Confidential counselling for people working through job loss, layoff, reduced hours, or ongoing employment uncertainty. Care provided by registered psychologists, provisional psychologists, social workers, counsellors, and therapists practising in Alberta. Appointments are available in person in Edmonton and St. Albert, and virtually across Alberta. 50-minute sessions, daytime and evening availability.

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You Might Be Wondering Whether Job Loss Counselling Is Right for You

You may be questioning whether losing a job is a real reason to see a therapist. Other people lose work and seem to carry on, and some part of you may believe you should be able to do the same. That doubt is worth naming, because it is often the thing that stops people from asking any questions at all.

You might recognize some of this. Checking job postings late at night and still feeling behind by morning. Going quiet with the people closest to you because you are tired of having the same conversation about what you are going to do. Waking up to a day that has no shape now that the work which organized it is gone.

These reactions make sense. A job often carries more than income. It carries routine, contact with other people, a sense of standing, and some idea of where you are heading next. When it ends, the effect reaches into parts of life that have nothing to do with money. Reacting strongly to that is a common human response to a significant change, not a sign that something is wrong with you.

The rest of this page sets out what this service involves, what it does not involve, what it costs, and how confidentiality works. You may wish to read on and decide for yourself whether it seems relevant to your situation.

Who We Help

Job loss counselling may be a good fit if you are:

• Recently laid off, terminated, or facing a contract that was not renewed
• Living with reduced hours, restructuring, or the ongoing possibility of losing work
• Struggling with the personal side of the change rather than the paperwork side
• Finding that the job search itself has become difficult to face
• Noticing strain at home as roles, money, and routines shift
• Working through a change in how you see yourself now that a role has ended
• Supporting a partner, adult child, or friend through job loss and wanting to understand what help exists
• Considering a career change and wanting space to think it through

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

• Immediate safety concerns. If you are at risk of harming yourself or someone else, please use the urgent support options listed below rather than waiting for an appointment.
• Job placement and career services. Counselling is not a job search service, résumé service, or employment placement agency. Those needs are better met by employment services, and many people use both.
• Legal or forensic needs. Wrongful dismissal advice, severance negotiation, employment standards complaints, and documentation for legal proceedings sit outside this service.
• Psychological assessment. Formal psychological assessment and testing is a separate service and is not part of job loss counselling. If you think you need an assessment, our administrative team can explain what is involved.
• Financial or benefits advice. Questions about employment insurance, debt, or benefits are better directed to financial and government services.

If You Need Urgent Support

Counselling appointments are scheduled in advance, so this service cannot respond to emergencies. If you need help right now, please use one of the following:

• 911 or your nearest emergency department, if you or someone else is in immediate danger
• 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

Job loss counselling is a structured, collaborative space to talk through the personal side of an employment change. Sessions may cover routine, identity, confidence, relationships, decision making, and how you want to approach what comes next. The focus is on your experience of the change, not on managing your job search for you.

It is equally useful to be clear about what this service is not. Counselling is not a legal service, an investigative process, a financial planning service, medical care, or crisis intervention. It does not include psychological assessment or testing, which is offered separately. It does not assume that a difficult response to job loss is a disorder, and no diagnosis is made or implied on this page.

The pace is set by you. You decide how much detail to share, which topics to open, and when. Some people arrive with clear goals. Others arrive knowing only that something feels off, and use the first session to work out what they actually want to talk about.

Conversations are private, within limits that your therapist will explain before you share anything personal. A fuller explanation appears in the confidentiality section below. When it is useful, counselling can sit alongside employment, financial, legal, medical, or community supports rather than replacing any of them.

Signs Job Loss May Be Affecting You

People notice the effects of employment loss in different ways. You may recognize some of the following patterns, and you do not need to have all of them for counselling to be worth considering.

• Sleep that has shifted, either broken nights or long stretches spent in bed
• A flatness or heaviness that does not lift even on days when something goes well
• Difficulty concentrating long enough to finish an application or read a page
• Irritability that lands on the people you live with rather than the situation itself
• Pulling back from friends, or avoiding places where you might be asked what you are doing now
• Going over the ending on a loop, replaying conversations or looking for what you missed
• Losing interest in things that used to hold your attention
• Physical signs such as tension, appetite changes, headaches, or persistent tiredness
• A sense that you have lost your footing, or that you no longer know how to describe yourself

These are common reactions to a significant disruption, not defects in character or evidence that something is permanently wrong. They also tend to be easier to work with when there is a regular, structured place to put them. Research has identified an association between unemployment and mental health outcomes, although circumstances and responses differ from person to person, and no page can tell you what your own experience means (Canadian Mental Health Association British Columbia [CMHA BC], 2007).

