A private, steady place to talk about self-harm at your own pace, with counsellors in Edmonton, St. Albert, and online across Alberta. Registered Psychologists regulated by the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP). Psychologists, social workers regulated by the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW), counsellors (CCCs) certified by the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA), and therapists on one team. In person at five Edmonton and St. Albert locations, or virtual anywhere in Alberta. 50-minute sessions, with daytime, evening, and weekend hours available.

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You Might Be Wondering Whether Self-Harm Counselling Is Right for You

You may not be sure whether what you are doing counts as self-harm, or whether it is serious enough to talk to anyone about. You might worry that a counsellor will panic, judge you, or decide things about you before you have finished a sentence. You may also wonder whether you have to be ready to stop before you are allowed to ask for help.

Maybe you have noticed a pattern. Things build up until hurting yourself feels like the only way through the moment. Afterward there can be a brief sense of relief, then shame, or a quiet promise that this time was the last. You may find yourself planning around who might notice, or keeping people at a distance so you do not have to explain.

These patterns are human responses to pain that has been hard to carry. They do not mean you are broken, dramatic, or beyond help. Wanting to keep it private makes sense too, especially if you are worried about how others will react.

If you are trying to work out whether talking with someone could help, this page explains what self-harm counselling involves, what it does not involve, and how privacy works. If you are here because you are worried about someone else, much of it applies to you as well. There is also a section near the end for parents and caregivers.

Who We Help

Self-harm counselling may be a good fit if you:

• have hurt yourself recently or in the past, whether once or many times
• have urges to self-harm, even if you have not acted on them
• are not sure what to call what you are doing and want to talk it through
• want to understand what tends to happen before and after, and explore other ways through hard moments
• have stopped and want a place to talk about staying well
• are a parent, partner, or family member who is worried about someone and wants guidance

This service may not be the right fit, or not the right fit yet, if:

• you are in immediate danger or need urgent medical care. Please use the crisis resources below.
• you have an injury or physical health concern that needs treatment. Counselling does not replace a physician, walk-in clinic, or emergency department.
• you need a court report, legal opinion, or other forensic service. These needs are outside this therapy service, and psychological assessments are offered as a separate service.
• you need more support than scheduled weekly or bi-weekly sessions can offer. Your counsellor can talk with you about other levels of care.

If You Need Help Right Now

Counselling appointments are scheduled support and are not set up for emergencies. Please do not use online booking, email, or the clinic phone line for urgent help.

• 911 or your nearest emergency department if you are in immediate danger, have a serious injury, or need urgent medical help
• 9-8-8: in Canada, call or text 9-8-8 for suicide crisis support
• Alberta Mental Health Help Line: 1-877-303-2642 (24/7)
• Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741

Wholesome Psychology is not an emergency or crisis service.

What Self-Harm Counselling Is, and What It Is Not

Self-harm counselling is regular, scheduled talk therapy with a trained clinician. It gives you a confidential place to talk about self-harm, what tends to surround it, and what you would like to be different. You do not need a diagnosis to start. You also do not need to have stopped, or to have a plan to stop.

You set the pace. Your counsellor will not push you to describe more than you are ready to, and you can decide what to focus on first.

Self-harm counselling is not:

• crisis intervention or an emergency service
• medical care for injuries
• a legal service or an investigative process
• a psychological assessment. Assessments are a separate service at Wholesome Psychology.

Each clinician works within the scope of practice set by their regulatory body and their own training. If your needs fall outside what outpatient counselling can safely offer, your counsellor will tell you and help you think through other options.

What you share is kept confidential, with a small number of legal limits. Those limits are explained in the confidentiality section below and again in your first session.

Signs Self-Harm May Be Affecting You

You do not need to recognize yourself in every item here. You might notice some of the following:

• urges to hurt yourself when emotions feel too big, too fast, or hard to name
• a short-lived sense of relief or calm, followed by guilt, shame, or worry
• feeling numb or cut off from yourself or the people around you
• spending energy hiding injuries or planning around who might see
• pulling back from friends, family, or activities so you do not have to explain
• harsh thoughts about yourself that get louder after a hard day
• telling yourself it will be the last time, then finding that promise hard to keep
• trouble sleeping, focusing, or getting through work or school afterward

Having some of these experiences does not mean something is permanently wrong with you. They are common reactions to pain that has felt hard to manage, and structured support may help you understand them and respond in new ways. Self-harm also does not automatically mean a person wants to end their life. That is one reason a counsellor will ask about safety directly instead of guessing.

