Counselling for mood, anxiety, stress, and other psychological concerns, shaped around your goals, whether or not you have a diagnosis. You can work with a Registered Psychologist regulated by the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP) or another credentialed clinician, in 50-minute sessions in person in Edmonton and St. Albert or virtually across Alberta.

Book a Session | Match with a Therapist

You Might Be Wondering Whether Psychological Conditions Counselling Is Right for You

You may not be sure whether what you are dealing with is a real problem or just a hard stretch you should be able to push through on your own. You might be wondering whether you need a diagnosis, or a crisis, before it makes sense to talk to someone. That is a fair question. You do not have to settle it before reading further.

Maybe you lie awake with the same worries looping, even on days when nothing is wrong. Maybe things you used to enjoy now feel flat, or like more effort than they are worth. Or a habit around food, checking, or drinking that once helped you cope now feels harder to set down. Responses like these make sense when you have been under strain for a while. They are ways your mind and body have tried to manage, not proof that something is permanently wrong with you. They also do not mean you have failed at handling your life.

If you are trying to work out whether talking with someone could help, the sections below explain what this kind of counselling involves, what it does not include, and how people usually get started. You may wish to read at your own pace and take only what feels useful.

Who We Help

Psychological concerns can take many forms. This counselling may be a good fit if you are:

• noticing changes in mood, motivation, sleep, or energy that have lasted longer than you expected
• dealing with worry, panic, fear, or avoidance that is shaping your days
• caught in repetitive thoughts or behaviours that feel hard to interrupt
• struggling with concerns related to eating, substance use, or daily routines
• living with an existing diagnosis and wanting support alongside other care
• unsure what is going on and wanting a place to sort through it, without a label
• a family member or friend gathering information for someone you care about (see supporting someone's mental health)

This service may not be the right fit if you need:

• Immediate safety or crisis support. Please use the crisis resources below.
• A formal diagnosis or written documentation. Psychological assessments are a separate service. You can read about mental health assessment and formal mental health assessment.
• Forensic or legal reports. Court-related evaluations and legal reports are outside this therapy service.
• Medication. Psychologists do not prescribe. Medication is typically provided by a family physician, psychiatrist, or nurse practitioner (Canadian Psychological Association [CPA], 2021).

If You Need Help Right Now

Counselling appointments are not designed for emergencies. If you are not safe, or someone else is in danger, please reach out to one of these services first. If you are still living somewhere that does not feel safe, the Family Violence Info Line can talk through options with you.

• 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)
• Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741

Wholesome Psychology is not an emergency or crisis service.

What This Service Is and Is Not

Counselling offers a structured space to explore what is happening, what matters to you, and what support may fit your goals. You and your therapist talk through the patterns you are noticing and work on them together. You set the pace. Your therapist will not push you to share more than you are ready to.

The phrase "psychological conditions" covers a wide range. The World Health Organization's ICD-11 classification groups mental, behavioural, and neurodevelopmental conditions into many categories, including mood, anxiety or fear-related, stress-associated, obsessive-compulsive, feeding or eating, and substance-use concerns (World Health Organization [WHO], 2025). Categories like these help professionals communicate. They do not define you, and a web page cannot tell you whether any of them apply.

Here is what this service does not include:

• It is not a psychological assessment or a diagnostic evaluation. Assessments are a separate service.
• It is not a legal service or an investigative process.
• It is not crisis intervention or a substitute for emergency or urgent medical care.
• It is not medication management.

Each clinician works within the scope of their training and professional regulation. If something you need falls outside that scope, your therapist can talk with you about other services and, with your consent, about coordinating with your physician or another provider. What you share is confidential, with some legal limits that are explained in the confidentiality section below.

Signs Psychological Concerns May Be Affecting You

You do not need a diagnosis to recognize that something has shifted. People often describe experiences like these:

• a low or heavy feeling that does not lift, even when things around you improve
• worry that jumps from one thing to the next and is hard to switch off
• thoughts that repeat, or a need to check, count, or redo things until they feel right
• pulling back from friends or family without being sure why
• snapping at people you care about, then feeling guilty afterward
• trouble concentrating at work or school, or losing track of conversations
• changes in sleep or appetite, headaches, or a tight chest when you are stressed
• relying more on food, alcohol, or other substances to get through the day
• a sense that you are going through the motions rather than living your life

These are common human reactions to stress, loss, and long periods of strain. Statistics Canada describes mental health challenges as a common experience and notes that most people go through periods of better and worse mental health during their lives (Statistics Canada, 2023). In a 2022 national survey, 18.3% of Canadians aged 15 and older met criteria for a mood, anxiety, or substance use disorder in the previous year, and about half of them had talked to a health professional about their mental health (Statistics Canada, 2023).

