For parents and caregivers who are not sure whether a child's worries, big feelings, or recent changes are just a phase, counselling offers a calm place to talk it through and decide what might help. Registered Psychologists regulated by the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP). Counsellors regulated by the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA), and social workers regulated by the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW). In-person sessions in Edmonton and St. Albert. Virtual sessions available across Alberta.

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You Might Be Wondering Whether Counselling Is Right for Your Child

You may be unsure whether what you are seeing in your child is a normal part of growing up or something worth talking to someone about. Maybe you have wondered if you are overreacting. Or maybe you have been waiting for it to sort itself out, and it hasn't.

Perhaps school mornings have turned into a daily battle. Your child might fall apart over small things, go quiet when you ask about their day, or lie awake with worries they can't quite explain. Some parents notice it most at transitions: drop-off, bedtime, a move, or a change in the family.

Children between 6 and 9 are still learning to name and manage what they feel. When something is hard for them, it may show up in behaviour, sleep, or daily routines before it shows up in words. These reactions make sense for a child this age. They do not mean something is permanently wrong with your child, or with your parenting.

If you are trying to work out whether talking with someone could help your child or your family, this page explains what counselling for this age group looks like, what it does not do, and how to begin if and when it feels right.

Who We Help

Counselling for this age group may be a good fit for:

• Children ages 6 to 9 whose worries, moods, or reactions have lasted a while or are getting in the way of school, friendships, sleep, or family life
• Children going through a change, such as a move, a new sibling, a separation or divorce, a loss, or a new school
• Parents and caregivers who want a place to talk through what they are noticing and how to respond at home
• Families who are not yet sure what kind of help they need and would like to start with a conversation
• Grandparents, guardians, and other caregivers gathering information for a child in their care (a parent or legal guardian provides consent before a child begins counselling)

This service may not be the right fit for:

• A child who is in immediate danger or in a mental health crisis. Please use the crisis resources below.
• Families looking for a diagnosis, a psychological assessment, or a report for school, court, or custody matters. Legal and forensic needs are outside this counselling service, and psychological assessments are a separate service. You can read about mental health assessments on their own page.
• Children 10 and older. Families of older children may find our pages on mental health in tweens and teen therapy for youth 13 to 15 more relevant.

If Your Child Needs Help Right Now

Counselling is planned, scheduled support. If a child is in danger, or you are worried a child may hurt themselves or someone else, please contact one of these services now.

• Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department for immediate danger
• Alberta Mental Health Help Line: 1-877-303-2642 (24/7)
• Call or text 9-8-8 for suicide crisis support anywhere in Canada
• Family Violence Info Line (Alberta): 310-1818 (24/7, toll-free), if home does not feel safe for you or your child

Wholesome Psychology is not an emergency or crisis service.

What Counselling for Children Ages 6 to 9 Is

Counselling for children this age is a structured, supportive space where a child, and often their caregivers, can talk about feelings, changes, relationships, routines, and coping. Depending on the clinician and the child, sessions may include conversation, drawing, games, stories, or play-based activities.

The pace is set by your child and your family, not by the therapist. A child does not have to talk about anything before they are ready. The clinician adjusts to the way your child communicates best.

Counselling is not:

• A crisis or emergency service
• A legal service, an investigation, or a custody evaluation
• A psychological assessment or a route to a diagnosis
• A replacement for medical care or school-based educational support

The World Health Organization's classification system, ICD-11, groups mental, behavioural or neurodevelopmental conditions into a chapter of their own (World Health Organization [WHO], 2026). Deciding whether any of those categories applies to a child is the work of a formal assessment. Counselling does not confirm or rule out a diagnosis, and starting counselling does not mean your child has one.

What your child and family share is kept confidential, with some limits that your clinician will explain at the first session. The details are in the confidentiality and privacy section below.

Each clinician works within the scope of their own profession and training. If your child's needs fall outside what counselling can offer, your clinician can talk with you about other options, such as a visit to your family doctor or a separate assessment service.