How Treatment Works Here

• Find your therapist. You can use the Match with a Therapist tool or read individual profiles on the Our Therapists page. If you would rather talk it through with a person, our administrative team can help at 780-904-4880.
• Book your first session. The first appointment covers consent and confidentiality, a conversation about what has been happening, and what you would like support with. You are not expected to arrive with a plan.
• Build your plan together. You and your therapist agree on what to focus on and which approach seems workable. The plan belongs to both of you, and you can say when something is not working.
• Ongoing sessions. Follow-up sessions are 50 minutes and are often weekly or every second week. Timing can be discussed and adjusted based on your goals and availability rather than a fixed schedule.
• Progress check-ins. Your therapist reviews progress with you regularly. Goals change as circumstances change, and the plan is expected to change with them.

There is no fixed number of sessions in this service. Some people come for a short, focused piece of work. Others continue for longer, or return later when something shifts. Your voice matters at every stage, including in the decision to stop.

Evidence and Approaches

Therapists at Wholesome Psychology may draw from several approaches, and the approach should be discussed with you and adapted to your preferences and fit. A note about the evidence is needed here. Systematic reviews have examined interventions intended to help unemployed job seekers, and findings vary by intervention and context (Cochrane, 2020). The evidence assembled for this page does not establish that any specific counselling approach improves employment outcomes or emotional outcomes after job loss, so each approach below is described in terms of what it involves rather than what it will achieve.

Person-Centred Therapy

What it helps with: Making room to talk openly about the loss and its effects without having to organize the experience into a problem first.

Evidence summary: Reviews of support for unemployed job seekers indicate that this is an area with an existing intervention literature, with outcomes that differ by intervention and setting (Cochrane, 2020). The evidence pack for this service does not contain findings specific to person-centred therapy after job loss.

Limitations: No effectiveness claim can be made for this approach in the context of employment loss based on the sources available here. Individual responses to any approach vary.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

What it helps with: Working with repetitive thinking, self-critical patterns, and avoidance that can build up around a job search.

Evidence summary: Intervention research relevant to unemployment and mental health exists and has been reviewed, though the material available for this page does not report usable findings for this population (Cochrane, 2020). CBT is offered here as a commonly used approach, not as an evidence-backed treatment for job loss specifically.

Limitations: Effectiveness for employment loss is not established by the sources supporting this page. Suitability depends on your goals and preferences.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

What it helps with: Sitting with uncertainty while still acting on what matters to you, rather than waiting for the uncertainty to resolve first.

Evidence summary: The evidence assembled for this page does not include findings on acceptance and commitment therapy for employment loss. It is listed because clinicians at this clinic may draw on it and because its focus on values and uncertainty is often relevant during a transition.

Limitations: No claim is made about outcomes for this approach after job loss. Whether it suits you is a matter for discussion with your therapist.

Narrative Therapy

What it helps with: Examining the story that has formed about the job ending, particularly when it has hardened into a statement about your worth.

Evidence summary: As with the other approaches listed here, the sources supporting this page do not report effectiveness findings for narrative therapy in the context of job loss. It is included because it is among the approaches clinicians here may use.

Limitations: Evidence specific to this approach and this topic was not available for review. Responses vary between individuals.

For Canadian context, Statistics Canada has reported on perceived job security among workers in Canada, which speaks to employment uncertainty generally rather than to counselling after job loss (Statistics Canada, 2025).

What Results to Expect

No therapy guarantees outcomes, and this page does not promise emotional, financial, or employment results. What counselling offers is a structured place to work through a transition, with someone whose role is to help you think rather than to tell you what to do.

Change is rarely linear. People often describe good weeks followed by harder ones, particularly around anniversaries, rejections, or financial deadlines. A difficult stretch after a period of improvement does not mean the work has failed.

Several things influence how this goes:

• The nature and circumstances of the job ending, including how sudden it was
• What else is happening in your life at the same time, such as health, caregiving, or money pressure
• The supports already around you
• The fit between you and your therapist, which matters more than most people expect

Some people find that a small number of sessions is enough for what they came in with. Others continue for longer, and some return months later when circumstances change. Progress is reviewed with you rather than measured against a standard timeline. If the approach or the therapist is not working, changing either is always an option and is not treated as a setback.

Confidentiality and Privacy

What you share in therapy is confidential. Psychologists at this clinic are registered with the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP), which sets standards of practice for the profession in Alberta, and practice is guided by the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists.

