Counselling for older adults, and for the people who support them, as later life brings changes to health, roles, relationships, and routines. Psychologists registered with the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP). Registered Psychologists, Registered Provisional Psychologists, Registered Social Workers regulated by the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW), Certified Canadian Counsellors (CCCs) certified by the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA), and Mental Health Therapists. In-person sessions in Edmonton and St. Albert, virtual sessions across Alberta available.

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You Might Be Wondering Whether Counselling Makes Sense at This Stage of Life

You may be asking yourself whether what you feel is just part of getting older. Maybe it seems like something to put up with quietly rather than talk about. You might have been raised to handle hard things on your own, and the idea of seeing a counsellor now can feel strange, or even a little indulgent.

Maybe the days feel longer since you retired, and the structure that used to hold the week together has gone quiet. Perhaps the house feels different since a spouse or close friend died. Or your children have started making decisions on your behalf, and you are not sure how to tell them it stings.

If you are reading this for a parent or partner, you may carry a different doubt. You might wonder whether it is your place to suggest counselling, or whether your own exhaustion and worry count as a reason to seek support.

These reactions make sense. Losing a role, a person, or a familiar routine asks a lot of anyone, at any age. Feeling unsettled by it is a human response to real change. It does not mean something is wrong with you or that you are failing to cope.

If you are curious about what talking with someone could look like, this page walks through it. It is written for older adults, for family members gathering information, and for anyone ready to take a next step. If you are not safe right now, the crisis resources below are the place to start.

Who This Counselling May Help

This may be a good fit if you are:

• An older adult adjusting to retirement, a move, or a change in daily routine
• Living with grief after the death of a spouse, sibling, or friend
• Coping emotionally with changes in health, mobility, energy, or independence
• Feeling disconnected, lonely, or unsure where you belong now
• Part of a couple working out new roles at home in later life
• A spouse, adult child, or other caregiver who wants support with care-related stress, guilt, or family tension
• A family hoping to have calmer conversations about care, housing, or future plans

This may not be the right fit if you need:

• Immediate safety or crisis support. Please use the crisis resources below.
• Medical answers about memory, medication, or physical health. A family doctor or other medical service is the right starting point. Counselling does not diagnose or treat dementia or other medical conditions.
• A formal capacity assessment, legal report, or psychological assessment. These are outside this counselling service. Psychological assessments are a separate service.
• Legal, financial, or home-care arrangements. A lawyer, financial professional, or home-care provider can help with those.
• A program for someone who has harmed an older person. This service does not provide that kind of intervention program. You can ask the admin team whether a referral elsewhere would be more suitable.

Counselling for an adult is their choice to make. If a parent or partner is not interested right now, you can still seek support for yourself. Our aging parents counselling page may also be useful.

If You Need Help Right Now

Counselling is not an emergency service. If you or someone you care about is in danger, or needs urgent support, please reach out to one of these services:

• 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)
• 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline: call or text 9-8-8 (24/7)

Wholesome Psychology is not an emergency or crisis service.

What Seniors and Elderly Care Counselling Is, and What It Is Not

Counselling offers a confidential setting to talk about emotions, relationships, coping, and next steps. Sessions can explore retirement, grief, caregiving, family communication, loneliness, identity, and adjusting to change. These are examples, not a complete list, and none of them is a diagnosis.

Aging is not treated as a problem to fix. Sessions focus on your perspective, your strengths, the people who matter to you, and the practical concerns in front of you. You set the pace. Your therapist will not push you to talk about anything before you are ready.

Counselling is also not:

• A medical diagnosis, medication management, or treatment for memory problems
• A legal service, financial advice, or an investigative process
• Home-care services or care planning on your behalf
• A formal capacity assessment or a psychological assessment
• Emergency or crisis intervention

Each clinician works within the scope of their training and professional regulation. If something you raise is better handled by a physician, lawyer, financial professional, or community service, your therapist may suggest that. What you share is kept confidential within limits set by Alberta law, which are explained in the Confidentiality and Privacy section below.