Signs Worries or Big Feelings May Be Affecting Your Child

There is no single reason families start counselling. Parents and caregivers often reach out when changes have lasted a while, are affecting daily routines, or are raising questions at home or at school. You might notice:

• Worries that come up often, or that seem bigger than the situation
• Strong reactions to small changes, transitions, or time apart from you
• Shifts in mood, such as being more irritable, tearful, or flat than usual
• Pulling away from friends, activities, or family time
• More conflict at home, or a change in how your child gets along with siblings or classmates
• Trouble settling at bedtime, changes in sleep, or routines that keep falling apart
• School becoming a sticking point, such as not wanting to go
• Big feelings that seem hard for your child to put into words
• Questions or struggles after a family change, a loss, or a move

These patterns do not point to a diagnosis on their own. Many are common reactions to stress, change, or simply growing up, and they do not mean something is permanently wrong. Counselling can offer a place to understand what is going on in context and to decide on next steps together.

Canadian community organizations also publish plain-language public education material on children, youth and anxiety (Canadian Mental Health Association [CMHA], 2017).

How Counselling Works Here

• Find your therapist. Use the Match with a Therapist tool or browse Our Therapists to look for someone who works with children this age. You can also call the administrative team at 780-904-4880 for help choosing.
• Book your first session. You can book through the online booking system. The first session covers consent, confidentiality and its limits, how caregivers will be involved, and what your family hopes to work on. Depending on the clinician, the first meeting may start with caregivers before your child joins.
• Build a plan together. Your clinician works with you, and with your child in age-appropriate ways, to shape a plan. It may include child sessions, caregiver conversations, family sessions, or a mix.
• Ongoing sessions. Sessions are 50 minutes, usually weekly or every two weeks. The schedule can be adjusted as needed.
• Progress check-ins. Your clinician reviews progress with you regularly. The plan changes as your child's needs change.

There is no fixed number of sessions. Your voice, and your child's, matter at every stage. The Getting Started with Therapy and Preparing Children for Therapy pages walk through the process in more detail.

Evidence and Approaches

The approaches below are ones clinicians may use with children this age, depending on the child, the family, and the clinician. The research reviewed for this page did not include outcome data on counselling for children aged 6 to 9. Each summary is clear about what the evidence can and cannot tell you.

Play-Based and Creative Approaches

What it helps with: It gives children who do not yet have words for what they feel another way to show it, through drawing, games, stories, or play.

Evidence summary: The sources reviewed for this page did not include studies measuring the results of play-based counselling for children aged 6 to 9, so no claim is made here about how well it works. It is offered as one possible format, matched to your child's preferences and the clinician's training. Our Play Therapy page describes it further.

Limitations: Some children prefer talking to playing, and responses vary from child to child. Evidence for this age group was not assessed for this page.

Talking About Feelings and Building Coping Skills

What it helps with: It gives children a chance to practise naming emotions, coping with everyday stress, handling transitions and routines, and managing friendships.

Evidence summary: A clinical guideline from the United Kingdom addresses social, emotional and mental wellbeing in primary and secondary education (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence [NICE], 2022). Its specific recommendations were not verified for this page, so they are not summarized here.

Limitations: The guideline is written for school settings in the United Kingdom and may not map directly onto counselling in Alberta. How much a child gains from skill-building varies.

Caregiver Involvement and Family Sessions

What it helps with: It helps parents and caregivers understand what their child is going through and think about ways to support them between sessions.

Evidence summary: Findings on caregiver involvement for this age group were not available in the research reviewed for this page, so no outcome claim is made. How much caregivers take part is decided together and depends on consent, goals, the child's developmental needs, and the clinician's judgment. Caregivers who want their own space can also explore Parenting Support.

Limitations: Family situations differ, and the right level of involvement may change over time. Outcomes vary.

What Results to Expect

Every child and family is different, and progress is rarely a straight line. A child might have a few settled weeks, then a harder stretch after a holiday, an illness, or a change at school.

Some families come for a small number of sessions to talk through one specific concern. Others find that longer-term support fits better. There is no set timeline, and no counselling approach can guarantee a particular outcome.

Things that can shape how counselling goes include:

• What your child has been through and what is happening for them now
• Changes at home, at school, or in friendships
• How comfortable your child feels with the clinician
• How caregivers are able to be involved

Fit matters. If something is not working, you can raise it with your clinician, try a different approach, or ask the administrative team about changing therapists.

Confidentiality and Privacy

What your child and family share in counselling is kept confidential, within limits set by law and professional standards. Psychologists in Alberta are regulated by the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP) and follow the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) Code of Ethics. Social workers are regulated by the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW).

