Structured, collaborative counselling for low mood, lost interest, and exhaustion that has stopped lifting on its own. Registered Psychologists, Registered Provisional Psychologists, Registered Social Workers, Certified Canadian Counsellors, and Mental Health Therapists. Psychologists registered with the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP), Registered Social Workers with the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW), and Certified Canadian Counsellors with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA). In-person in Edmonton and St. Albert, virtual across Alberta. 50-minute sessions, daytime and evening availability.

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You Might Be Wondering Whether Depression Counselling Is Right for You

You may be asking yourself whether what you are feeling is bad enough to bring to a therapist. Plenty of people who look for this kind of support are still not sure they qualify for it. They can get to work, answer messages, and hold a conversation, and that functioning becomes the reason they talk themselves out of reaching out.

You might recognize some of this. A heaviness that does not lift even when nothing in particular is wrong. Things you used to look forward to now feel like tasks to get through. Tiredness that sleep does not touch, or a short fuse with people who have not done anything to deserve it.

These are common responses to sustained stress, loss, illness, isolation, and long stretches of carrying more than one person can carry. They are not a character flaw and they do not mean something is permanently wrong with you. They also do not, on their own, tell you what is happening or what would help.

You may wish to read on and see what this kind of support actually involves before deciding anything. Some readers are ready to book, some are still deciding, and some are here to understand what a partner, adult child, or friend is going through. This page is written for all of you.

Who We Help

Depression counselling at Wholesome Psychology may be a good fit if you:

• Have noticed low mood, low energy, or reduced interest that has lasted for weeks or longer
• Are functioning day to day but find it takes far more effort than it used to
• Want structured, collaborative support rather than advice from people close to you
• Are already working with a doctor or prescriber and want therapy alongside that care
• Have tried therapy before and want to try a different approach or a different therapist
• Are supporting someone you care about and want to understand what therapy involves

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

• Immediate safety concerns. If you are in danger or thinking about ending your life, please use the crisis resources below. Scheduled counselling is not designed for urgent risk.
• Psychological assessment or formal diagnosis. Assessments are a separate service at this clinic and are not included in counselling. If you want to know whether an assessment is appropriate for you, a qualified professional can help you decide.
• Legal, forensic, or court-directed reports. These needs sit outside this therapy service.
• Medication decisions. Therapists here do not prescribe. Questions about starting, changing, or stopping medication belong with a primary-care provider or another qualified prescriber.

If You Need Support Right Now

Wholesome Psychology is not a crisis service. If you need help today, these lines are staffed around the clock.

• 9-1-1 for immediate danger or urgent medical support
• 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline, call or text, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Alberta Mental Health Help Line: 1-877-303-2642, 24 hours a day
• Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741

Wholesome Psychology is not an emergency or crisis service.

What This Service Is

Depression counselling is a series of structured conversations with a trained therapist about your mood, your daily functioning, your relationships, and what you want to be different. You and your therapist decide together what to focus on. Sessions are private within the legal and ethical limits described later on this page.

It helps to be clear about what this service is not. It is not a legal or investigative process, and it is not crisis intervention. It does not include psychological assessment or formal diagnosis, which are handled separately at this clinic. Your therapist does not prescribe medication and will encourage you to bring medical and medication questions to your physician or another qualified prescriber.

The pace belongs to you. You decide how much to share and when. Therapists work within their scope of practice and training, and they will tell you plainly if something you need falls outside it and help you find the right referral.

Signs Depression May Be Affecting You

People describe these experiences in their own words long before anyone uses a clinical label. You may notice some of the following, in different combinations and to different degrees:

• Low mood, flatness, or emptiness that lingers most of the day
• Losing interest in things that used to matter, including people
• Fatigue that rest does not resolve
• Sleeping much more or much less than usual
• Appetite changes in either direction
• Trouble concentrating, deciding, or remembering ordinary details
• Harsh self-criticism, guilt, or a sense of being a burden
• Pulling back from friends, family, or activities without a clear reason
• Physical heaviness, aches, or slowed movement with no medical explanation

Depression-related experiences look different from person to person, and the World Health Organization classification system recognizes several distinct depressive presentations rather than one uniform picture (WHO, n.d.). These experiences can also have causes other than depression, including physical health conditions and the effects of some medications (Canadian Psychological Association [CPA], 2021).

Recognizing yourself in this list does not mean something is permanently wrong, and reading a web page cannot tell you what is happening for you. It does mean these patterns are worth talking through with someone trained to help you make sense of them.

