Supportive counselling for the loss, adjustment, and uncertainty that can come with changes in your health or the health of someone you care about. Wholesome Psychology offers in-person counselling in Edmonton and St. Albert, plus virtual sessions across Alberta. Our clinicians include Registered Psychologists regulated by the College of Alberta Psychologists, along with Certified Canadian Counsellors regulated by the Canadian Counselling and Psychological Association and other therapists at a range of fee tiers. Sessions are 50 minutes and can be booked online or by phone.

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You Might Be Wondering Whether Health Changes and Grief Counselling Is Right for You

You may not be sure whether what you are feeling counts as grief. There was no funeral, and maybe no one has died. Still, something has been lost, and you might be questioning whether that is a good enough reason to talk to someone.

Maybe you are carrying a heaviness that does not lift, even on days when the practical parts of life are going fine. Maybe you keep bracing for the next piece of bad news, or you find yourself pulling back from people who have done nothing wrong. Some people notice they are quietly mourning a version of their body, their routine, or their future that they expected to have.

These responses make sense. Grief connected to health changes is a human reaction to real loss, not a sign that something is wrong with you or that you are handling things poorly. It can be ongoing, it can come and go, and it can be hard to put into words.

You may wish to keep reading to see what this kind of support looks like and whether it feels relevant to you.

Who We Help

People come to this service at different points. Some are ready to book. Some are still deciding whether their experience qualifies. Some are gathering information for a family member. This service may be a good fit if you are:

• living with a new diagnosis, changing symptoms, chronic illness, or chronic pain
• adjusting to disability, changes in functioning, or new limits on daily life
• coping with treatment changes, recovery setbacks, or ongoing uncertainty
• caring for someone whose health has changed, and feeling the weight of that role
• facing anticipatory grief, end-of-life concerns, or layered family stress
• grieving changes in routine, independence, identity, relationships, or plans for the future

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

• If you are in crisis or immediate danger, please use the crisis resources below rather than waiting for an appointment.
• If you need a legal, forensic, or court-related evaluation, that falls outside this therapy service. Psychological assessments are a separate service.
• If you are looking for medical diagnosis, medication decisions, or urgent health care, those are handled by your physician or an emergency service, not by counselling.

If You Need Help Right Now

Wholesome Psychology is not an emergency or crisis service, and counselling appointments are not a substitute for urgent support. If you or someone else is in danger, please reach out to one of these:

• 911 for immediate danger or a medical emergency.
• Alberta Mental Health Help Line: 1-877-303-2642, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741.

Wholesome Psychology is not an emergency or crisis service.

What This Service Is

Health changes and grief counselling is a supportive, non-emergency space to talk about loss, adjustment, and uncertainty connected to changes in health. That can be your own health or the health of someone close to you. The focus is on the emotional and practical impact of what has changed, and on coping in a way that fits your life.

It helps to be clear about what this service is not. It is not a legal or investigative process, and it is not a crisis intervention. Because this page is about counselling rather than assessment, it does not include psychological assessments. Those are offered separately. Counselling also does not replace medical diagnosis, medication advice, or emergency care.

The pace is set by you, not by the therapist. You decide how much to share and when. Conversations are confidential within limits that your therapist will explain, and those limits are described later on this page.

Signs Health-Related Grief May Be Affecting You

There is no checklist that tells you whether you qualify for support. Still, some people recognise experiences like these when health changes bring loss:

• sadness, heaviness, or a sense of numbness that lingers
• frustration, guilt, anger, or even relief that is hard to sit with
• worry about the future, or a sense of bracing for what comes next
• changes in how you see yourself, your confidence, or your role
• tension in family, partner, or caregiving relationships
• difficulty adjusting to new routines, limits, or responsibilities
• pulling away from people or activities that used to matter
• trouble sleeping, low energy, or a body that feels worn down

Having some of these experiences does not mean something is permanently wrong with you. They are common reactions to loss, and they can shift over time. For some people, having a structured space to talk things through makes that easier.

How Counselling Works Here

• Find your therapist. You can use our Match with a Therapist tool or browse Our Therapists. If you would like guidance, our admin team can help at 780-904-4880.
• Book your first session. The first session usually covers confidentiality and consent, a look at what brought you in, and a discussion of what you would like to work toward.
• Build your plan together. You and your therapist shape a plan that reflects your goals, your pace, and what feels manageable. It is a collaboration, and your voice matters at every stage.
• Ongoing sessions. Follow-up sessions are typically weekly or bi-weekly and can be adjusted as needs change. Each session is 50 minutes.
• Progress check-ins. Your therapist reviews how things are going with you, and the plan can change as your situation changes.

There is no fixed number of sessions. Some people want short-term support, and others prefer ongoing work. What that looks like is decided together.

Evidence and Approaches

The approach used depends on your goals and your fit with your therapist, rather than on a single set method. The notes below describe the general kinds of support this counselling can offer. Access to detailed outcome research in our source set was limited, so we describe support cautiously and avoid claims about how quickly or how completely any approach works.

Collaborative, Client-Paced Supportive Counselling

What it helps with: making space to talk through loss, adjustment, and uncertainty tied to health changes.