Having some of these experiences does not mean something is permanently wrong. It may mean you have been carrying a lot. Structured support can give you a place to understand these patterns and decide what you would like to change.

How Treatment Works Here

• Find your therapist. You can use the Match with a Therapist tool or browse Our Therapists to read about each clinician. If you would rather talk it through, the admin team can help at 780-904-4880.
• Book your first session. Your first appointment includes a conversation about consent, confidentiality, your goals, and whether the service feels like an appropriate fit. You decide how much background to share.
• Build your plan together. You and your therapist discuss priorities, preferences, and next steps. Your views about which approach you would like to try are part of that decision.
• Ongoing sessions. Sessions are 50 minutes. Weekly or every-other-week appointments are common starting points, and frequency can change as your needs and circumstances change.
• Progress check-ins. Your therapist reviews with you how things are going. If something is not helping, the plan can be adjusted.

There is no fixed number of sessions. Therapy is collaborative, and your voice matters at every stage. You can learn more on the Getting Started with Therapy page.

Evidence and Approaches

Your therapist will talk with you about which approach fits your goals, preferences, and circumstances. Most of the research summarized below comes from guidance on depression in adults. Evidence for other concerns, such as eating, substance use, or obsessive-compulsive patterns, is not summarized on this page. Not every clinician offers every approach, so therapist profiles are the best place to check training.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

What it helps with: Noticing and changing patterns of thinking and behaviour that keep low mood or worry going.

Evidence summary: The CPA describes cognitive therapy as the most well-studied psychological treatment for depression, with the most consistent evidence supporting its use (CPA, 2021). UK clinical guidance includes individual and group CBT among the treatment options for adults with depression (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence [NICE], 2022). CBT is also commonly used for anxiety and has been adapted for some other concerns (Canadian Mental Health Association [CMHA], 2017).

Limitations: CBT is structured and usually involves practice between sessions, which does not suit everyone. Most of the evidence summarized here comes from adult depression.

Behavioural Activation

What it helps with: Rebuilding activity and routine when low mood has led to withdrawal, avoidance, or doing less.

Evidence summary: Clinical guidance reports good evidence for individual and group behavioural activation for adults with less severe depression (NICE, 2022). Behaviour therapy is described as having success comparable to cognitive therapy for depression (CPA, 2021).

Limitations: Behavioural activation does not directly target thoughts and feelings. The research summarized here focuses on depression, and how much it helps varies from person to person.

Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)

What it helps with: Low mood connected to relationships, loss, conflict, or major life transitions.

Evidence summary: Clinical guidance found some evidence for interpersonal psychotherapy in less severe depression and notes it may suit people whose depression is linked to relationship changes, loss, or shifting roles (NICE, 2022). Its success rate is described as comparable to cognitive and behaviour therapies (CPA, 2021).

Limitations: IPT asks for a willingness to look closely at relationships, which can feel uncomfortable. The evidence summarized here comes from depression research.

Mindfulness-Based Approaches

What it helps with: Relating differently to difficult thoughts and feelings, and lowering the chance that low mood returns.

Evidence summary: Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy has been reported to reduce the risk of relapse compared with treatment as usual or medication alone, especially for people with recurrent depression (CPA, 2021). Clinical guidance also found some evidence for group mindfulness and meditation in less severe depression (NICE, 2022).

Limitations: Much of this research involves group programs, and individual counselling may differ. Mindfulness practice is not a comfortable fit for everyone.

Counselling and Short-Term Psychodynamic Therapy

What it helps with: Exploring feelings, relationship patterns, and recurring themes that may sit underneath current difficulties.

Evidence summary: Clinical guidance found some evidence that counselling and short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy may be effective for less severe depression, and recognized that they may help some people (NICE, 2022). Psychodynamic therapy appears comparable to other established treatments for depression, although less research exists to support firm conclusions (CPA, 2021).

Limitations: The evidence base is smaller than for CBT. Clinical guidance also found these options less cost effective on average (NICE, 2022).

What Results to Expect

Change in therapy is rarely a straight line. Some people notice shifts within a few months. Others benefit from longer-term work, especially when concerns have built up over years. Good weeks and harder weeks often sit side by side.

Outcomes vary. Several things can shape them:

• the nature of your concerns and how long they have been present
• what is happening in your life right now, including stress, health, and support
• how well the approach suits you
• how comfortable you feel with your therapist

No therapy can guarantee a particular result. Research on depression notes that there is no clear way to know in advance which treatment any one person will respond to (CPA, 2021). That is one reason clinical guidance recommends reviewing how treatment is working with the person early on, and offering the option to change professional if the relationship is not working (NICE, 2022).