Signs Later-Life Changes May Be Affecting You

Change in later life does not always show up as sadness. Sometimes it looks like restlessness, irritability, or a quiet pulling away. You might recognize some of these patterns:

• A low or flat mood that settled in after a loss or a big change
• Feeling restless or without purpose since work or a caregiving role ended
• Thinking often about the past, old regrets, or what comes next
• Worrying about health, money, or becoming a burden to family
• Pulling back from friends, clubs, or faith communities you used to enjoy
• Tension or hurt feelings with adult children over decisions about care or where to live
• Feeling short-tempered, tearful, or worn down more often than usual
• Changes in sleep, appetite, or energy (worth raising with your doctor as well)
• For caregivers: feeling guilty when you rest, or resentful and then guilty about the resentment

These are common reactions to real losses and transitions. They do not mean something is permanently wrong. Having a space to sort through them, with someone outside the family, can make the next decision or the next conversation feel more manageable. If you have concerns about memory or physical health, please talk with your doctor too, since counselling cannot assess those.

How Treatment Works Here

• Find your therapist. You can use the Match with a Therapist tool, read profiles on our Our Therapists page, or call the admin team at 780-904-4880 for guidance. If you are calling on behalf of a parent or partner, you can ask how to begin in a way that respects their choice to take part.
• Book your first session. You can book online through our booking system or by phone. The first session covers confidentiality and consent, what brings you in, and what you hope to get from counselling. You can share as much or as little as you like.
• Build your plan together. You and your therapist shape a plan around your goals. At Wholesome Psychology, therapy is collaborative and client-centred, so your priorities lead.
• Ongoing sessions. Sessions are 50 minutes. They are typically weekly or bi-weekly when appropriate, and the schedule can be adjusted as needed. If hearing, mobility, or getting to an office is a concern, mention it when you book so options can be discussed.
• Progress check-ins. Your therapist reviews progress with you regularly. The plan can change as your needs or circumstances change.

There is no fixed number of sessions. Your voice matters at every stage, including when to slow down, change focus, or take a break. For more detail, see Getting Started with Therapy.

Evidence and Approaches

The sources reviewed for this page do not report how well specific therapy methods work for older adults. Rather than naming therapy types and making claims we cannot support, this section describes three areas counselling can focus on, along with what the available sources do and do not show. Your therapist will explain any approach they suggest, and you can ask questions about it at any time.

Loneliness and Social Connection

What it helps with: Counselling can offer space to talk about feeling disconnected, rebuild a sense of belonging, and plan small steps toward contact that feels manageable.

Evidence summary: The Public Health Agency of Canada has examined social isolation, loneliness, and positive mental health among older adults in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic (Public Health Agency of Canada [PHAC], 2023). Statistics Canada has also studied loneliness among Canadians aged 65 and older in relation to immigrant status (Statistics Canada, 2023).

Limitations: Findings and rates from these studies were not available for this page, so none are reported here. Neither source measures whether counselling reduces loneliness.

Wellbeing Through Later-Life Transitions

What it helps with: Counselling may support reflection, coping, communication, and planning as people adjust to retirement, health changes, grief, or a move.

Evidence summary: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published guidance on mental wellbeing and independence for older people (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence [NICE], n.d.). Its focus reflects that mental wellbeing and independence are treated as relevant considerations in services for older adults.

Limitations: NICE is a UK body, and its specific recommendations are not summarized here. This guidance does not show that counselling improves independence, memory, or physical health.

Support for Caregivers and Family Members

What it helps with: Counselling can give spouses, adult children, and other caregivers a place to talk through the strain, guilt, and family tension that sometimes come with supporting an older person.

Evidence summary: The Canadian Psychological Association has published a public fact sheet on caregiver stress (Canadian Psychological Association [CPA], 2022). Its inclusion as a public education topic suggests caregiving strain is considered relevant within Canadian psychology.

Limitations: The fact sheet's specific guidance is not summarized here. It does not measure the effect of counselling for caregivers.

Related pages: family caregiver stress counselling, support for caring for someone with cognitive impairment, retirement stress counselling, health changes and grief, and grief and loss counselling.

What Results to Expect

Change in counselling is rarely a straight line. Some weeks may feel lighter, and others may bring grief or worry back to the surface. Some people notice shifts within a few months. Others find longer-term support more useful, especially when health or caregiving circumstances keep changing.

