Supportive, collaborative counselling for individuals, parents, caregivers, and families affected by fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, offered in Edmonton and St. Albert and virtually across Alberta. Registered clinicians. Psychologists are regulated by the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP), Certified Canadian Counsellors by the Canadian Counselling and Psychological Association (CCPA), and social workers by the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW). In-person and virtual sessions.

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You Might Be Wondering Whether Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Counselling Is Right for You

You may not be sure this page is meant for you. Maybe the diagnosis belongs to your child, and you find yourself wondering whether your own exhaustion, worry, or frustration is reason enough to talk to someone. Maybe you are an adult living with FASD, unsure whether sitting down with a counsellor will change anything that feels hard to put into words.

People come to this page carrying different versions of the same quiet question: is what I am dealing with serious enough to reach out about. Some are holding a heaviness that does not lift even on the good days. Some feel stretched thin by routines that never quite settle. Some keep pulling back from people they care about and cannot always say why.

These reactions make sense. They are common responses to circumstances that ask a great deal of a person, not signs that something is wrong with you. You do not need to have everything figured out to read further.

If you are weighing whether speaking with someone could help, the rest of this page explains what this kind of counselling looks like, who it tends to suit, and how to take a first step if and when you feel ready.

Who We Help

Counselling here is about support, not diagnosis. Depending on the situation, it may be a good fit for:

• children, teens, or adults living with FASD related concerns
• parents, caregivers, and family members carrying day to day strain
• families working through communication, routines, or transitions
• people who want support alongside school, medical, or community services already in place
• those who simply want a steady, confidential place to think things through

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

• If you are in crisis or there is immediate danger, please use the crisis resources below rather than waiting for an appointment.
• If you need a formal diagnosis, a forensic or legal report, or a psychological assessment, those are separate services. Our admin team can help you think through whether counselling is a useful starting point.
• If you are looking for medical treatment of the underlying condition, that sits outside what counselling provides.

If you need help right now

Counselling is not a crisis or emergency service. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, please reach out to one of these resources:

• Call 911 for immediate danger.
• Alberta Mental Health Help Line: 1-877-303-2642 (available 24/7).
• Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741.

Wholesome Psychology is not an emergency or crisis service.

What This Service Is

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder counselling is a supportive, talk based service. It offers a confidential space to work through stress, relationships, caregiving pressures, school or work concerns, and planning around the supports a person already has.

It helps to be clear about what this service is not. Counselling is not a diagnosis, a medical treatment, an investigative process, or a crisis intervention. Because this page is not an assessment service, it does not include FASD diagnosis or formal psychological assessment. Those are handled separately, and the admin team can point you in the right direction.

Counselling also does not treat the underlying neurodevelopmental condition itself. What it can offer is a place to talk through the parts of life that feel heavy, and to do that at a pace you set, not one the therapist imposes. What you share is treated as confidential, and the limits of that confidentiality are explained early, with a fuller explanation later on this page.

Everyday Experiences That May Bring You to Counselling

You do not need a label to recognize when things feel harder than usual. People reach out around experiences like these:

• feeling stressed, frustrated, or overwhelmed more often than you would like
• tension or misunderstandings within the family or caregiving system
• caregiver strain that builds quietly over time
• difficulty with routines, transitions, or day to day problem solving
• worries about school, work, or independence
• low self esteem, or feeling out of step with the people around you
• pulling away from relationships, even ones that matter
• uncertainty about what supports are out there and how they fit together

Having some of these experiences does not mean something is permanently wrong with you or your family. They are common reactions to demanding circumstances. A structured, supportive conversation can be one way to ease the load and think about what might help next.

How Counselling Works Here

Getting started is meant to be simple, and you can move through it at your own speed.

• Find your therapist. You can browse Our Therapists, use the Match with a Therapist tool, or call our admin team at 780-904-4880 for guidance.
• Book your first session. The first session covers confidentiality, consent, and a discussion of what you are hoping for. It is as much about seeing whether the fit feels right as it is about anything else.
• Build your plan together. Counselling here is collaborative and client centred. You and your therapist shape the focus together rather than following a fixed script.
• Ongoing sessions. Follow up sessions are commonly weekly or bi-weekly and adjusted as needs change. Standard appointments are 50 minutes.
• Progress check-ins. Your therapist reviews how things are going on a regular basis, and the plan adapts as your situation shifts.

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

Approaches and What the Evidence Shows

Counselling for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder focuses on support, coping, and family wellbeing rather than on treating the condition itself. We want to be honest about the evidence here. The research reviewed for this page described the Canadian landscape of supports and services for FASD (Public Health Agency of Canada [PHAC], n.d.), but it did not include readable outcome data measuring how specific counselling approaches perform for FASD. For that reason, the approaches below are offered as supportive ways of working, not as proven treatments for the condition, and each is described with its limits stated plainly.

Supportive counselling

What it helps with: Provides a confidential space to talk through stress, frustration, and the emotional weight of day to day life.

Evidence summary: The evidence reviewed for this page focused on the Canadian supports and services context rather than counselling outcome data specific to FASD (PHAC, n.d.). Supportive counselling is therefore framed here as one part of a broader support picture, not as a treatment for the underlying condition.

Limitations: Individual responses vary, and supportive counselling does not address the neurodevelopmental aspects of FASD. No outcome is guaranteed.

Psychoeducation and skills focused support

What it helps with: Helps people make sense of stress, communication, and routines, and explore practical strategies that suit their situation.

Evidence summary: Available public health material frames FASD support as something that often involves more than one service working together (PHAC, n.d.). A skills focused approach is presented on that basis, as a way to organize practical support rather than as an evidence graded clinical intervention for FASD.