Therapeutic fit matters. If a therapist or an approach does not feel right, you can raise it, and changing therapist or approach is always an option.

Confidentiality and Privacy

What you share in counselling is confidential. Psychologists at Wholesome Psychology are regulated by the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP) and follow the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) Code of Ethics. Other clinicians follow the standards of their own professional bodies.

Alberta privacy law also applies. 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 custodians and to clinicians working on their behalf. Which law applies can depend on the setting, and your therapist can explain how it works for your care.

There are some legal limits to confidentiality. Your therapist may be required or permitted to share information when:

• there is a risk of serious harm to you or someone else
• there is suspected abuse or neglect of a child, which must be reported under Alberta law
• 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, records, or virtual sessions before you share anything personal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to describe what happened, or everything I am feeling, in detail?

No. You decide what to share and when. Many people start with what daily life looks like right now, such as sleep, work, or relationships, rather than going back over the past. Your therapist can work with present-day patterns, and you can pause or change direction at any point.

Is what I share kept private?

Yes, with some legal limits. Those limits include a risk of serious harm, suspected abuse or neglect of a child, and a court order. Your therapist will explain them in your first session. The confidentiality section above has more detail, including how Alberta's PIPA and HIA apply.

How many sessions will I need?

There is no fixed answer. Some people come for a short, focused period to work on one concern. Others prefer longer-term support. You and your therapist will review progress regularly and decide together whether to continue, change the plan, or wrap up.

What if the therapist is not the right fit?

Fit matters, and it is fine to say so. The CMHA suggests being upfront if the relationship does not feel right, since therapists understand it is not personal (CMHA, 2017). 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 therapy online?

Yes. Virtual sessions are available across Alberta. The same confidentiality standards apply as for in-person sessions. If you are unsure whether virtual sessions suit your situation, you can talk it through with the admin team or your therapist.

Do I need a diagnosis to start?

No. You do not need a diagnosis to begin a conversation about support. Many people come in because something feels off and they want to understand it better. Your therapist will work with what you bring without assuming a label.

Will counselling give me a diagnosis?

Counselling and formal assessment are different services. Counselling focuses on understanding and working with what you are experiencing. If you are looking for diagnostic clarity or documentation, you may wish to ask about a mental health assessment, which is booked separately.

I am looking into this for someone I care about. What can I do?

You can share this page, explore the matching tool together, or call the admin team with general questions. An adult usually needs to choose counselling for themselves and give their own consent. If you are worried about someone's immediate safety, please use the crisis resources listed above.

Meet Your Clinicians

Wholesome Psychology includes Registered Psychologists, Registered Provisional Psychologists, Registered Social Workers, Canadian Certified Counsellors, Mental Health Therapists, and Student Therapists who are master's-level practicum students. All psychologists are registered with the College of Alberta Psychologists. Provisional psychologists practise under the supervision of a senior registered psychologist. Registered Social Workers are regulated by the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW).

Training areas differ from clinician to clinician. Each profile on the Our Therapists page describes the concerns and approaches that person works with. If you are not sure where to start, the Match with a Therapist tool can narrow the options, or you can call the admin team at 780-904-4880 for guidance.

Children and Youth

Psychological concerns are not limited to adults. In a 2022 national survey, people aged 15 to 24, especially young women, were the most likely to meet criteria for a mood or anxiety disorder (Statistics Canada, 2023). Wholesome Psychology offers counselling for children, adolescents, and young people.

Therapists who work with younger clients use age-appropriate approaches suited to the child's age and stage. They also work with parents and caregivers to support the child at home. The research summarized earlier on this page comes mostly from adults, so care for younger people is planned with their age and stage in mind. You can learn more about child and youth mental health and teen mental health support.

Taking a Next Step

If you would like to learn more or get started, here are a few ways to begin:

• Book a session online
• Match with a therapist
• Call the admin team at 780-904-4880
• Email info@wholesomepsychology.ca
• Read Getting Started with Therapy to see what the first steps look like

You can bring your questions, your doubts, and the parts you have not figured out yet. 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). Psychotherapy [Brochure].
• Canadian Psychological Association. (2021). "Psychology Works" fact sheet: Depression.
• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (2022). Depression in adults: Treatment and management [Clinical guideline].
• Statistics Canada. (2023, September 22). Mental disorders and access to mental health care.
• World Health Organization. (2025). ICD-11 for mortality and morbidity statistics.