In Canada, self-harm is reported on as its own public health topic, separate from suicide deaths and other suicide-related behaviours (Public Health Agency of Canada [PHAC], 2026). Put simply, it is recognized as something that deserves care in its own right. If thoughts of suicide are part of what you are carrying, you can also read about counselling for suicidal thoughts.

How Self-Harm Counselling Works Here

• Find your therapist. You can use the Match with a Therapist tool or read clinician profiles on Our Therapists. If you would rather talk it through, the admin team can help at 780-904-4880.
• Book your first session. Your first appointment is a chance to meet your counsellor and see how it feels to talk with them. Together you will go over consent, confidentiality and its limits, and what you hope to get from counselling. You do not have to share details about self-harm before you are ready.
• Build your plan together. You and your counsellor decide what to focus on. That might include noticing what tends to happen before an urge, what helps in hard moments, and who in your life could be part of your support.
• Ongoing sessions. Sessions are 50 minutes, usually weekly or every two weeks. How often you meet can change as your needs change.
• Progress check-ins. Your counsellor will check in with you regularly about what is helping and what is not. The plan can change at any point.

There is no fixed number of sessions. Counselling is a collaboration, and your voice matters at every stage. You can find more detail on the Getting Started with Therapy page.

Evidence and Approaches

The research sources reviewed for this page support general principles of care for self-harm. They do not report results for specific named therapies, so this page does not compare them. Your counsellor may also draw on methods from their own training, such as dialectical behaviour therapy or work on emotional regulation, and can explain why they suggest them.

Respectful, Individualized Care

What it helps with: Creating a space where you can talk about self-harm without being judged, rushed, or reduced to a label.

Evidence summary: A self-harm guideline from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) supports a respectful, individualized approach to people who have self-harmed (NICE, 2022). In practice, this means care is shaped around the person's own needs and circumstances rather than one standard response (NICE, 2022).

Limitations: NICE is a UK guideline, so some recommendations may not map directly onto Alberta services. The sources reviewed do not measure how much this approach changes outcomes on its own.

Direct, Calm Conversations About Safety

What it helps with: Understanding your current safety needs without assumptions about what self-harm means for you.

Evidence summary: NICE guidance gives attention to a person's immediate safety needs as part of self-harm care (NICE, 2022). Canadian public health reporting treats self-harm separately from suicide deaths and other suicide-related behaviours, which supports asking rather than assuming (PHAC, 2026).

Limitations: Talking about safety is a starting point, not a guarantee of safety, and it does not replace emergency care. Neither source sets out a single correct way to have these conversations in counselling.

Collaborative Work on Patterns, Supports, and Coping

What it helps with: Exploring what tends to come before and after self-harm, and building options for difficult moments.

Evidence summary: The NICE guideline frames self-harm care around understanding a person's situation and managing support over time (NICE, 2022). The Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) encourages people in distress, and those supporting them, to connect with regulated professional help (CPA, 2020).

Limitations: The sources reviewed do not compare specific coping approaches or report how often they reduce self-harm. What helps varies from person to person, so plans are reviewed and adjusted.

What Results to Expect

Progress with self-harm is rarely a straight line. Some people notice small shifts sooner than they expected, while others find that longer-term work suits them better. A hard week, or a return to self-harm after a stretch without it, does not mean counselling has failed or that you have.

Many things can shape how counselling goes, including:

• what is happening in your life right now, such as stress at home, school, or work
• the supports and people you have around you
• what you want from counselling, which can change over time
• how comfortable you feel with your counsellor

No counsellor can promise that self-harm will stop or will not return, and outcomes vary from person to person. What counselling can offer is a consistent place to understand what is happening and try different responses with support. If the fit with your counsellor does not feel right, you can change therapists or try a different approach at any time.

Confidentiality and Privacy

What you share in counselling is confidential. If you are worried that mentioning self-harm will mean someone is automatically contacted, you can ask about that directly before you share anything personal. Your counsellor will answer your questions first.

Psychologists at Wholesome Psychology are regulated by the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP) and follow the Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists from the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA). Your personal information is protected under Alberta privacy law. The Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) generally applies to private clinics, and the Health Information Act (HIA) applies to health information held by custodians within Alberta's health system.