Limitations: The strength of this approach for FASD specifically was not established in the material reviewed, and what works varies from person to person.

Caregiver and family support

What it helps with: Offers parents, caregivers, and family members a place to address caregiver strain, communication, and transitions within the household.

Evidence summary: Canadian public health framing recognizes that families and caregivers are part of the support landscape around FASD (PHAC, n.d.). Caregiver and family support is offered in that spirit, with the focus on wellbeing and collaboration rather than on measurable outcomes for the diagnosed individual.

Limitations: Family circumstances differ widely, and counselling cannot resolve every pressure a caregiving family faces.

Trauma informed, client paced work

What it helps with: Lets sessions move at a pace you set, with attention to comfort and safety in how topics are approached.

Evidence summary: The evidence pack reviewed for this page did not contain outcome studies on trauma informed counselling for FASD. This way of working is described as a stance toward pacing and safety rather than as a specific intervention with FASD outcome data.

Limitations: Because no FASD specific outcome evidence was available, this approach is presented cautiously, and results differ between individuals.

What Results to Expect

Change in counselling is rarely a straight line. Some people find relief from just 2-3 sessions, while others prefer steadier support over a longer period. Both are normal, and neither is a sign of doing it right or wrong.

What unfolds depends on many things: the nature of what you are working through, your current circumstances, and how well you and your therapist fit together. Therapeutic fit matters, and changing your therapist or approach is always an option if something is not working.

No therapy guarantees a particular outcome, and counselling does not change the underlying condition. What it can offer is support, perspective, and practical ways to carry what you are carrying. Outcomes vary, and that is to be expected.

Confidentiality and Privacy

What you share in counselling is private. Where applicable, psychologists work within the standards of the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP) and the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) Code of Ethics, Certified Canadian Counsellors are regulated by the Canadian Counselling and Psychological Association (CCPA), and social workers are regulated by the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW). Your information is handled under Alberta's Health Information Act (HIA) and Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA).

There are a few legal limits to confidentiality. A therapist may need to act, and may be required to share information, in situations such as:

• a risk of serious harm to you or someone else
• suspected abuse or neglect of a child, which carries a mandatory reporting duty under Alberta law
• a court order

Your therapist will explain these limits clearly during the first session. You are welcome to ask questions about privacy before you share anything personal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to describe what happened in detail?

No. You set the pace, and you decide what to share and when. Many people find it helpful to start with present day patterns, like stress or routines, rather than going into detailed history. You can build trust with your therapist first and share more only if and when it feels right.

Is what I share kept private?

Yes, with a few legal limits. Counselling is confidential, and your information is handled under Alberta's Health Information Act and Personal Information Protection Act. The main exceptions involve a risk of serious harm, suspected abuse or neglect of a child, or a court order. Your therapist explains these limits at the start of care, and the confidentiality section above has the full details.

How many sessions will I need?

There is no fixed answer. Some people benefit from a short series of sessions, while others prefer longer term support. Your therapist reviews progress with you regularly, and the plan adapts as your needs change.

What if the therapist is not the right fit?

Fit matters a great deal, and it is completely reasonable to want a different match. Our admin team can help you find another clinician, and you can also use the Match with a Therapist tool. 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, with the same confidentiality standards as in person care. You can read more on our Online Counselling page.

Is this the same as an FASD assessment or diagnosis?

No. This page is about counselling support, not assessment, diagnosis, or medical care. Counselling may still be useful as one part of a broader support plan. If you are seeking an assessment, our admin team can help you consider your options.

Can a parent or caregiver be involved in sessions?

Sometimes, yes. Whether a parent, caregiver, or family member takes part depends on the person's age, goals, and the agreed plan. This is something you can talk through with your therapist.

Meet Your Clinicians

Our team includes Registered Psychologists, Registered Provisional Psychologists, Registered Social Workers, Certified Canadian Counsellors, Mental Health Therapists, and Student Therapists. All of our psychologists are registered with the College of Alberta Psychologists, Certified Canadian Counsellors are regulated by the Canadian Counselling and Psychological Association (CCPA), and social workers are regulated by the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW). Our provisional psychologists practise under the supervision of a senior registered psychologist.

Many of our clinicians have experience across collaborative, client centred counselling, including work that touches on neurodiversity, parenting and caregiver support, and child and youth concerns. Because the right match is personal, you can review individual profiles on the Our Therapists page, use the Match with a Therapist tool, or call our admin team at 780-904-4880 for help choosing.

Children and Youth

Because fetal alcohol spectrum disorder often affects children, teens, and family systems, we also offer counselling for younger clients. Therapists working with children and adolescents use age appropriate approaches suited to where the young person is developmentally.

We also work with caregivers to support a steady, understanding environment around the child. You can learn more through our Child and Youth Counselling and Parenting Support pages, and you may find our Neurodiversity page helpful as well.

Taking the Next Step

If you would like to explore counselling, you can take the next step in whatever way feels comfortable:

• Book a session online
• Match with a therapist
• Call us at 780-904-4880
• Email info@wholesomepsychology.ca
• Read more on our Getting Started with Therapy page

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

Starting the conversation is enough.

References

• Public Health Agency of Canada. (n.d.). Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder: Supports and services. Retrieved June 28, 2026, from https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/fetal-alcohol-spectrum-disorder/support.html
• College of Alberta Psychologists. (2023). Standards of Practice. https://www.cap.ab.ca/
• Canadian Psychological Association. (2017). Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists (4th ed.). https://cpa.ca/