Alberta privacy legislation applies to your information. The Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) generally governs personal information handled by private practices and private clinics in Alberta. The Health Information Act (HIA) governs health information held by custodians as defined in that Act, and applies where a clinician or organization falls within its scope. Your therapist can explain which applies to your file.

Confidentiality has limits that are set by law and professional obligation. Information may need to be disclosed in the following circumstances:

• Risk of serious harm to you or to another person
• Suspected abuse or neglect of a child, which carries mandatory reporting obligations under Alberta law
• A court order or other legal requirement

Your clinician will explain these limits clearly during the first session, along with how records are kept and how the clinic communicates with you. You are welcome to ask questions about privacy, records, and communication before you share anything personal, including during the initial phone call with our administrative team.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to describe what happened at work in detail?

No. You decide what to share and when. Some people want to go through the sequence of events; others would rather leave the details aside and work with how things are landing now, such as sleep, mood, or how the job search is going. Both are workable. If a topic feels like too much on a given day, you can say so and your therapist will follow your lead.

Is what I share kept private?

Yes, within the legal limits described in the confidentiality section above. Your therapist will explain confidentiality, its exceptions, and how your records are handled during the first session, before you are asked to share anything personal. You can ask questions about privacy at any point, including before you book.

How many sessions will I need?

There is no fixed answer, and anyone who gives you a firm number before meeting you is guessing. Some people find that a small number of sessions covers what they came in for. Others continue for longer or return when circumstances change. Your therapist will review progress with you regularly, and the frequency of sessions can be adjusted based on your goals and availability.

What if the therapist is not the right fit?

Fit matters, and noticing that a therapist is not right for you is useful information rather than a failure. You can tell your therapist directly, or contact our administrative team at 780-904-4880 and ask to be matched with someone else. The Match with a Therapist tool can also help narrow the options. New clients may access their first session at 50% off to help find the right therapeutic fit.

Can I meet online?

Yes. Virtual sessions are available across Alberta and follow the same confidentiality standards as in-person appointments. Virtual sessions suit people who are managing transport costs, caregiving, or a schedule that changes week to week. You can also switch between virtual and in-person as it suits you.

Is this the same as career counselling?

Not quite. Job loss counselling focuses on the personal and emotional side of an employment change. Career and employment services focus on job search strategy, training, labour market information, and placement. Some people use both, and the two can work well together.

Do I need a referral?

No referral is needed to book. Some extended health plans ask for one before reimbursing, so it is worth checking your plan details or asking our administrative team what other clients with your provider have needed.

I am asking on behalf of someone else. Can I still call?

Yes. Our administrative team can explain the process, fees, and matching options so you can pass on accurate information. Because of confidentiality, they cannot discuss another adult's file or book on their behalf without consent, but general questions are welcome.

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 at the clinic 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, which means their work is reviewed as part of their registration pathway.

Many of our clinicians have training and experience in work-related stress, life transitions, identity change, anxiety, and low mood, which are the areas that most often come up in job loss counselling. Credential type affects the session fee, and it is reasonable to weigh both fit and cost when choosing.

You can read individual profiles on the Our Therapists page, use the Match with a Therapist tool, or call our administrative team at 780-904-4880 for help choosing. The Getting Started with Therapy page explains what the process looks like from the first phone call onward.

Children and Youth

A parent losing work is a household event, and children often pick up on changes in routine and mood even when nothing is said directly to them. Wholesome Psychology offers counselling for children, adolescents, and young people alongside adult services.

Therapists working with younger clients use age-appropriate approaches, which may include play, activity, or conversation depending on the child's age and comfort. Clinicians also work with caregivers, since a child's environment at home is a large part of what supports them. If you are unsure whether your child needs their own therapist or whether support for you is the better starting point, our administrative team can talk it through with you.

Take the Next Step

If a structured space to work through this transition sounds useful, here is how to start:

• Book a session online through our booking system
• Match with a therapist using our matching tool
• Call our administrative team at 780-904-4880
• Email info@wholesomepsychology.ca
• Read the Getting Started with Therapy page if you would like to know what happens first

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

You do not need to have your situation figured out before you call. Starting the conversation is enough.

References

• Canadian Mental Health Association British Columbia. (2007). Unemployment, mental health and substance use. https://bc.cmha.ca/documents/unemployment-mental-health-and-substance-use/
• Cochrane. (2020). Health-improving interventions helping unemployed job seekers to get a job. Cochrane Library. (Page modified 2025)
• Statistics Canada. (2025, August 18). Perceived job security, 2025. Statistics Canada.