Respectful, client-centred counselling for the emotional and relational side of sexual concerns, offered in Edmonton and St. Albert and virtually across Alberta. Care is provided by regulated clinicians, including psychologists registered with the College of Alberta Psychologists. Sessions are available in person at four locations and online across Alberta. You can begin on your own or include a partner if that fits your goals.

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You Might Be Wondering Whether Counselling for Sexual Concerns Is Right for You

You may be unsure whether what you are noticing is a real problem or just something you are supposed to live with. Maybe desire has shifted, or sex has started to feel uncomfortable, or closeness with a partner feels harder to reach than it used to. It can be difficult to know whether this belongs in a therapy room at all, or whether it is too private, too small, or too embarrassing to bring up.

Some people recognize themselves in patterns like these: quietly avoiding intimacy and hoping no one notices, going through the motions while feeling distant, or carrying a low-level worry about their body that does not lift. Others feel a kind of grief that a part of their life looks different than they expected.

These reactions are common responses to a tender area of life, not signs that something is broken about you. Sexual wellbeing is shaped by stress, health, relationships, history, and many other things, and it can change over time. Having questions about it does not mean you have a diagnosis or that you have done anything wrong.

If you are weighing whether speaking with someone could help, you may wish to read on and see what this kind of counselling involves. You can decide at your own pace whether it feels relevant to you.

Who This Service May Help

People come to this kind of counselling for many reasons. It may be a good fit if you are:

• noticing changes in sexual interest or arousal and want a space to talk it through
• experiencing pain or discomfort connected with sexual activity or intimacy and want emotional and relational support alongside any medical care
• worried about orgasm or about how your body responds
• feeling anxious, self-conscious, or avoidant around sex or closeness
• navigating intimacy or communication strain with a partner
• gathering information for yourself or for someone you care about

This service may not be the right starting point if:

• you are in immediate danger or crisis. Please use the resources below or call 911.
• you need a forensic, legal, or court-related evaluation. Therapy is not a legal or investigative service, and psychological assessments are a separate service at this clinic.
• you are seeking a medical diagnosis or treatment for a physical symptom. Counselling can support the emotional side of a concern, and your physician or another health provider may also be involved.

If You Need Help Right Now

Wholesome Psychology offers scheduled, non-emergency counselling. If you are in crisis or need urgent care, please reach out to one of these services first:

• 911 for immediate danger or a medical emergency.
• Alberta Mental Health Help Line: 1-877-303-2642 (24/7).
• Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741.
• If you have experienced a recent sexual assault or injury, going to your nearest emergency department or contacting a local sexual assault response service can connect you with urgent medical care.

Wholesome Psychology is not an emergency or crisis service.

What This Service Is

Counselling for sexual concerns is talk-based psychological support. It offers a calm, private, and nonjudgmental space to talk about what you have been noticing and what kind of support might help (Cleveland Clinic, n.d.). The international classification of conditions related to sexual health recognizes a broad range of concern areas, including changes in interest or arousal, orgasm concerns, and sexual pain (WHO, n.d.), so there is no single experience that does or does not belong here.

This service is not a legal service, an investigative process, or a crisis intervention. It is also not a psychological assessment. Assessments, including assessment of sexual functioning, are offered separately and are not part of this counselling service. Counselling does not assume one cause or one solution for what you are experiencing.

The pace is set by you, not by your therapist. You decide how much to share and when. What you discuss is treated as confidential, within the limits explained later on this page, and your clinician works within their professional scope of practice. When a concern may have a physical component, counselling can be one part of support alongside medical care rather than a replacement for it.

Signs Sexual Concerns May Be Affecting You

People notice these experiences in different ways. You may recognize some of the following patterns:

• less interest in sex than you would like, or interest that feels like it has faded
• difficulty becoming or staying aroused
• discomfort or pain connected with intimacy
• worry or frustration about orgasm
• avoiding closeness, or feeling tense when intimacy comes up
• feeling distant from a partner, or finding these conversations hard to start
• self-consciousness about your body during intimate moments
• sadness, embarrassment, or pressure that follows you outside the bedroom

Experiences like these are common, and having them does not mean something is permanently wrong with you. They are patterns that many people bring to counselling, and structured support can give you a place to understand them and decide what you want to do next.

How Counselling Works Here

• Find your therapist. You can review clinician profiles on the Our Therapists page, use the Match with a Therapist tool, or call the admin team at 780-904-4880 for guidance.
• Book your first session. The first session is a chance to talk about what brings you in and what you are looking for. Your clinician reviews confidentiality and consent, and you begin discussing goals together. You set the pace.
• Build your plan together. You and your therapist co-create a plan that reflects your goals, your comfort, and your situation. Nothing is imposed on you.
• Ongoing sessions. Sessions are 50 minutes and usually weekly or bi-weekly, and the frequency can be adjusted as your needs change.
• Progress check-ins. Your therapist reviews how things are going with you and adapts the plan over time.

There is no fixed number of sessions. The work is collaborative, and your voice matters at every stage. You can begin individually, and a partner can be included later if that suits your goals.

Approaches and What the Research Can and Cannot Tell Us

The research available for this specific topic is limited, so the descriptions below focus on what these approaches involve and stay cautious about outcomes. Your therapist will discuss which approach, or combination of approaches, may suit you.

Supportive Sex Therapy (Talk-Based Counselling)

What it helps with: The emotional and relational sides of sexual concerns, in a respectful and nonjudgmental setting.

Evidence summary: Educational resources from clinical sources describe sex therapists as licensed professionals who provide talk-based support for the mental and emotional aspects of sexual concerns, for individuals or for partners together (Cleveland Clinic, n.d.). This describes the role of counselling rather than measuring outcomes.