How Treatment Works Here

• Find your therapist. Use the Match with a Therapist tool or browse Our Therapists to read individual profiles. If you would rather talk it through, our admin team can help at 780-904-4880.
• Book your first session. The first session covers informed consent, how confidentiality works and where it has limits, what brought you in, and what you would like to be different. You can ask about your therapist's training, approach, and fees. You are not expected to tell your whole story on day one.
• Build your plan together. You and your therapist agree on what to work on and how. Clinical guidelines describe this kind of shared decision-making as standard practice, including your right to decline any treatment offered (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence [NICE], 2022).
• Ongoing sessions. Sessions run 50 minutes, usually weekly or every second week at first, adjusted as things change.
• Progress check-ins. Your therapist revisits how things are going at regular intervals. If the plan is not working, the plan changes.

There is no fixed number of sessions and no standard endpoint. Some people come for a short, focused period. Others stay longer or return later. Your voice shapes the work at every stage, including when to pause or stop.

Evidence and Approaches

Your therapist may draw on one or more of the following approaches depending on your goals, your circumstances, and what fits you. Not every clinician offers every approach, and these are options to discuss rather than a ranked list.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

What it helps with: Recurring negative thought patterns and the behaviours that keep low mood in place.

Evidence summary: CBT focuses on how thoughts, beliefs, feelings, and behaviour interact, and teaches coping skills for handling situations differently (NICE, 2022). Guidelines list individual CBT among first-line options for both less severe and more severe depression (NICE, 2022). The Canadian Psychological Association describes cognitive therapy as the most studied psychological treatment for depression, with the most consistent evidence (CPA, 2021).

Limitations: CBT is structured and goal-oriented, which suits some people and not others, and guidelines note it may fit best for those who can identify patterns they want to change (NICE, 2022). Response varies, and the evidence pack records no effect sizes.

Behavioural Activation (BA)

What it helps with: Withdrawal, avoidance, and the shrinking of daily activity that often accompanies depression.

Evidence summary: BA works on the link between what a person does and how they feel, helping them notice patterns and plan practical changes that reduce avoidance (NICE, 2022). It appears among the first-line treatment options in current clinical guidance (NICE, 2022). The Canadian Psychological Association reports that behaviour therapy achieves results comparable to cognitive therapy (CPA, 2021).

Limitations: BA does not directly target thoughts and feelings, which some people find limiting (NICE, 2022). Comparative statements in the supplied sources are summary-level, and the evidence pack does not record the underlying trial data.

Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT)

What it helps with: Low mood tied to relationship conflict, role changes, isolation, or loss.

Evidence summary: IPT treats interpersonal stress and difficult relationship patterns as central to depression and works on improving those patterns (CPA, 2021). The Canadian Psychological Association describes its success as comparable to cognitive and behaviour therapy (CPA, 2021). It is listed among the treatment options in current clinical guidance for a new episode of depression (NICE, 2022).

Limitations: IPT is most relevant when relationships or role transitions are a main concern, so fit varies. The supplied evidence pack records no population-specific data, including for older adults or culturally diverse groups.

Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)

What it helps with: Long-standing emotional patterns in close relationships that keep repeating.

Evidence summary: STPP focuses on recognizing difficult feelings in significant relationships and identifying how patterns repeat over time (NICE, 2022). Guidelines list it among the options for a new episode of depression and describe it as typically involving a defined course of sessions (NICE, 2022). The Canadian Psychological Association groups it with treatments that show promise but are less established than cognitive, behaviour, and interpersonal therapies (CPA, 2021).

Limitations: The evidence base is described as less established than for the approaches above (CPA, 2021). It may suit people whose difficulties centre on relationships and emotional development, and less so those wanting a skills-focused approach (NICE, 2022).

Sleep, routine, social connection, work or school demands, physical health, and daily movement often come up in therapy as topics that interact with mood. Public health guidance in Canada treats physical activity as a subject worth raising with people experiencing depression, framed around personal preference and choice rather than instruction (PHAC, 2020). Your therapist may discuss these areas with you, but they will not prescribe an activity plan, supplements, or lifestyle changes.

What Results to Expect

Recovery is rarely a straight line. Many people describe stretches of progress followed by harder weeks, and that pattern does not mean therapy has failed.

Some people notice shifts within a few months of consistent work. Others benefit from longer-term support, and some return for further sessions after a break. What influences the course of therapy includes what you are dealing with, how long it has been going on, your current circumstances and supports, physical health, and the fit between you and your therapist.

No therapy guarantees an outcome. Nobody can promise you a result, a timeline, or that a particular approach will work for you. What your therapist can do is review progress with you honestly and change course when something is not helping.

Fit matters more than most people expect. If the relationship does not feel workable, changing therapist or approach is always an option and is a normal part of getting the right support.

Confidentiality and Privacy

What you share in therapy is confidential. Psychologists at Wholesome Psychology are registered with the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP) and practise under professional and ethical obligations, including those set out in the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists.

Your personal and health information is handled under Alberta legislation, specifically the Health Information Act (HIA) and the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA). These laws govern how your information is collected, used, stored, and disclosed.

