Counselling that makes room for the full range of what pregnancy brings, at a pace you set. Psychologists registered with the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP). A team of psychologists, social workers regulated by the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW), counsellors certified by the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA), and therapists with different designations and fee levels. In-person appointments in Edmonton and St. Albert. Virtual appointments for people located in Alberta.

Book a Session | Match with a Therapist

You Might Be Wondering Whether Pregnancy Support Counselling Is Right for You

You may be unsure whether what you feel about this pregnancy is enough of a reason to talk to someone. Maybe nothing is wrong, exactly. You expected to feel one way, and instead you feel several ways at once. You may not know whether that mix belongs in a counselling session or is something to keep to yourself. Some people notice they are smiling through conversations about the baby while privately feeling flat, worried, or stretched thin.

Others lie awake running through the same questions about money, work, their relationship, or the kind of parent they hope to be. Some feel closer to their partner than ever. Some feel further away than they expected. These reactions make sense. Pregnancy can change your routines, your plans, your relationships, and your sense of who you are, often all at once. Mixed or difficult feelings during that kind of change are a common human response. They are not a sign that you are failing, and they do not mean something is permanently wrong with you.

If you are considering whether speaking with someone could help, this page may be a useful starting point. It explains what pregnancy support counselling involves, what it does not include, and how people usually begin. If you are reading this for a partner, family member, or friend, it may also help you understand what is available to them.

Who We Help

Pregnancy support counselling may be a good fit if you:

• are pregnant and want a private place to talk about how you feel, whether those feelings are hopeful, mixed, or hard to name
• are adjusting to a pregnancy that was planned, unplanned, or is still sinking in (you may also find our page on unplanned pregnancy counselling useful)
• carry worry or grief from fertility struggles, a past pregnancy loss, or a previous difficult birth
• notice strain in your relationship, family, or support network as plans change
• are trying to balance pregnancy with work, school, finances, housing, or caring for others
• want to think through the shift into parenthood (see Preparing for Motherhood)
• are a partner or support person who wants space of your own to talk about the changes

If you are looking into this for someone else, you can share this page with them or call the admin team at 780-904-4880 with general questions about how the service works.

This service may not be the right fit if:

• You are in immediate danger or crisis. Please use the crisis resources below.
• You need medical, prenatal, obstetric, or midwifery care. Questions about your physical health, medications, or pregnancy complications belong with your doctor, midwife, nurse practitioner, or another medical provider.
• You need a report or opinion for a legal matter. Forensic and legal needs are outside this therapy service.
• You are looking for a formal assessment or diagnosis. Psychological assessments are a separate service and are not part of pregnancy support counselling.
• You are worried about your own harmful or controlling behaviour toward a partner or family member. Specialized programming may be more suitable. The admin team can talk with you about options.

If You Need Help Right Now

Counselling is not set up for emergencies. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, or you have an urgent medical concern, please contact one of these services:

• Call 911 for immediate danger, or go to the nearest emergency department
• Alberta Mental Health Help Line: 1-877-303-2642 (24/7)
• Family Violence Info Line (Alberta): 310-1818 (24/7, toll-free), if someone close to you is hurting, threatening, or controlling you
• Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741

Wholesome Psychology is not an emergency or crisis service.

What Pregnancy Support Counselling Is

Pregnancy support counselling is talk-based psychological support. It can provide space to explore the emotional, relational, practical, and identity-related changes that may come with pregnancy. Topics may include changing expectations, support systems, relationships, family dynamics, work or school transitions, and preparing for parenthood. Mental health during and after pregnancy is recognized as a public health topic in Canada (Public Health Agency of Canada [PHAC], n.d.).

It helps to be clear about what this service does not include:

• It is not medical, prenatal, obstetric, midwifery, or emergency care.
• It is not a legal service or an investigative process.
• It is not crisis intervention.
• It does not include psychological assessment or diagnosis. Assessments are offered as a separate service.
• It does not include advice about medications, labour, fetal health, or physical recovery after birth.

You set the pace. You decide what to talk about and when, and you can decline any topic. Your therapist's role is to understand what matters to you, not to make decisions about your pregnancy, your family, or your relationships for you.

What you share is confidential within legal and ethical limits, which your clinician explains at the start. The confidentiality section below has more detail. Clinicians work within the scope of their professional designation and training, and if something you need falls outside that scope, they can talk with you about other services.

If you are reading more widely, our pages on mental health during pregnancy and perinatal mental health cover related ground.