Limitations: This is an educational explainer, not outcome research, so it cannot tell us how well counselling works or how much change to expect. Individual responses vary.

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Approaches With Sex Education

What it helps with: Concerns related to sexual interest or arousal, by combining attention and awareness skills with information about sexual response.

Evidence summary: A clinical trial record indexed in the research literature shows that group mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and supportive sex education have been studied for women with interest or arousal concerns (PubMed, n.d.). Because reliable results were not available in the source reviewed, no claim is made here about effectiveness.

Limitations: Only a study record was available, without verified outcome data, so this approach should be understood as researched rather than proven for any individual.

Relationship and Communication-Focused Counselling

What it helps with: Intimacy strain, difficult conversations, and the relational patterns that can surround sexual concerns.

Evidence summary: Counselling for sexual concerns can focus on communication, boundaries, expectations, and the emotional impact of these concerns on a relationship, and it can be offered individually or with a partner (Cleveland Clinic, n.d.).

Limitations: This describes what sessions may focus on rather than guaranteed results, and what helps one person or couple may differ from what helps another.

What Results to Expect

Change in this area is rarely a straight line. Some people find relief from just 2-3 sessions, while others choose longer-term work, and progress can move at different speeds at different times.

Several things shape how counselling unfolds, including the nature of your concerns, your current circumstances, your health, and the fit between you and your therapist. No therapy can guarantee a particular outcome, and outcomes vary from person to person.

Therapeutic fit matters. If an approach or a clinician does not feel right, changing approach or changing therapist is always an option, and the admin team can help you with that.

Confidentiality and Privacy

What you share in counselling is treated as confidential. Psychologists follow the standards of the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP) and the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) Code of Ethics. Certified Canadian Counsellors (CCCs) are regulated by the Canadian Counselling and Psychological Association (CCPA), and Registered Social Workers are regulated by the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW). Clinicians also follow applicable Alberta privacy legislation, including the Health Information Act (HIA) and the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA).

There are a small number of legal limits to confidentiality. Your clinician may be required to act when there is:

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

Your clinician will explain these limits clearly at the start of your first session. You are welcome to ask questions about how your privacy is protected before you share anything personal. The Canadian Psychological Association has also published professional resources relevant to female sexual health concerns (CPA, 2019).

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to describe what happened or what I do in detail?

No. You decide how much to share and when. Counselling can work with present-day patterns, feelings, and goals without requiring you to give explicit detail. Your therapist follows your pace, and you can leave anything aside that you are not ready to talk about.

Is what I share kept private?

Yes, within clear limits. Your therapist explains confidentiality and its exceptions at the start of services. The limits are summarized in the Confidentiality and Privacy section above, and you are welcome to ask questions before sharing anything personal.

How many sessions will I need?

There is no fixed answer. Some people benefit from short-term work, and others prefer longer-term support. Your therapist reviews progress with you regularly, and you can adjust the plan as your needs change.

What if the therapist is not the right fit?

Fit matters in this kind of work. If a clinician does not feel right for you, the admin team can help you find a different therapist, and you can use the Match with a Therapist tool to explore options. New clients may access their first session at 50% off to help find the right therapeutic fit.

Can I access counselling online?

Yes. Virtual sessions are available across Alberta, and the same confidentiality standards apply to online sessions as to in-person ones. Many people find virtual counselling a comfortable and private way to talk about sensitive topics.

Can I come on my own, or do I need to bring a partner?

You can begin on your own. Some people prefer individual sessions, and others want to include a partner. Either format can be discussed based on your comfort, privacy, and goals, and partner participation can be added later if it feels helpful.

Can counselling still help if pain or physical symptoms are part of the concern?

It can support the emotional, relational, and communication sides of a concern. If pain, bleeding, injury, or other physical symptoms are involved, a medical assessment may also be important, and your physician or another health provider can help with that part of your care.

What if I am still in an unsafe or coercive situation?

Your safety comes first. If you are in immediate danger, please call 911. For confidential support and information about family violence in Alberta, you can contact the Family Violence Info Line at 310-1818, which is free and available 24/7. Counselling can be part of support once you are safe.

Meet Your Clinicians

Care at Wholesome Psychology is provided by a range of regulated and supervised clinicians, including 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. Certified Canadian Counsellors (CCCs) are regulated by the Canadian Counselling and Psychological Association (CCPA), and Registered Social Workers are regulated by the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW). Registered Provisional Psychologists practise under the supervision of a senior registered psychologist.

Many clinicians have training relevant to sexual health, intimacy, and relationship concerns, and the team takes a collaborative, nonjudgmental, and inclusive approach. You can read individual profiles on the Our Therapists page, use the Match with a Therapist tool to find a good fit, or call the admin team at 780-904-4880 for guidance.

Taking the Next Step

If you would like to explore support, there are a few gentle ways to begin:

• Book a session online
• Match with a therapist
• Call 780-904-4880
• 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

• Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). Sex therapy: What it is and how it can help. Cleveland Clinic.
• World Health Organization. (n.d.). International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision (ICD-11): Conditions related to sexual health. World Health Organization.
• PubMed. (n.d.). Trial record: Group mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and supportive sex education or therapy for women with sexual interest or arousal concerns. National Library of Medicine, PubMed.
• Statistics Canada. (n.d.). Canadian Sexual and Reproductive Health Survey. Statistics Canada.
• Canadian Psychological Association. (2019). Resource related to female sexual health concerns. Canadian Psychological Association.