There are a few situations where a clinician may be required or permitted to share information without your consent:

• when there is a serious and immediate risk of harm to you or to someone else
• when there is reason to suspect a child is being abused or neglected, which Alberta law requires to be reported
• when a court orders records or testimony

Even then, only the information needed is shared, and only with the people who need it. Your counsellor will explain these limits clearly in your first session. For young people, they will also explain what may be shared with parents or caregivers. You can ask the admin team how records are stored and who can access them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to describe my self-harm in detail?

No. You decide how much to share and when. Some people talk about specifics early on, while others start with what is happening in their life right now, such as stress, relationships, or how they feel day to day. Your counsellor may ask some questions about safety, and you can always say you are not ready to go further.

Is what I share kept private?

Yes, with a few legal limits. Counselling is confidential, and your information is protected under Alberta privacy law, including PIPA and the HIA where it applies. A clinician may need to share information if there is a serious and immediate risk of harm, suspected abuse or neglect of a child, or a court order. Your counsellor will explain this in your first session, and the confidentiality section above has more detail.

How many sessions will I need?

There is no set number. Some people come for a shorter stretch of focused support, and others find that longer-term counselling suits them better. You and your counsellor will review progress regularly and adjust the plan, including how often you meet.

What if the therapist is not the right fit?

Fit matters, and it is okay to say a counsellor is not the right match. You can tell your counsellor or contact the admin team at 780-904-4880, and they can help you find a different clinician. New clients may access their first session at 50% off to help find the right therapeutic fit.

Can I access self-harm counselling online?

Yes. Virtual sessions are available across Alberta, and the same confidentiality standards apply as in person. It can be a practical option if travel or scheduling makes in-person sessions hard. You can read more about online counselling at Wholesome Psychology.

Will my counsellor assume I am suicidal?

No. Self-harm does not automatically mean a person wants to end their life, and a counsellor will not assume it does. They will ask about your safety directly and calmly because that is part of careful practice, not because they have already made up their mind. If thoughts of suicide are part of what you are going through, you can say so.

I am worried about someone else. Can I get support too?

Yes. Parents, partners, and family members can book counselling for themselves to talk through what they are seeing and how to respond. The CPA notes that helping someone usually means listening, caring, and helping them connect with professional support, not solving their problems for them (CPA, 2020). If the person you are worried about is a child or teen, the section below on children and youth may help.

What if I am not safe right now, or not safe at home?

Please reach out to emergency or crisis support first. Call 911 if you are in immediate danger, or call or text 9-8-8. If someone at home is hurting or threatening you, the Family Violence Info Line (Alberta) is available at 310-1818, 24/7 and toll-free. Counselling can sit alongside these services, but it cannot replace them.

Meet Your Clinicians

The Wholesome Psychology team includes Registered Psychologists, Registered Provisional Psychologists, Registered Social Workers, Canadian Certified Counsellors, Mental Health Therapists, and Student Therapists. All psychologists are registered with the College of Alberta Psychologists. Registered Provisional Psychologists practise under the supervision of a senior registered psychologist. Registered Social Workers are regulated by the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW), and Student Therapists are master's-level practicum students who see clients as part of supervised training.

Clinicians bring different training and experience, and not every clinician works with every concern. The team can help you explore therapist fit and appointment options. You can read individual profiles on Our Therapists, use the Match with a Therapist tool, or call 780-904-4880 for guidance.

Support for Children and Youth

Wholesome Psychology offers counselling for children, teens, and young people. Therapists who work with younger clients use approaches suited to the young person's age and stage of development. You can read more about child and youth counselling and teen mental health support.

If you have found out that your child is self-harming, it is natural to feel scared, upset, or unsure what to say. Clinicians can work with caregivers as well as the young person, so that support at home and support in counselling fit together. Before counselling starts, the counsellor will explain how confidentiality works for your child, including what may and may not be shared with you.

Taking a Next Step

If you would like to talk with someone, you can take the next step in whichever way feels most manageable:

• Book a session online
• Match with a therapist
• Call the admin team at 780-904-4880
• Email info@wholesomepsychology.ca
• Read Getting Started with Therapy

Online booking, email, and the clinic phone line are not for urgent support. If you are not safe right now, call 911, go to the nearest emergency department, or call or text 9-8-8.

Starting the conversation is enough.

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

References

• Canadian Psychological Association. (2020). "Psychology Works" fact sheet: Suicide.
• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (2022). Self-harm: Assessment, management and preventing recurrence.
• Public Health Agency of Canada. (2026). Suicide, self-harm, and suicide-related behaviours in Canada: Key statistics. Health Infobase.