Private, goal-oriented counselling for executives, managers, business owners, and other professionals who want a steady place to think through the pressure that can come with demanding roles. Care is provided by registered clinicians who practise within Alberta professional standards. Sessions are available in person in Edmonton and St. Albert, and virtually across Alberta. Standard sessions are 50 minutes.

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You Might Be Wondering Whether the Executive Performance Program Is Right for You

You may be questioning whether work stress really counts as a reason to talk to someone, especially when, from the outside, things look like they are working. People in senior or high-responsibility roles often hold a quiet doubt that support is meant for someone whose life has clearly fallen apart, not for someone who is still delivering.

You might recognise some of this. Carrying a low hum of pressure that does not switch off even on the weekend. Replaying a difficult conversation long after it ended. Feeling responsible for everyone else's steadiness while having nowhere to set down your own.

These reactions make sense given what you may be holding. They are common responses to sustained pressure and high stakes, not a sign that something is wrong with you as a person or a leader. Many capable people carry exactly this kind of strain without naming it.

If a private space to think through the load feels like it might help, you may wish to read on and see what this kind of support looks like.

Who We Help

This service may be a good fit if you are looking for a confidential place to work through the emotional, relational, and practical strain that can build up around work. People who often find it useful include:

• executives and senior leaders
• managers and people leaders
• business owners and entrepreneurs
• professionals in high-visibility or high-responsibility roles
• people moving through promotion, role change, or a return to work
• anyone who wants a private space to think through work demands without turning it into a formal workplace evaluation

This service may not be the right fit in a few situations, and we would rather point you to better-matched support:

• If you are in crisis or worried about your immediate safety, please use the crisis resources below rather than waiting for an appointment.
• If you need a formal assessment, a fitness-for-duty evaluation, a workplace investigation, legal advice, or human resources consulting, those needs sit outside this counselling service. Psychological assessments are a separate service at the clinic.
• If you need employer-facing documentation or a third-party report, please raise this before booking so we can talk through scope and whether we are the right place to help.

If You Need Help Right Now

Wholesome Psychology is not a crisis or emergency service, and counselling appointments are not the right tool for an urgent safety concern. If you need immediate help, please reach one of the following:

• 911 for immediate danger or a medical emergency.
• Alberta Mental Health Help Line: 1-877-303-2642 (24/7).
• 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline: call or text 988 (24/7).

Wholesome Psychology is not an emergency or crisis service.

What This Service Is

The Executive Performance Program is a goal-oriented counselling service for professionals, not a fixed curriculum or a promise of specific results. On this page, the name refers to private counselling that can be shaped around you, your role, and the concerns you bring into the room.

It is talk-based support. It is not a legal service, a workplace investigation, a crisis intervention, or a medical assessment. It also does not include psychological testing or assessment, which is offered separately at the clinic.

The pace is set by you, not by the therapist. You decide what to focus on, what to leave for later, and how much to share at any point. Conversations are confidential within the limits set by law and professional standards, and a fuller explanation of those limits appears further down this page.

Signs Work Pressure May Be Affecting You

You do not need a diagnosis or a label to make use of counselling. It can help to notice patterns you may already be living with. People who come to this kind of support often describe some of the following:

• a sense of pressure that does not ease, even after a good result
• trouble switching off from work in the evening or on days off
• second-guessing decisions you used to make with confidence
• short patience with people you care about, followed by guilt
• dreading certain conversations, meetings, or parts of the week
• feeling responsible for holding everything together for everyone else
• sleep, appetite, or energy that has shifted with the demands of the role
• a quiet question about whether the work still means what it used to

Noticing these patterns does not mean something is permanently wrong with you. They are common reactions to sustained pressure, and structured support can give you a place to understand them and decide what you want to do differently.

How Counselling Works Here

• Find your therapist. You can start with the Match with a Therapist tool or browse profiles on the Our Therapists page. The admin team can also help you think through fit and availability at 780-904-4880.
• Book your first session. The first appointment is usually a 50-minute session that covers informed consent, confidentiality, and a discussion of what you would like to work on.
• Build your plan together. You and your therapist decide on focus and direction collaboratively. The plan is shaped around your goals rather than a set template.
• Continue with ongoing sessions. Follow-up sessions are often weekly or bi-weekly, and timing can be adjusted to suit your needs. Sessions are 50 minutes.
• Review progress together. Your therapist checks in on how things are going, and the plan can change as your priorities become clearer.

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

Evidence and Approaches

Counselling for work-related pressure can draw on several recognised approaches, chosen with you depending on fit and goals. The research compiled for this specific service page was limited and indirect, so the approaches below are described in general terms. No outcome or performance guarantees are made for executive performance counselling, and no service-specific efficacy claims are drawn from the evidence pack, because none were available. Where you would like to read more about a single approach, the linked pages explain it in greater depth.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

What it helps with: Looking at the links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviour around pressure, self-criticism, and difficult work situations.

Evidence summary: CBT is a widely used counselling approach offered more broadly at the clinic. The evidence materials gathered for this service page did not include direct outcome studies on executive performance counselling, so this page does not attach specific research findings to this application.

Limitations: Individual responses vary, and the evidence relevant to this particular service context is limited. You can learn more on the CBT page.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

What it helps with: Working with stress and competing demands while staying connected to what matters to you in your role and your life.