Confidentiality has limits set by law. Your therapist may be required to disclose information when:

• There is a risk of serious harm to you or to another person
• There is suspected abuse or neglect of a child, which carries mandatory reporting duties under Alberta law
• Records or testimony are ordered by a court

Your clinician will explain these limits in plain language during your first session, before you share anything personal. You are welcome to ask questions about privacy, record-keeping, or who has access to your file at any point, including before you book.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to explain everything that has been going on?

No. You set the pace and decide what to share and when. Some people want to talk through history in detail, and others would rather work on what is happening in the present, such as sleep, motivation, or a specific relationship. Both are legitimate ways to work. Your therapist will follow your lead rather than pushing for disclosure you are not ready for.

Is what I share kept private?

Yes, within the legal limits described in the confidentiality section above. Your information is handled under Alberta's Health Information Act and Personal Information Protection Act, and your clinician works under the professional obligations applicable to their designation: psychologists under the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP), Certified Canadian Counsellors under the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA), and Registered Social Workers under the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW). The main exceptions involve risk of serious harm, suspected child abuse or neglect, and court orders. Your therapist will walk you through all of this in the first session.

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 work through a focused set of concerns over a shorter period. Others find longer-term work more useful, particularly when difficulties have been present for years. You and your therapist review progress regularly and adjust rather than committing to a set course up front.

What if the therapist is not the right fit?

Fit is a practical matter, not a personal failure, and telling a therapist that something is not working is a reasonable thing to do. Our admin team can help you switch to a different clinician at 780-904-4880, and the Match with a Therapist tool can help you narrow the options. 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 and follow the same confidentiality and professional standards as in-person appointments. Many people find virtual sessions easier to sustain when energy is low or travel is difficult. You can also mix formats, meeting in person some weeks and virtually others.

Do I need a referral or a diagnosis to start?

No referral is required to book counselling here, and you do not need a diagnosis first. Counselling and psychological assessment are separate services at this clinic. If you are wondering whether a formal assessment would be useful, only a qualified professional can determine that, and your therapist can point you toward the right pathway.

Can I come to therapy if I am already taking medication?

Yes. Many people work with a therapist while a physician or other prescriber manages medication. Your therapist will not advise you to start, stop, or change any medication, and those decisions stay with your prescriber. Clinical guidance describes therapy and medication as options that may be used separately or together, depending on the person and their circumstances (NICE, 2022).

I am looking for help for someone else. What can I do?

You can call our admin team at 780-904-4880 to ask about availability and what booking involves, though we cannot book on another adult's behalf without their consent. It often helps to read Getting Started with Therapy together, since uncertainty about the process is a common barrier. If the person you are worried about is in immediate danger, use the crisis resources listed above.

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 Wholesome Psychology are registered with the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP), Registered Social Workers are regulated by the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW), and Certified Canadian Counsellors are regulated by the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA). Registered Provisional Psychologists practise under the supervision of a senior registered psychologist.

Many of our clinicians have training in depression-related work, mood and motivation, grief and loss, stress, and related concerns, including approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and other forms of psychotherapy. Each therapist works within their own scope of practice and training.

You can read individual profiles on Our Therapists page, use the Match with a Therapist tool, or call our admin team at 780-904-4880 for guidance on choosing.

Children and Youth

Low mood and loss of interest affect children and adolescents too, and what it looks like at fourteen is often different from what it looks like at forty. Irritability, school refusal, and withdrawal from friends can all be part of the picture.

Wholesome Psychology offers counselling for children, adolescents, and young people. Therapists working with younger clients use age-appropriate approaches suited to the child's developmental stage rather than adapting adult sessions. Clinicians also work with caregivers, since a supportive environment at home makes a meaningful difference to how therapy goes.

You can learn more about child and youth depression counselling or call 780-904-4880 to ask which of our clinicians work with a particular age group.

Getting Started

If you would like to begin, there are a few ways to do it:

• Book a session online
• Match with a therapist if you would like help choosing
• Call 780-904-4880 to talk it through with our admin team
• Email info@wholesomepsychology.ca
• Read Getting Started with Therapy to see what the process involves

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

Starting the conversation is enough.

References

• Canadian Mental Health Association. (2017). Psychotherapy [Brochure]. https://www.cmha.ca
• Canadian Psychological Association. (2021). "Psychology Works" fact sheet: Depression.
• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (2022). Depression in adults: treatment and management (NICE Guideline NG222). https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng222
• Public Health Agency of Canada. (2020). Evidence-based recommendations to assist adults with depression to become lifelong movers. Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada, 40(10). https://doi.org/10.24095/hpcdp.40.10.01
• World Health Organization. (n.d.). ICD-11 for mortality and morbidity statistics: Depressive disorders.