Signs the Emotional Side of Pregnancy May Be Affecting You

There is no checklist that decides whether counselling is "allowed." Still, some people find it easier to reach out once they recognize their own experience in words. You might notice:

• feeling hopeful about the pregnancy one day and unsure the next, and wondering whether that is normal
• running through "what if" thoughts about the pregnancy, the birth, or the months after
• feeling like your sense of who you are is shifting faster than you can keep up with
• finding it harder to talk with a partner or family, or arguing more about plans and roles
• feeling alone with it, even when people around you are excited
• holding back what you really feel because it does not match what others expect
• feeling stretched by work, school, money, housing, or caring for others
• having trouble settling or resting because your mind will not quiet down
• bringing feelings from a past pregnancy, a loss, or a difficult birth into this one

Having some of these experiences is not a diagnosis. They are common reactions to a period of real change, and they do not mean something is permanently wrong. Counselling can offer a structured place to sort through them. Changes in your physical health are worth raising with your doctor or midwife.

How Pregnancy Support Counselling Works Here

• Find your therapist. Browse therapist profiles or use the Match with a Therapist tool. If you would like help choosing, the admin team can guide you at 780-904-4880.
• Book your first session. You can book online through our booking system. In the first session, your therapist goes over confidentiality and consent, asks what brought you in, and talks with you about your goals. You do not need a clear label for what you are feeling or a fixed agenda.
• Build your plan together. You and your therapist shape a plan that fits your circumstances, values, and preferences. It is a shared plan, not one handed to you.
• Ongoing sessions. Sessions are 50 minutes, usually weekly or every two weeks, and the schedule can change as your needs change. You can meet in person or virtually.
• Progress check-ins. Your therapist reviews progress with you regularly. If your needs shift later in pregnancy or after birth, the plan can shift too. Our birth and postpartum support page describes support for the months after.

There is no fixed number of sessions. Counselling is collaborative, and your voice matters at every stage, including decisions about how often to meet and when to stop.

Evidence and Approaches

International health classification systems include categories related to mental health in pregnancy and after birth (World Health Organization [WHO], n.d.). This page does not use those categories to label anyone, and counselling here does not include diagnosis. The summaries below are deliberately cautious. They describe what the sources support and where they stop.

Collaborative, Client-Centred Counselling

What it helps with: Talking through the emotional, relational, practical, and identity changes of pregnancy at a pace you set.

Evidence summary: Canadian public health guidance identifies pregnancy and the period after birth as times when mental health information and support are relevant (PHAC, n.d.). Antenatal and postnatal mental health are also addressed in formal clinical guidance (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence [NICE], n.d.).

Limitations: These sources establish pregnancy-related mental health as a recognized area of care. They are not cited here as evidence that one counselling style works better than another, and individual experiences vary.

Support-System and Relationship-Focused Work

What it helps with: Looking at who you can lean on, how you communicate with a partner or family, and where you feel on your own.

Evidence summary: A systematic review published in BMC Psychiatry has examined perinatal mental health interventions in relation to loneliness and satisfaction with social support (BMC Psychiatry, n.d.). Statistics Canada has also published information on access to postpartum health care and perinatal mental health support from its 2024 Parental Experiences Survey (Statistics Canada, n.d.).

Limitations: This page does not report the review's conclusions, so it should not be read as showing that counselling reduces loneliness or improves support. Your own experience may differ from what research describes.

Support for Worry and Anxious Thoughts

What it helps with: Worry about the pregnancy, the birth, or parenthood that feels hard to set down.

Evidence summary: Canadian psychology education materials address perinatal anxiety as a recognized topic (Canadian Psychological Association [CPA], 2025). Canadian mental health organizations also offer public information about mental health after birth, including postpartum depression (Canadian Mental Health Association Nova Scotia Division [CMHA Nova Scotia], n.d.).

Limitations: Recognizing a topic is different from diagnosing it, and this service does not screen for or diagnose anxiety. Treatment-effect findings from these sources are not summarized here.

What to Expect From Counselling

Change in counselling is rarely a straight line. Some weeks may feel clearer and others heavier, especially as a pregnancy progresses or circumstances shift.

Some people notice changes within a few months of starting. Others find that longer-term support suits them, sometimes continuing after birth. Outcomes vary, and no form of counselling can guarantee a particular result.

Factors that can shape your experience include:

• what is happening in your life and relationships right now
• the support you have around you
• past experiences you bring into this pregnancy
• how well you connect with your therapist

Therapeutic fit matters. If a therapist or approach does not feel right, you can raise it, try a different approach, or ask the admin team about working with someone else.

