Calm, structured counselling for families when a child's sexual behaviour raises questions about boundaries, safety, or development. Registered psychologists and counsellors. Registered Psychologists are regulated by the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP), and Certified Canadian Counsellors (CCCs) are regulated by the Canadian Counselling and Psychological Association (CCPA). In-person in Edmonton and St. Albert, and virtual across Alberta.

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You Might Be Wondering Whether Counselling Is the Right Step

You may not be sure whether what you are seeing in your child counts as a real concern, or whether you are reading too much into it. Many caregivers sit with that exact uncertainty for a long time before they say anything to anyone. Wondering does not mean you have done something wrong.

Some caregivers describe lying awake replaying a moment and not knowing what it meant. Some hesitate to bring it up because they worry that naming it will make it bigger, or that someone will judge their child or their parenting. Some quietly search for answers late at night and are not ready to talk to a person yet.

These reactions are common. They reflect how much you care and how carefully you are trying to get this right, not a sign that something is broken in you or in your child. A child's behaviour usually makes more sense once it is understood in context, and a single moment rarely tells the whole story.

If you are trying to work out whether talking with someone could help, you may find it useful to read on and see what this kind of support looks like.

Who We Help

This service is a counselling service for children and their caregivers. It may be a good fit when:

• a behaviour is repeated or hard to redirect and you are unsure how to respond
• the situation is creating stress at home, at school, or in childcare
• you have questions about privacy, body boundaries, or body-safety language
• a situation seems to involve secrecy, pressure, or visible distress
• you want help responding in a steady, developmentally informed way
• you are gathering information for your family and are not ready to book yet

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

• Immediate safety concerns. If a child is not safe right now, please use the crisis resources below rather than a routine appointment.
• Legal or forensic needs. Court-ordered evaluations, custody assessments, and forensic reports sit outside this counselling service. Psychological assessments are a separate service.
• Adult-focused programs. If a different service seems more appropriate, that can be discussed as part of next-step planning.

If You Need Help Right Now

Wholesome Psychology is not an emergency or crisis service. If someone is in danger or a child is not safe, please use one of these resources.

• 911 for immediate danger or a medical emergency.
• Alberta Mental Health Help Line: 1-877-303-2642 (24 hours, 7 days a week).
• Family Violence Info Line (Alberta): 310-1818 (24 hours, toll-free).
• Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741.

Wholesome Psychology is not an emergency or crisis service. During a safety crisis, please contact the services above rather than waiting for a scheduled session.

What This Service Is

This is counselling for families when a child's sexual behaviour raises questions or concern. The focus is on understanding the behaviour in context, supporting caregivers, and building safety, boundaries, and communication that fit the child's age and situation. Child sexual behaviour concerns are recognized within child and youth service settings (Ontario Child and Parent Resource Institute [OCPRI], n.d.).

It helps to be clear about what this service is not. It is not a legal service, an investigation, or a crisis intervention. It does not decide who is right or wrong, and it does not predict a child's future.

Because the page title does not include the word "assessment," it is worth saying plainly: formal psychological assessments are a separate service and are not part of this counselling service. If an assessment is ever suggested, that would be discussed openly with you first.

The pace is set by you and your child, not by the therapist. Counselling is private within legal and ethical limits, and those limits are explained in full further down this page. This page is general information and not individualized advice.

Signs Families Sometimes Notice

Families often reach out when they notice patterns they are not sure how to read. These are experiences, not a diagnosis, and noticing them does not label your child.

• a behaviour that repeats even after gentle redirection
• behaviour that seems out of step with a child's age or stage
• questions or actions that involve secrecy or pressure
• confusion about what is private and what is public
• tension, worry, or conflict building at home
• a child who seems distressed, withdrawn, or unusually preoccupied
• uncertainty among caregivers about how to respond consistently
• worry about how to talk about bodies, boundaries, and safety

Noticing some of these patterns does not mean something is permanently wrong, and it does not mean the same thing for every child. Context matters, and structured support can help a family understand what they are seeing and decide what to do next.

How Counselling Works Here

Getting started is a series of small, clear steps.

• Find your therapist. You can use the Match with a Therapist tool or browse Our Therapists. Our admin team can also help by phone at 780-904-4880.
• Book your first session. The first session usually covers confidentiality and consent, questions about your goals, and a conversation about who should be involved in care.
• Build a plan together. You and the therapist shape a plan together. Your knowledge of your child is part of that plan at every stage.
• Ongoing sessions. Follow-up sessions are typically weekly or bi-weekly and can be adjusted as needs change. Sessions are 50 minutes.
• Progress check-ins. The therapist reviews progress with you regularly, and the plan adapts as your family's situation changes.

There is no fixed number of sessions. Depending on the situation, care may involve child-only sessions, caregiver-only sessions, or combined family sessions. The work is collaborative, and your voice matters throughout.

Evidence and Approaches

The evidence base for counselling in this specific area is developing, so the approaches below are described carefully and honestly. No single method is presented as the best or guaranteed approach for every child.

Developmentally Informed, Context-Based Counselling

What it helps with: It helps families and clinicians understand a child's behaviour in the context of age, development, and circumstances, rather than treating it as one fixed problem.

Evidence summary: Clinical guidance recognizes harmful or concerning sexual behaviour in children and young people as a distinct area that calls for careful, structured, and developmentally informed responses (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence [NICE], 2016). A meta-analysis of treatment for child sexual behaviour problems indicates that a body of treatment research exists in this area (St. Amand et al., 2008).

