Collaborative, client-centred counselling for people living with the impact of a loss, at your own pace and on your own terms. Care is provided by Registered Psychologists, provisional psychologists, and counsellors, with psychologists regulated by the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP) and Certified Canadian Counsellors (CCCs) regulated by the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA). Sessions are available in person in Edmonton and St. Albert, and virtually across Alberta.

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You Might Be Wondering Whether Grief Work Is Right for You

You may be questioning whether what you are feeling really counts as grief. Maybe the loss was a while ago and you think you should be past it. Maybe it was a pet, a job, a relationship that ended badly, a pregnancy, or a version of your future that quietly slipped away, and part of you wonders whether it is serious enough to talk to someone about.

You might notice a heaviness that does not lift even on ordinary days. You may find yourself pulling away from people who have done nothing wrong, or moving through your routines while feeling strangely far from them. Some days bring sadness, other days bring anger, numbness, guilt, or even relief, and it can be hard to make sense of any of it.

These responses are common reactions to loss. They reflect the ways your mind and body are adjusting to something that mattered to you, and they do not mean something is permanently wrong with you.

You may wish to read on and see whether this kind of support feels relevant to you.

Who We Help

Grief counselling here may be a good fit if you recognize yourself in some of the following:

• You are living with a loss and want a space to talk it through.
• You are unsure whether your loss "qualifies" for support and would like to find out.
• You are gathering information for a family member or friend who is grieving.
• You want help with the everyday impact of grief on sleep, focus, work, or relationships.
• You would prefer to set the focus and pace of counselling yourself.

This service may not be the right fit in a few situations, and we would rather point you to something more suitable:

• If you are in crisis or immediate danger, please use the crisis resources below rather than waiting for an appointment.
• If you need a formal diagnosis or a written report for legal, court, or benefit purposes, that falls under psychological assessment, which is a separate service from counselling.
• If you are looking for medication, that is provided by a physician or psychiatrist, and we can talk with you about coordinating care.

If You Need Urgent Support

Wholesome Psychology is not an emergency or crisis service, and counselling appointments are not the right place to get immediate help. If you need urgent support, please reach one of the following at any time.

• 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).
• Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741.

What This Service Is

Grief work counselling is talking-based support for people dealing with the effects of a loss. The phrase "grief work" is used broadly across public resources rather than as one standardized method, so on this page it simply means counselling that makes room for the impact of loss without assuming a single stage, timeline, or outcome.

Counselling is not a legal service, an investigation, or a crisis intervention. It is also not a psychological assessment. Because this page is not an assessment service, it does not include diagnosis or formal testing; if diagnostic questions come up, we can talk about whether a separate assessment is appropriate.

The pace is set by you, not by the therapist. What you share is treated as confidential, with some limits that we explain in detail further down this page. Counselling also has scope-of-practice boundaries, which means your therapist will stay within the areas they are trained and regulated to work in, and will help you find other support when something falls outside that scope.

Signs Grief May Be Affecting You

Grief can show up in many parts of life at once. You might notice some of these patterns, in different combinations and at different times:

• Waves of sadness, longing, or emptiness that come and go without much warning.
• Trouble concentrating, remembering things, or making everyday decisions.
• Changes in sleep, appetite, or energy.
• Pulling away from people, or feeling disconnected even when you are with others.
• Irritability, anger, guilt, or relief that is hard to sit with or explain.
• Worry about the future, or about facing further loss.
• Physical heaviness, tension, headaches, or fatigue.
• Questions about meaning, faith, or who you are now that things have changed.

Public education resources describe grief as a natural response that can affect emotions, thoughts, behaviour, and physical wellbeing, and note that it looks different from one person to the next (CAMH, n.d.). Having these experiences does not mean something is permanently wrong. For many people, structured support can make the load a little easier to carry.

How Treatment Works Here

• Find your therapist. You can use the Match with a Therapist tool or review Our Therapists to read individual profiles. If you would like help choosing, our admin team can guide you at 780-904-4880.
• Book your first session. A first session typically covers confidentiality and consent, a conversation about what brings you in, and an early discussion of your goals.
• Build your plan together. You and your therapist co-create a plan for support that reflects your goals, not a fixed script.
• Ongoing sessions. Sessions are 50 minutes and are usually weekly or bi-weekly, adjustable as your needs change.
• Progress check-ins. Your therapist reviews how things are going with you and adapts the plan over time.

There is no fixed number of sessions. Therapy is collaborative, and your voice matters at every stage.

Evidence and Approaches

The evidence base for grief counselling is still developing. A systematic review of grief counselling research found a substantial body of studies, but noted that the quality of intervention studies has often been limited (Waller et al., 2016). For that reason, the approaches below are described cautiously, and we avoid strong claims about outcomes.

Supportive grief counselling

What it helps with: A space to talk through a loss and how it is affecting your daily life, relationships, and routines.

Evidence summary: Public education resources describe grief as a natural response to loss that can affect thoughts, emotions, behaviour, and physical wellbeing (CAMH, n.d.). A systematic review found a research literature on grief counselling but reported that many intervention studies were of limited quality (Waller et al., 2016).

Limitations: Because study quality has varied, effects are uncertain, and responses to support differ from one person to another (Waller et al., 2016).

Psychoeducation about grief and loss

What it helps with: Understanding common reactions to loss and what may help, without treating grief itself as a disorder.

