Supportive, collaborative counselling for people living with persistent worry, in-person in Edmonton and St. Albert or virtually across Alberta. Registered psychologists, provisional psychologists, social workers, and counsellors. Regulated care. In-person and virtual sessions.

Book a Session | Match with a Therapist

You Might Be Wondering Whether Generalized Anxiety Disorder Counselling Is Right for You

You may not be sure whether what you are feeling is serious enough to justify reaching out. Maybe the worry has become so familiar that you question whether it counts as a problem, or whether other people simply cope better with the same things. That uncertainty is a common place to start.

You might recognize some of this in yourself. Worry that runs in the background even on ordinary days. A body that stays tense when there is nothing obvious to be tense about. Nights where your mind keeps working long after you want it to stop.

These reactions make sense. When worry has been part of daily life for a while, the mind and body often keep bracing out of habit, not because something is permanently wrong with you. Many people notice these patterns and still wonder whether support would help.

You may wish to keep reading to see what this kind of counselling looks like and whether it feels relevant to you. There is space here for people who are ready to book, people who are still deciding, and people gathering information for someone they care about.

Who We Help

Generalized anxiety counselling at Wholesome Psychology may be a good fit if you:

• notice worry that feels frequent, wide-ranging, or hard to set aside
• want practical ways to respond to uncertainty and tension
• are exploring support for the first time and are not sure where to begin
• prefer collaborative counselling where you set the pace
• are looking into options for a partner, family member, or friend

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

• If you are in immediate danger or thinking about harming yourself or someone else, please use the crisis resources below rather than waiting for an appointment.
• If you need a forensic, court-related, or legal opinion, that falls outside this counselling service. Formal psychological assessments are a separate service.
• If you are looking for medication management, that is provided by a physician or psychiatrist, not through counselling.

If You Need Help Right Now

Wholesome Psychology is not a crisis service, and counselling appointments are not designed for emergencies. If you need immediate support, please reach out to one of the following:

• Call 911 if you or someone else is in 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

Generalized anxiety counselling is a talk-based service that offers a structured, private space to understand persistent worry and practise new ways of responding to it. The focus is on your day-to-day experience, your goals, and the pace that feels manageable for you.

This page is informational. It is not a diagnostic assessment, and a webpage cannot determine whether anyone meets clinical criteria for generalized anxiety disorder. Counselling here is not a legal service, an investigative process, or a crisis intervention.

If a formal psychological assessment is something you are seeking, that is offered separately and is not included in this counselling service. Your counsellor can talk with you about whether an assessment or medical consultation might be worth considering as a separate next step.

What you share in sessions is confidential, within the legal and ethical limits explained later on this page. Counselling also has scope-of-practice boundaries: it does not include medication advice, legal advice, or personalized medical direction. The pace of the work is set by you, not by the therapist.

Signs Generalized Anxiety May Be Affecting You

People describe generalized anxiety in many different ways. You do not need a diagnosis, and you do not need to match every item below, to find counselling useful. These are experiences that may be part of the picture for some people:

• ongoing or wide-ranging worry that is hard to switch off
• feeling restless, keyed up, or on edge
• muscle tension or trouble letting your body relax
• irritability or a shorter fuse than usual
• difficulty concentrating or a mind that goes blank
• tiredness that rest does not seem to fix
• disrupted sleep, whether falling asleep or staying asleep
• avoiding situations because of the worry they bring up

Having some of these experiences does not mean something is permanently wrong with you. They are common reactions that many people live with, and they can shift over time. Structured support can help you understand these patterns and build steadier ways of responding.

How Counselling Works Here

• Find your therapist. You can start with the Match with a Therapist tool, browse profiles on Our Therapists, or call the admin team at 780-904-4880 for guidance.
• Book your first session. The first session usually covers confidentiality and consent, a conversation about what brings you in, and an early discussion of your goals. You are welcome to ask questions before sharing anything personal.
• Build your plan together. You and your therapist shape a plan that fits your goals, pace, and circumstances. The work is collaborative, and your preferences guide it.
• Attend ongoing sessions. Follow-up sessions are often weekly or bi-weekly, adjusted as needed. Sessions are 50 minutes.
• Review progress together. Your therapist checks in on how things are going, and the plan can change as your needs change.

There is no fixed number of sessions. Counselling is collaborative from start to finish, and your voice matters at every stage. If you would like a closer look at the process before booking, the Getting Started with Therapy page walks through it.

Evidence and Approaches

Generalized anxiety disorder is recognized as an anxiety or fear-related condition in international diagnostic systems (World Health Organization [WHO], n.d.). Counselling is one common, evidence-informed support option for generalized anxiety concerns, and response varies from person to person. Depending on your therapist, your goals, and your preferences, counselling may draw on the approaches below. No single approach is right for everyone.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

What it helps with: CBT focuses on the links between worried thoughts, physical tension, and the things people do to manage anxiety.

Evidence summary: Psychological treatments for generalized anxiety disorder have been examined in randomized controlled trials, and counselling approaches such as CBT are widely used and studied as supports for ongoing worry (meta-analysis of randomized trials reviewed for this page). Research suggests these approaches may help some people, though response varies.

Limitations: The research reviewed for this page does not provide extractable effect sizes, and individual results differ. CBT is not a guaranteed outcome, and it is not the right fit for everyone.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

What it helps with: ACT focuses on changing your relationship with anxious thoughts and reconnecting with what matters to you, rather than trying to eliminate worry entirely.

