pregnancy outcomes are not a basis for any promise about conception.

Mind-Body Approaches

What it helps with: Easing the physical tension, stress, and overwhelm that can accompany the waiting and the appointments.

Evidence summary: In the same meta-analysis, mind-body interventions also showed a measurable benefit for psychological outcomes among people undergoing fertility treatment (Frederiksen et al., 2015).

Limitations: The evidence base is mixed, and it is not clear which specific components work best. Benefits are framed as possible, not guaranteed.

Supportive Counselling Around Fertility Care

What it helps with: Processing emotions, making room for grief and uncertainty, and thinking through decisions at any point in the fertility journey.

Evidence summary: Clinical guidance recommends that people having problems conceiving be offered counselling before, during, and after investigation and treatment, because fertility problems and their treatment can cause emotional stress (NICE, 2014). Research also suggests counselling may help reduce distress for some people (Frederiksen et al., 2015).

Limitations: Counselling supports coping and wellbeing. It does not diagnose or treat fertility conditions, and it does not predict medical outcomes.

Couple-Focused Support

What it helps with: Communication, shared decision-making, and intimacy when partners are carrying the same situation in different ways.

Evidence summary: Couple-focused work can offer a structured space to talk through expectations and stress together, alongside the broader evidence that psychosocial support may ease distress during fertility treatment (Frederiksen et al., 2015).

Limitations: Evidence specific to relationship or marital outcomes in fertility settings is limited, with some studies showing small or uncertain effects. Whether couple or individual work fits best depends on your goals.

What Results to Expect

Recovery and relief are rarely linear. Some weeks feel easier than others, and that is a normal part of the process. Some people find relief from just 2-3 sessions, while others choose longer-term support as their circumstances change.

Several things shape how therapy unfolds, including the nature of what you are facing, your current circumstances, and the fit between you and your therapist. No therapy can guarantee an outcome, and no responsible therapist will promise one.

Therapeutic fit matters a great deal. If the match does not feel right, you can change therapist or approach at any time, and the admin team can help you do that.

Confidentiality and Privacy

What you share in therapy is kept confidential. Psychologists work under the standards of the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP) and the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) Code of Ethics. Certified Canadian Counsellors (CCCs) are certified by the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA), and Registered Social Workers are regulated by the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW). Your personal health information is protected under Alberta's Health Information Act (HIA) and Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA).

There are a few legal limits to confidentiality. A therapist may need to disclose information when:

• there is a risk of serious harm to you or to someone else
• there is suspected abuse or neglect of a child, which is subject to mandatory reporting under Alberta law
• a court orders the release of records

Your therapist will explain these limits clearly during 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 everything in detail?

No. You set the pace and decide what to share. Some people want to talk through their history; others prefer to focus on present-day patterns, decisions, and coping. Your therapist will follow your lead rather than push you to recount more than you are ready to.

Is what I share kept private?

Yes. Confidentiality is a core part of therapy, with a few legal limits, such as a risk of serious harm or a court order. These are explained at the start of care. You can read the full details in the confidentiality section above.

How many sessions will I need?

There is no fixed answer. Some people benefit from a short series of sessions, while others choose longer-term support. Your therapist reviews progress with you regularly, and the plan adjusts as your needs change.

What if the therapist is not the right fit?

Fit matters, and it is reasonable to want a therapist who feels right for you. If the match is not working, the admin team can help you find a different clinician. 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 I access therapy online?

Yes. Virtual sessions are available across Alberta, with the same confidentiality standards as in-person care. This can make support easier to fit around appointments, work, and travel.

Can my partner and I attend together?

Often, yes. Support may be individual or couple-focused, depending on your goals and therapist fit. Many people move between formats over time as their needs shift.

Is counselling only for people in medical treatment?

No. Some people come while in fertility treatment, and others come for support around uncertainty, decision-making, grief, or relationship strain. Counselling can be relevant before, during, and after fertility investigation or treatment (NICE, 2014).

Will therapy improve my chances of getting pregnant?

That is not something we promise. Counselling can support your emotional wellbeing and coping during a stressful time. It is not a medical treatment, and the available research is not a basis for claims about conception or treatment success.

Meet Your Clinicians

Wholesome Psychology works with a range of clinicians, including 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). Registered Provisional Psychologists practise under the supervision of a senior registered psychologist. Registered Social Workers are regulated by the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW), and Certified Canadian Counsellors (CCCs) are certified by the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA).

Many clinicians have training in fertility-related stress, grief and loss, relationships, and pregnancy and perinatal mental health. You can view individual profiles on the Our Therapists page, use the Match with a Therapist tool, or call the admin team at 780-904-4880 for help choosing.

If a related topic feels closer to what you are carrying, you may also find these helpful: Mental Health and Fertility, Infertility, Relationships and Intimacy While Trying to Conceive, Grief and Loss, and Planning Parenthood.

Taking the Next Step

If fertility counselling in Edmonton or St. Albert feels like it might help, here are a few ways to begin:

• Book a session online
• Match with a therapist
• Call 780-904-4880
• Email info@wholesomepsychology.ca
• Read the Getting Started with Therapy page

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.). Psychotherapy. Retrieved June 28, 2026, from https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-illness-and-addiction-index/psychotherapy
• Frederiksen, Y., Farver-Vestergaard, I., Skovgård, N. G., Ingerslev, H. J., & Zachariae, R. (2015). Efficacy of psychosocial interventions for psychological and pregnancy outcomes in infertile women and men: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open, 5(1), e006592. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2014-006592
• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (2014). Fertility problems (Quality standard QS73), Statement 3: Counselling. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/qs73
• Public Health Agency of Canada. (2023). Preconception health: Health before pregnancy. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/pregnancy/preconception-health-before.html
• Statistics Canada. (2025). Sexual and reproductive health: Let's talk about it! https://www.statcan.gc.ca/o1/en/plus/7767-sexual-and-reproductive-health-lets-talk-about-it
• World Health Organization. (2025). Infertility. Retrieved June 28, 2026, from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/infertility