Two Alberta privacy laws are relevant. The Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) generally governs how private clinics collect, use, and disclose personal information. The Health Information Act (HIA) applies to health information held by custodians such as Alberta Health Services, and to professionals working on their behalf, so it may apply if your child's care involves those services. Your clinician can explain which rules apply to your child's records.

Confidentiality has limits. A clinician may need to share information without consent when:

• There is a risk of serious harm to your child or to someone else
• There is reason to suspect a child is being abused or neglected, which must be reported under Alberta law
• A court orders the release of records

With children this age, privacy works a little differently. A parent or legal guardian usually gives consent for counselling. Your clinician will talk with you and your child about how information is shared with caregivers in a way that respects your child's age. If parents are separated or divorced, the clinician may ask about guardianship and any court orders that affect who can consent.

Your clinician will go over all of this at the first session. You are welcome to ask questions about privacy before you or your child share anything personal, by phone at 780-904-4880 or by email at info@wholesomepsychology.ca.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my child have to talk about what is wrong, or describe what happened in detail?

No. Your child sets the pace. Children this age may communicate through drawing, play, or stories as much as through words, and clinicians adjust to that. Counselling can focus on what is happening now, such as bedtime, school mornings, or friendships, without going through every detail of the past. If something is hard to discuss in front of your child, you can ask to speak with the clinician on your own.

Is what we share kept private?

Yes, within limits. A clinician may need to share information if there is a risk of serious harm, a suspicion that a child is being abused or neglected, or a court order. At the first session, your clinician will explain these limits and how information is shared with caregivers. The confidentiality and privacy section above has more detail.

How many sessions will my child need?

There is no fixed number. Some families come for a small number of sessions to talk through one concern, while others continue for longer. Your clinician reviews progress with you regularly so you can decide together whether to continue, adjust the plan, or take a break.

What if the therapist is not the right fit for my child?

Fit matters, and your child's comfort with the clinician is part of that. If it does not feel right, you can tell your clinician or contact the administrative team at 780-904-4880, and they 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 my child have sessions online?

Yes. Virtual sessions are available across Alberta, and the same confidentiality standards apply. Whether virtual sessions suit your child depends on their needs and comfort, privacy at home, and your family's circumstances. You can talk this through with the administrative team or your clinician, or read more about online counselling.

Does starting counselling mean my child has a diagnosis?

No. Seeking counselling does not mean a child has a diagnosis. Counselling is a place to talk about concerns, emotions, relationships, routines, and family goals. A formal psychological assessment is a separate service, and your clinician can talk with you about it if questions come up.

Will I be involved as a parent or caregiver?

Often, yes. Involvement may include an intake conversation, regular updates, caregiver sessions, or family sessions. The details depend on your child's age and needs, the goals of counselling, consent, and the clinician's approach. If you would like a separate space to talk about parenting, routines, or communication at home, Parenting Support is also available.

How do I explain counselling to my child?

A simple explanation is often enough. You might say they are going to meet someone whose job is to help kids and families with feelings, worries, and changes. Your clinician can help you plan what to say, and Preparing Children for Therapy has more ideas.

Meet Your Clinicians

Wholesome Psychology's team includes Registered Psychologists, Registered Provisional Psychologists, Registered Social Workers, Canadian Certified Counsellors, Mental Health Therapists, and Student Therapists. All psychologists are registered with the College of Alberta Psychologists. Registered Provisional Psychologists practise under the supervision of a senior registered psychologist.

Clinicians differ in the age groups they see and the approaches they use. Individual profiles on Our Therapists describe each clinician's background and areas of focus, so you can look for someone who works with children aged 6 to 9. The Match with a Therapist tool can help narrow the list, and the administrative team at 780-904-4880 can talk through options with you.

Children and Youth

Wholesome Psychology offers counselling for children, tweens, and teens, and for the adults who care for them. Therapists who work with younger clients use age-appropriate approaches. They also work with parents and caregivers so that support continues at home, not only in the session.

If your child is older, or you would like broader information, these pages may help: Child and Youth Counselling, Child and Youth Anxiety, and Mental Health in Tweens.

Taking a Next Step

If you would like to learn more or arrange a first conversation, you can:

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

Starting the conversation is enough.

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

References

• Canadian Mental Health Association. (2017). Children, youth and anxiety [Brochure]. Canadian Mental Health Association.
• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (2022). Social, emotional and mental wellbeing in primary and secondary education [NICE guideline].
• World Health Organization. (2026). ICD-11 for mortality and morbidity statistics.