Several things can influence how counselling goes:

• The nature of what you are facing, such as a single change or several losses at once
• Your current circumstances, including health, housing, finances, and family support
• How comfortable you feel with your therapist
• The pace that feels right for you

No form of counselling can guarantee a particular outcome. That includes feeling better by a certain date, family members coming to agreement, or a hard decision becoming easy. Outcomes vary from person to person.

Fit matters. If the therapist or the approach is not working for you, you can say so. Changing to a different clinician or a different 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) Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists. Other clinicians follow the standards of their own professional bodies.

Two Alberta privacy laws are relevant. The Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) sets rules for how private organizations collect, use, and disclose personal information, and it generally applies to counselling at a private clinic. The Health Information Act (HIA) governs health information held within Alberta's public health system, such as Alberta Health Services, and applies to clinicians who work for or on behalf of those organizations.

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

• A risk of serious harm to yourself or someone else
• Suspected abuse or neglect of a child (mandatory reporting under Alberta law)
• A court order
• Another situation where Alberta law requires or permits disclosure

If an adult child or other family member helps arrange counselling, what an older adult shares in session still belongs to them. Details are not shared with family without the client's consent, except within the limits above. The same standards apply to virtual sessions.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to describe painful memories or what happened in detail?

No. You decide what to share and when. Many people start with what is happening now, such as a hard week, a strained phone call with family, or trouble sleeping since a loss. Your therapist can work with present-day patterns without asking you to go back over every detail.

Is what I share kept private, even from my family?

Yes, within limits. Your clinician will not share what you say with family members without your consent. The exceptions include a risk of serious harm, suspected abuse or neglect of a child, a court order, or another situation where Alberta law requires disclosure. The Confidentiality and Privacy section above explains this in more detail.

How many sessions will I need?

There is no fixed number. Some people come for a handful of sessions around a specific decision or change. Others prefer longer-term support, especially through ongoing health or caregiving changes. Your therapist will review progress with you regularly, and you can adjust the plan at any point.

What if the therapist is not the right fit?

Fit matters, and it is fine to say a match is not working. The admin team can help you find a different clinician, and switching does not need a long explanation. 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 in Alberta, and the same confidentiality standards apply. Virtual sessions suit some people better than others. Whether they suit you can be discussed when you book, based on your preferences, privacy at home, and comfort with technology.

Can a family member come with me, or book on my behalf?

Family involvement can be discussed with your therapist. A family member can help with booking, and some people choose joint sessions for part of the work. Your consent, privacy, and preferences guide whether sessions are individual, joint, or a mix of both.

I am the caregiver, not the older adult. Can I come on my own?

Yes. Spouses, adult children, and other caregivers can book counselling for themselves. Sessions can focus on your own stress, grief, or family tension, whether or not the person you care for is involved. The family caregiver stress page has more on this.

What if someone close to me is hurting or taking advantage of me?

If you are in immediate danger, call 911. The Family Violence Info Line (Alberta) at 310-1818 is available 24/7 for information and support. Counselling can be a place to talk about what is happening and think through your safety at your own pace. It does not replace emergency or protective services.

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 are registered with the College of Alberta Psychologists. Registered Provisional Psychologists practise under the supervision of a senior registered psychologist. Registered Social Workers are regulated by the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW).

You can read individual profiles on our Our Therapists page or use the Match with a Therapist tool for help choosing. When you call the admin team at 780-904-4880, you can ask which clinicians work with later-life transitions, grief, or caregiving concerns.

Children and Youth in the Family

Changes in an older family member's life can affect younger people too. A grandchild may be unsettled by a grandparent's illness, move, or death. Some grandparents are raising grandchildren, which can bring its own pressures for everyone in the home.

Wholesome Psychology offers counselling for children, adolescents, and young people. Therapists working with younger clients use age-appropriate approaches and work with caregivers to support the child's environment at home. You may find our pages on play therapy, teen therapy for youth 13 to 15, and preparing children for therapy helpful.

Taking a Next Step

If you would like to learn more, you can start whenever it feels right. You can take the next step in whichever way is easiest:

• Book a session online
• Match with a therapist
• Call the admin team: 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 Psychological Association. (2022). Caregiver stress [Fact sheet].
• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (n.d.). Mental wellbeing and independence for older people.
• Public Health Agency of Canada. (2023). Social isolation, loneliness, and positive mental health among older adults in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Statistics Canada. (2023). Immigrant status and loneliness among older Canadians.