Confidentiality and Privacy

What you share in counselling is confidential. Psychologists at Wholesome Psychology are regulated by the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP). They follow CAP's Standards of Practice and the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists. Clinicians in other professions follow the standards of their own regulatory or certifying bodies, such as the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW) for Registered Social Workers.

Alberta privacy law also applies. For private clinics, the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) generally governs how personal information is collected, used, disclosed, and kept. The Health Information Act (HIA) governs health information held by health custodians, such as Alberta Health Services, and the professionals who work with them. If part of your care involves a custodian, HIA rules may also apply to that information.

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

• there is a risk of serious harm to you or someone else
• there is reason to believe a child is being abused or neglected, which Alberta law requires to be reported
• a court orders the release of records

Your clinician will explain these limits clearly in your first session. You are welcome to ask questions about privacy, record keeping, or virtual sessions before you share anything personal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to talk about everything that has happened, including past pregnancies or losses?

No. You decide what to share and when. Some people start with whatever is on their mind that week: a worry, a hard conversation, a decision they are weighing. If past experiences come up, you and your therapist can decide together how much detail feels manageable. Working with what is happening in your life now is a valid place to begin.

Is what I share kept private?

Yes, within legal and ethical limits. The main exceptions are a risk of serious harm to you or someone else, suspected abuse or neglect of a child, and a court order. Your clinician explains these limits in your first session. The confidentiality and privacy section above describes them in more detail, including how PIPA and the HIA apply.

How many sessions will I need?

There is no fixed number. Some people come for a few sessions to talk through a specific concern or decision. Others prefer regular support through pregnancy and into the months after birth. You and your therapist review progress together and can adjust how often you meet.

What if the therapist is not the right fit?

Fit matters, and it can take a session or two to know whether a therapist feels right. If it does not, you can tell your therapist or contact the admin 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 I have sessions online?

Yes. Virtual sessions are available for people located in Alberta, and the same confidentiality standards apply. Some people find virtual sessions easier to fit around prenatal appointments, work, or caring for other children. Your clinician can talk with you about privacy during virtual sessions, such as finding a space where you will not be overheard.

Is this the same as prenatal care or medical advice?

No. Counselling focuses on emotional and psychological support. It does not replace care from a physician, midwife, nurse practitioner, obstetric provider, or other medical professional. Questions about your physical health, medications, or the pregnancy itself are best directed to them.

What if I do not feel safe with my partner or someone at home?

If you are in immediate danger, call 911. The Family Violence Info Line (Alberta) at 310-1818 is available 24/7 and is toll-free. Counselling is not an emergency service, but when it is safe to do so, it can be a place to talk about what is happening in your relationship. Our family violence counselling page has more information.

Can my partner or a support person come to sessions?

You can ask about this when you book. Some people prefer individual sessions, while others want a partner involved for part of the work. If strain in the relationship is the main concern, couples counselling is offered as a separate service.

Meet Your Clinicians

Our 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. Student Therapists are completing master's-level practicum training.

Areas of focus differ from one clinician to the next. The Our Therapists page describes each clinician's background and interests. Because availability changes, the admin team at 780-904-4880 can tell you who is currently seeing clients for pregnancy-related concerns, and the Match Tool can help you narrow your options.

Children and Youth

A pregnancy can change things for a whole family. Older children may be adjusting to the idea of a new sibling, and some teens are pregnant themselves. Wholesome Psychology offers counselling for children and youth, including adolescents and young people.

Therapists who work with younger clients use age-appropriate approaches. Where it fits, they work with parents and caregivers to support the child at home. A young person who is pregnant can contact the admin team to ask how consent and confidentiality work at their age.

Taking a Next Step

If you would like to talk with someone about this pregnancy, you can take the next step in whatever way feels manageable:

• Book a session online
• Match with a therapist
• Call 780-904-4880
• Email info@wholesomepsychology.ca
• Read Getting Started with Therapy for an overview of the process

Starting the conversation is enough.

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

References

• BMC Psychiatry. (n.d.). Impact of interventions addressing perinatal mental health on loneliness and/or satisfaction with social support: Systematic review.
• Canadian Mental Health Association Nova Scotia Division. (n.d.). Postpartum depression.
• Canadian Psychological Association. (2025). Perinatal anxiety.
• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (n.d.). Antenatal and postnatal mental health: Clinical management and service guidance.
• Public Health Agency of Canada. (n.d.). Mental health during and after pregnancy. Government of Canada.
• Statistics Canada. (n.d.). Access to postpartum health care and perinatal mental health support, 2024 Parental Experiences Survey.
• World Health Organization. (n.d.). International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision (ICD-11).