Evidence summary: ACT is an established approach used across other services at the clinic. No direct executive-performance outcome evidence was available in the materials prepared for this page, so no efficacy claim is made here.

Limitations: Fit and response differ from person to person, and service-specific evidence is not available. The ACT page describes it further.

Mindfulness-Based Approaches

What it helps with: Building steadier attention and recovery habits when work pressure makes it hard to switch off.

Evidence summary: Mindfulness-based work is offered more broadly at the clinic. The research compiled for this service did not include direct studies on executive performance counselling, so this page makes no outcome claims for this use.

Limitations: Results vary, and the available evidence for this specific application is limited. More detail is on the Mindfulness Therapy page.

Solution-Focused and Emotional Regulation Work

What it helps with: Setting practical goals, working through difficult conversations, and managing strong reactions during high-pressure periods.

Evidence summary: These are recognised counselling methods used elsewhere at the clinic. No service-specific outcome evidence was available in the evidence pack for executive performance counselling, so no efficacy claim is presented here.

Limitations: Individual outcomes differ, and direct evidence for this service context is not available. The Emotional Regulation page offers more.

What Results to Expect

Progress in counselling is rarely a straight line. Some people notice a shift within a few sessions, while others find that longer-term work suits their goals better. Some people find relief from just 2-3 sessions, and others choose to keep going for a while; both are normal.

Several things shape how the work unfolds, including the nature of what you are dealing with, your current circumstances, and how well you and your therapist fit together. No therapy can guarantee outcomes, and any service that promises a fixed result is overstating what counselling can do.

If the fit does not feel right, that is useful information rather than a failure. Changing therapist or adjusting the approach is always an option, and the admin team can help you do that.

Confidentiality and Privacy

What you share in counselling is kept confidential. Information is not routinely shared with your employer, colleagues, or family without your consent. This matters in particular for people in senior or public-facing roles, and your therapist can talk through privacy with you before you share anything personal.

Confidentiality is supported by Alberta legislation, including the Health Information Act (HIA) and the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA). Clinicians also work within the standards of their applicable professional or certifying bodies, including the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP) for psychologists, the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW) for registered social workers, and the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA) for Certified Canadian Counsellors, as well as applicable codes of ethics.

There are a small number of situations where the law or professional standards require disclosure:

• when there is a risk of serious harm to you or someone else
• when there is suspected abuse or neglect of a child, which is subject to mandatory reporting under Alberta law
• when disclosure is required by a court order

Your clinician will explain these limits clearly during the first session. You are welcome to ask questions about privacy before sharing anything you are unsure about.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to describe everything that is going on at work in detail?

No. You set the pace, and you can start wherever feels manageable. Some people prefer to focus on present-day patterns, like pressure or a recurring conflict, rather than giving a full account of everything at once. You can share more over time, only if and when you choose to.

Is what I share kept private, even in a senior or public-facing role?

Counselling is confidential, and information is not routinely released to an employer or any third party without your consent. There are a few legal exceptions, which are described in the Confidentiality and Privacy section above. Your therapist will walk through these with you before you share anything personal.

How many sessions will I need?

There is no fixed answer. Some people find a few focused sessions are enough, while others prefer longer-term support. Your therapist reviews progress with you regularly, and the plan can change as your needs do.

What if the therapist is not the right fit?

Fit matters, and it is completely reasonable to want a different clinician. The admin team can help you find someone better matched to your goals and style at 780-904-4880. New clients may access their first session at 50% off to help find the right therapeutic fit.

Can I access these sessions online?

Yes. Virtual appointments are available across Alberta, alongside in-person sessions in Edmonton and St. Albert. The same confidentiality standards apply to virtual sessions.

Is this counselling or coaching?

This page describes counselling-based support provided by registered clinicians. Sessions can be practical and goal-oriented, but they are not presented as performance coaching, workplace consulting, or a guaranteed result. If the distinction matters for your situation, you can raise it before booking.

Do I need a referral?

No referral is needed to book counselling. You can use the Match with a Therapist tool, browse Our Therapists, or call the admin team at 780-904-4880.

Meet Your Clinicians

Care at Wholesome Psychology is provided by a range of clinician types, including Registered Psychologists, Registered Provisional Psychologists, Registered Social Workers, Certified Canadian Counsellors, Mental Health Therapists, and Student Therapists. Registered Psychologists and Registered Provisional Psychologists 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 (CCCs) are certified by the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA). Provisional psychologists practise under the supervision of a senior registered psychologist.

Many clinicians have experience supporting professionals with work pressure, leadership strain, communication, and role transitions. You can read individual profiles on the Our Therapists page, use the Match with a Therapist tool to help choose, or call the admin team at 780-904-4880 for guidance.

Taking the Next Step

If a private, structured space for work pressure, leadership strain, or a role transition feels relevant, you can take the next step whenever you are ready. You are welcome to:

• Book a session online
• Match with a therapist
• Call 780-904-4880 or email info@wholesomepsychology.ca
• Read more on the Getting Started page

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

Starting the conversation is enough.

References

• Wholesome Psychology. (2026). Global business context (internal clinic record, last updated March 23, 2026).
• Wholesome Psychology. (2026). Website sitemap dataset (internal clinic record, last updated February 23, 2026).