Evidence summary: Canadian professional and public education sources describe grief as the psychological reaction to bereavement and note that it can follow many kinds of loss (Canadian Psychological Association [CPA], 2025; CAMH, n.d.). These sources frame grief as a common human response rather than a defect.

Limitations: Psychoeducation is general information and is not a substitute for individual assessment or personalized care.

Collaborative, client-centred planning

What it helps with: Setting the focus and pace of counselling around your goals rather than a fixed protocol.

Evidence summary: Our approach is collaborative and client-centred, with the focus agreed together at intake and revisited over time. Public sources note that how people grieve, and for how long, can vary with the person and their relationship to the loss (CMHA, n.d.).

Limitations: A collaborative approach does not guarantee particular outcomes, and the fit between you and your therapist can influence how helpful counselling feels.

What Results to Expect

Grief does not move in a straight line. Some days feel steadier, and others do not, and progress often looks more like small shifts than a single turning point.

Some people find relief from just 2-3 sessions. Others prefer longer-term support, and both are reasonable choices depending on your goals.

Several things can shape how counselling goes, including the nature of the loss, what else is happening in your life right now, the support around you, and the fit between you and your therapist. No therapy can guarantee a particular result. If the approach or the therapist does not feel right, changing either is always an option, and our admin team can help.

Confidentiality and Privacy

What you share in counselling is treated as confidential. Psychologists at Wholesome Psychology are regulated by the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP) and are guided by the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) Code of Ethics. Your personal and health information is handled in line with Alberta legislation, including the Health Information Act (HIA) and the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) (CAP, 2023).

There are a few situations where a clinician may be required by law to share limited information without your consent:

• When there is a risk of serious harm to you or to someone else.
• When there is suspected abuse or neglect of a child, which is subject to mandatory reporting under Alberta law.
• When disclosure is required by a court order.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to describe the loss in detail?

No. You set the pace, and you do not have to give a full account of what happened to benefit from counselling. Many people spend more time on how grief is showing up in the present, such as in sleep, focus, or relationships, than on retelling the story itself. You can share as much or as little as you choose.

Is what I share kept private?

Yes, with a few limits. Counselling is confidential, and your therapist reviews how privacy works in the first session. There are legal exceptions, such as a risk of serious harm, suspected abuse or neglect of a child, or a court order. You can read more in the confidentiality section above.

How many sessions will I need?

There is no single answer. Some people want a few focused sessions, while others prefer longer-term support. Your therapist reviews progress with you regularly, and the frequency can be adjusted over time.

What if the therapist is not the right fit?

Fit matters in counselling, and it is completely reasonable to want to try before committing. If a therapist is not the right match, our 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.

Can I access grief 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 sessions.

Is grief counselling only for bereavement after a death?

No. People seek grief support after many kinds of loss, including changes in health, the end of a relationship, fertility or perinatal loss, pet loss, job loss, or shifts in role and identity. You do not need to arrive with a particular label to begin.

Is grief counselling the same as a psychological assessment?

No. Grief counselling is talking-based support, while a psychological assessment is a separate service that can involve formal testing and a written report. If you think an assessment might be what you need, our admin team can point you to the right service.

Meet Your Clinicians

Our 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 (CAP). Certified Canadian Counsellors (CCCs) are regulated by the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA), and 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 of our clinicians have training relevant to grief, loss, and related areas such as trauma and family adjustment. You can read individual profiles on the Our Therapists page, or use the Match with a Therapist tool if you would like help choosing. Our admin team is also available at 780-904-4880 for guidance.

Children and Youth

Grief affects children, adolescents, and whole family systems, not only adults. We offer counselling for younger clients, and therapists working with them use age-appropriate approaches suited to a child's stage of development.

Clinicians also work with caregivers to support the child's environment at home, so that the people around a grieving young person can respond in helpful ways. If you are supporting a child through a loss, related pages such as Loss of a Child and Child and Youth Stress and Trauma may be useful starting points.

You may also find these related pages helpful: Grief and Loss, Perinatal Loss, Grief From Loss of a Pet, Health Changes and Grief, and Supporting Someone Who Is Grieving.

Taking the Next Step

If grief work counselling feels relevant to you, here are a few ways to begin:

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

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

Starting the conversation is enough.

References

• Canadian Mental Health Association. (n.d.). Grieving. Retrieved July 10, 2026, from https://ontario.cmha.ca/documents/grieving/
• Canadian Psychological Association. (2017). Canadian code of ethics for psychologists (4th ed.).
• Canadian Psychological Association. (2025). Psychology works fact sheet: Grief in adults.
• Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. (n.d.). Loss, grief and healing. Retrieved July 10, 2026, from https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-health-and-covid-19/loss-grief-and-healing
• College of Alberta Psychologists. (2023). Standards of practice. https://www.cap.ab.ca/
• Public Health Agency of Canada. (2020). Loss and grief (Chapter 7). Canada.ca. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/healthy-living/maternity-newborn-care-guidelines-chapter-7.html
• Waller, A., Turon, H., Mansfield, E., Clark, K., Hobden, B., & Sanson-Fisher, R. (2016). Assisting the bereaved: A systematic review of the evidence for grief counselling. Palliative Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269216315588728
• World Health Organization. (n.d.). ICD-11 for mortality and morbidity statistics. Retrieved July 10, 2026.