Limitations: These sources confirm that this is a recognized practice area, but in the material reviewed here they do not establish that any single method works best for every child. Individual responses vary.

Caregiver-Involved Support

What it helps with: It supports caregivers to respond calmly and consistently, and to reinforce boundaries, privacy, and body-safety language at home.

Evidence summary: International classification frameworks recognize counselling related to sexuality as a valid reason for contact with health services, including counselling that involves a third party such as a caregiver (World Health Organization [WHO], 2025). This is consistent with a collaborative model in which caregivers may take part in sessions.

Limitations: Classification frameworks describe recognized reasons for care, not how effective any particular approach is. The right level of caregiver involvement depends on the child's age and situation.

Collaborative Safety and Boundary Planning

What it helps with: It focuses on practical routines, supervision, communication, and boundaries that support safety at home, at school, and in other settings.

Evidence summary: Guidance for this practice area emphasizes structured, carefully considered responses rather than one-size-fits-all reactions (NICE, 2016). Planning of this kind is a common part of child-and-caregiver counselling.

Limitations: The specific recommendations within that guidance were not reviewed in full for this page, so this description stays general. Plans are tailored to each family and adjusted over time.

What Results to Expect

Change in this kind of work is usually gradual, and it is not linear. Some families notice small shifts early, and others find that steady, longer-term work fits their situation better.

Some people find relief from just 2-3 sessions, while others benefit from a longer course of support. Several things influence how the work unfolds, including the nature of the situation, what is happening at home and school, and the fit between your family and the therapist.

No therapy can guarantee an outcome, and no page can promise that a specific behaviour will stop. Therapeutic fit matters, and changing therapist or approach is always an option if the current one is not working for you.

Confidentiality and Privacy

What you and your child share in counselling is treated as confidential. Our Registered Psychologists work within the professional standards of the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP) and the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) Code of Ethics, and within Alberta privacy law, including the Health Information Act (HIA) and the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA).

There are limits to confidentiality that apply by law and ethics. A therapist may need to disclose information when:

• there is a risk of serious harm to your child or to someone else
• there is suspected abuse or neglect of a child, which carries a duty to report under Alberta law
• a court orders the release of information

Your clinician 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

Does my child have to describe what happened in detail?

No. The pace is set by your child, not the therapist. Much of the work can focus on present-day patterns, safety, and communication rather than detailed retelling. A child is never required to recount specifics in order to take part.

Is what we share kept private?

Yes, within legal and ethical limits. Confidentiality is reviewed at the first session, including the situations where disclosure may be required for safety or child protection. You can read more in the Confidentiality and Privacy section above.

How many sessions will we need?

There is no fixed answer. Some families benefit from short-term work, and others from longer-term support. Progress is reviewed with you regularly, and the plan adapts as your situation changes.

What if the therapist is not the right fit?

Fit matters, and it is common to try more than one clinician before finding the right match. If a therapist is not the right fit, the admin team can help you find another. New clients may access their first session at 50% off to help find the right therapeutic fit.

Can we access counselling online?

Yes. Virtual sessions are available across Alberta, and the same confidentiality standards apply. Many families use a mix of in-person and virtual sessions depending on what works for their schedule.

What if I am still in an unsafe situation at home?

If anyone is in immediate danger, please use the crisis resources listed earlier on this page rather than a routine booking. Counselling is not a substitute for emergency or child protection services. You can also call the Family Violence Info Line (Alberta) at 310-1818 at any time.

Can I speak with someone before booking my child in?

Yes. Many caregivers start by contacting the admin team at 780-904-4880 to ask questions. You can also use the Match with a Therapist tool or read Getting Started with Therapy before you decide.

Meet Your Clinicians

Wholesome Psychology brings together several credential types, 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 (CAP). Certified Canadian Counsellors (CCCs) are regulated by the Canadian Counselling and Psychological Association (CCPA). 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 of our clinicians have training relevant to children, caregivers, family systems, and sexual behaviour concerns in children. Working within scope of practice, they focus on support, safety, and collaboration rather than diagnosis or legal opinion. You can view individual profiles on the Our Therapists page, use the Match with a Therapist tool, or call the admin team at 780-904-4880 for guidance.

Children and Youth

Wholesome Psychology offers counselling for children, adolescents, and young people. Therapists who work with younger clients use age-appropriate approaches and adjust the pace and format to suit the child.

Because a child's environment shapes their wellbeing, clinicians often work alongside caregivers to support a steady, safe home setting. Related support is described on our Child and Youth Counselling, Parenting Support, and Preparing Children for Therapy pages.

Taking the Next Step

If you would like to explore whether this kind of support fits your family, there are a few gentle ways to begin. You can book a session online, use the Match with a Therapist tool, or read Getting Started with Therapy.

You can also call 780-904-4880 or email info@wholesomepsychology.ca with any questions before you decide. New clients may access their first session at 50% off to help find the right therapeutic fit.

Starting the conversation is enough.

References

• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (2016). Harmful sexual behaviour among children and young people (NICE guideline NG55). https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng55
• St. Amand, A., Bard, D. E., & Silovsky, J. F. (2008). Meta-analysis of treatment for child sexual behavior problems: Practice elements and outcomes. Child Maltreatment, 13(2). https://doi.org/10.1177/1077559508315353
• World Health Organization. (2025). ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics (Version 2025-01): QA15 Counselling related to sexuality. Retrieved from https://icd.who.int/
• Ontario Child and Parent Resource Institute. (n.d.). Sexual behaviour.