Evidence summary: Canadian public-education resources describe grief as a natural response to loss that differs from one person to the next, and note that some people look for support while coping with life changes (Canadian Mental Health Association [CMHA], n.d.; Public Health Agency of Canada [PHAC], n.d.). This page does not claim that a specific therapy resolves grief.

Limitations: Individual responses differ, and no approach can promise a particular outcome. Evidence specific to health-related grief was not available in our source set.

Grief- and Adjustment-Informed Support

What it helps with: support with adjusting to changes in routine, roles, identity, relationships, or plans that health changes can bring.

Evidence summary: Public-health framing recognises loss and grief as part of significant health and life changes, and acknowledges that responses vary widely (PHAC, n.d.; CMHA, n.d.). The specific approach a therapist uses is shaped with you, based on what would be most helpful.

Limitations: Because our source set did not include readable treatment-outcome findings for this specific concern, we do not draw comparisons between methods or state how effective any single approach is.

What Results to Expect

Recovery is not linear. Feelings can ease and then return, and progress often looks like small, uneven shifts rather than a straight line. That is a normal part of grieving.

Some people notice changes after a few sessions, while others find that longer-term support suits them better. Outcomes vary, and there is no set timeline for grief. Several things can influence how the work unfolds, including the nature of the loss, your current circumstances, and how well you fit with your therapist.

No therapy can guarantee an outcome, and this service does not make that promise. Therapeutic fit matters a great deal, and if an approach or a therapist is not working for you, changing either is always an option.

Confidentiality and Privacy

What you share in counselling is treated as confidential. Our psychologists are registered with the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP) and practise in line with the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) Code of Ethics. Your information is handled under Alberta privacy law, including the Health Information Act (HIA) and the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA).

Confidentiality has some legal limits. Your therapist may be required to act, including by sharing information, in situations such as:

• a risk of serious harm to you or to someone else
• a reasonable suspicion of abuse or neglect of a child, which Alberta law requires be reported
• a valid 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 what happened in detail?

No. You set the pace, and you decide how much to share and when. Some people find it helpful to talk through the details, and others prefer to focus on how things feel now and what would help going forward. Both are valid, and your therapist will follow your lead.

Is what I share kept private?

Counselling conversations are confidential within limits set by law and professional standards. Those limits include situations involving a risk of serious harm, suspected abuse or neglect of a child, or a court order. You can read more in the Confidentiality and Privacy section above, and your therapist will review these limits with you at the start.

How many sessions will I need?

There is no fixed answer. Some people benefit from short-term support, and others prefer longer-term work. Your therapist reviews progress with you regularly, and the plan can be adjusted as your needs change.

What if the therapist is not the right fit?

Fit matters, and it is completely reasonable to want a different therapist. Our admin team can help you find someone who may suit you better, and you can also use the Match with a Therapist tool. New clients may access their first session at 50% off to help find the right therapeutic fit.

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 sessions.

Is this only for grief after someone has died?

No. People can grieve many kinds of loss, including changes in function, independence, identity, roles, relationships, or plans for the future. For some people, these losses come alongside illness, disability, caregiving, or end-of-life concerns, whether the health change is their own or a loved one's.

Do I need counselling in order to be grieving?

No. Grief is a human response to loss, and not everyone who is grieving wants or needs formal counselling. Some people choose it when they want a structured space to talk, reflect, and adjust to what has changed.

Can I bring a support person?

Many people find it helpful to have someone with them, especially early on. You are welcome to talk with your therapist about whether including a family member or support person fits your goals for a given session.

Meet Your Clinicians

Wholesome Psychology works with a range of clinician types, including Registered Psychologists, Registered Provisional Psychologists, Registered Social Workers, Certified Canadian Counsellors, Mental Health Therapists, and Student Therapists. All of our psychologists are registered with the College of Alberta Psychologists. Registered Social Workers are regulated by the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW). Certified Canadian Counsellors (CCCs) are regulated by the Canadian Counselling and Psychological Association (CCPA). Registered Provisional Psychologists practise under the supervision of a senior registered psychologist.

Many of our clinicians have experience supporting people through grief, loss, chronic illness, caregiving stress, and the adjustment that health changes can bring. You can view 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.

Children and Youth

Health changes affect families, and children and teens grieve too, whether the change is their own or a parent's, sibling's, or grandparent's. Wholesome Psychology offers counselling for children, adolescents, and young people, using approaches suited to their age and stage.

Where it helps, clinicians work alongside caregivers to support a young person's day-to-day environment. If you are looking into support for a child or teen, our admin team can help you find a suitable clinician.

Take the Next Step

If support would help with grief connected to illness, pain, disability, caregiving changes, or other health-related losses, there are a few simple ways to begin:

• Book a session online.
• Match with a therapist for help choosing.
• Call 780-904-4880 or email info@wholesomepsychology.ca.
• Read more on our 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

• Canadian Mental Health Association. (n.d.). Grieving. Retrieved July 10, 2026, from https://bc.cmha.ca/documents/grieving/
• Public Health Agency of Canada. (n.d.). Chapter 7: Loss and grief. Government of Canada. Retrieved July 10, 2026, from https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/healthy-living/maternity-newborn-care-guidelines-chapter-7.html