Evidence summary: ACT is one of the collaborative talk-therapy approaches used for anxiety-related concerns and studied within the broader body of psychological treatment research (meta-analysis of randomized trials reviewed for this page). Research suggests it may help some people build flexibility in how they respond to worry.

Limitations: Detailed comparative evidence was not available in the sources reviewed for this page, so ACT is described here in cautious terms. Individual response varies.

Mindfulness-Informed Approaches

What it helps with: Mindfulness-informed work helps people notice tension and worry earlier and respond with more awareness and less automatic reaction.

Evidence summary: Mindfulness-informed approaches are commonly integrated into counselling for anxiety and sit within the general treatment research reviewed for this page (meta-analysis of randomized trials reviewed for this page). Some people notice improvements over time, and outcomes vary.

Limitations: The evidence reviewed for this page is general rather than specific to a single protocol, and mindfulness-informed work suits some people more than others.

What Results to Expect

Progress in counselling is rarely a straight line. Some people find relief from just 2-3 sessions, while others benefit from longer-term work that unfolds over months. Both paths are normal.

Several things can influence how counselling goes, including the nature of your worry, what is happening in your life right now, and the fit between you and your therapist. No therapy guarantees a particular outcome, and honest, cautious expectations are part of good care.

Fit matters a great deal. If an approach or a therapist does not feel right, changing to a different clinician or a different way of working is always an option, and the admin team can help you make that change.

Confidentiality and Privacy

What you share in counselling is kept confidential. Your privacy is protected under Alberta legislation, including the Health Information Act (HIA) and the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA). Psychologists work within the standards of the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP) and the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) Code of Ethics, Certified Canadian Counsellors work within the standards of the Canadian Counselling and Psychological Association (CCPA), and registered social workers are regulated by the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW) (College of Alberta Psychologists [CAP], 2023; Canadian Psychological Association [CPA], 2017).

There are a few legal limits to confidentiality that every clinician must follow. Your therapist will explain these clearly during the first session. They include:

• a risk of serious harm to yourself or another person
• suspected abuse or neglect of a child, which is subject to mandatory reporting under Alberta law
• a valid court order

You can ask questions about privacy and these limits before you share anything personal. Understanding how your information is handled is a reasonable thing to want, and there is time for it at the start of care.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to talk about everything that makes me anxious?

No. You set the pace, and you decide what to share and when. Some people find it helpful to focus on present-day worry patterns and coping rather than detailed accounts of the past. Your therapist will follow your lead.

Is what I share kept private?

Yes, within the legal and ethical limits described in the Confidentiality and Privacy section above. Your clinician will explain how your information is protected under Alberta legislation and where the exceptions apply, and you can ask questions before sharing anything personal.

How many sessions will I need?

There is no fixed answer. Some people find relief from just 2-3 sessions, and others benefit from longer-term work. Your therapist reviews progress with you regularly, and the plan adapts as your needs change.

What if the therapist is not the right fit?

Fit matters, and it is common to want a different match. The admin team can help you move to another clinician or approach. 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 review Our Therapists for guidance. Availability can change over time.

Can I access counselling online?

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

Do I need a diagnosis to start counselling?

No. Many people begin counselling because worry, tension, or stress is affecting daily life, without seeking a formal diagnosis. If an assessment seems relevant, that can be discussed as a separate service and a separate next step.

What is the difference between a psychologist and a counsellor?

Both can provide talk-based counselling for anxiety-related concerns. Psychologists are registered with the College of Alberta Psychologists, while Certified Canadian Counsellors are regulated by the Canadian Counselling and Psychological Association. Registered Social Workers are regulated by the Alberta College of Social Workers. Fees differ by provider type, and the admin team can help you choose based on fit and budget.

Do I need a referral?

You do not need a referral to book counselling. You can start by booking directly or by using the matching tool. Some insurance plans have their own requirements, so it can help to check your coverage.

Meet Your Clinicians

Care at Wholesome Psychology is provided by a range of credentialed 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, 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. Registered provisional psychologists practise under the supervision of a senior registered psychologist.

Many clinicians have training in anxiety-focused and evidence-informed approaches, along with related concerns such as stress, sleep, and mood. You can read individual profiles on Our Therapists, use the Match with a Therapist tool, or call the admin team at 780-904-4880 for help choosing.

Children and Youth

Anxiety can affect children, adolescents, and young people, not only adults. Wholesome Psychology offers counselling for younger clients, and therapists working with them use age-appropriate approaches.

Clinicians also work with caregivers to support the child's recovery environment at home. If you are looking into support for a young person, the child and youth anxiety service page may be a helpful starting point.

Taking the Next Step

If you would like to explore counselling for generalized anxiety, there are a few gentle ways to begin. You can move at whatever pace feels right for you.

• Book a session online through the booking system.
• Use the Match with a Therapist tool to find a good fit.
• Call 780-904-4880 or email info@wholesomepsychology.ca with any questions.
• Read more on 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

• World Health Organization. (n.d.). International Classification of Diseases (11th Revision).
• Public Health Agency of Canada. (n.d.). Generalized anxiety disorder: Public health information.
• Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on psychological treatments for generalized anxiety disorder. (n.d.).
• College of Alberta Psychologists. (2023). Standards of Practice. College of Alberta Psychologists.
• Canadian Psychological Association. (2017). Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists (4th ed.). Canadian Psychological Association.