Confidential, individual counselling for people who want to talk through how work is affecting their wellbeing. Registered Psychologists regulated by the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP). Counselling also offered by Registered Social Workers regulated by the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW), Canadian Certified Counsellors (CCCs) certified by the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA), Mental Health Therapists, and Student Therapists. In-person sessions in Edmonton and St. Albert. Virtual sessions anywhere in Alberta.

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You Might Be Wondering Whether Workplace Psychological Health and Safety Counselling Is Right for You

You may be asking yourself whether what is happening at work is a real problem, or just part of having a job. Maybe the workload has crept up for months. Maybe one person's comments keep landing hard, and you are not sure if you are being too sensitive. It can be hard to tell when everyday work stress has become something worth paying attention to.

Some people notice it in small ways first. You might replay a meeting on the drive home, or feel a knot in your stomach on Sunday evening. You might check email late at night because falling behind feels worse than not resting. Or you may find yourself bracing before you open a certain message or walk into a certain room.

These reactions make sense when work involves heavy demands, ongoing conflict, or treatment that keeps you on guard. They are common human responses to hard conditions. They do not mean you are weak or failing, and they do not mean something is permanently wrong with you.

Some readers are here for themselves. Others are trying to understand what a partner, friend, or co-worker is going through. If you are considering whether talking with someone could help, the sections below explain what this counselling covers, what it does not, and how it works. You may wish to read on and see whether it fits.

Who We Help

This counselling may be a good fit if you:

• feel worn down by workload, time pressure, or competing demands
• are dealing with conflict with a co-worker, manager, or team
• have experienced bullying, harassment, threats, or other difficult interactions at work
• are going through a role change, a restructuring, worry about losing your job, or a return to work
• find it hard to switch off, or to keep work from spilling into the rest of your life
• are a manager or supervisor feeling the strain of your own role
• want a private place to think through your options before making a decision about your job

This counselling may not be the right fit if you:

• Are in crisis or at immediate risk. Please use the crisis resources below.
• Need a workplace investigation, legal opinion, or help with a formal complaint. These are outside counselling. Your workplace's reporting process, a union representative, or a lawyer may be the right starting point. Counselling can support you personally alongside those processes.
• Need a fitness-for-work opinion, an accommodation decision, or a formal report. These are not part of this counselling. Psychological assessments are a separate service with their own process.
• Are an employer looking for workplace programs, training, or policy review. These are not part of individual counselling. You can contact the admin team to ask whether a separate service or referral is available.
• Have been directed to attend counselling as part of a workplace discipline process. Please contact the admin team first. They can explain what individual counselling can and cannot provide, including what information can be shared.

If You Need Help Right Now

Counselling sessions are booked ahead of time and are not set up to respond to emergencies. If you or someone else is in danger, or you are thinking about ending your life, please reach out now:

• Call 911 for immediate danger
• Alberta Mental Health Help Line: 1-877-303-2642 (24/7)
• 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline: call or text 9-8-8 (24/7)
• Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741

Wholesome Psychology is not an emergency or crisis service.

What Workplace Psychological Health and Safety Counselling Is

This is individual counselling that focuses on how work is affecting you. It gives you a confidential space to talk about the personal impact of work-related concerns, such as stress, conflict, hurtful interactions, or a big change at work. With your therapist, you may explore coping, boundaries, communication, values, role transitions, and the support you have around you.

Workplace psychological health involves both personal experience and the conditions an organization creates. Counselling works with the personal side. It cannot change your workplace's policies, and it cannot make a workplace psychologically safe on its own.

This service is not:

• a legal service or legal opinion
• a workplace investigation, mediation, or human resources process
• a crisis or emergency service
• a fitness-for-work evaluation, or a decision about accommodations, job status, performance, benefits, or insurance
• a psychological assessment, which is a separate service
• a diagnosis. Talking about work-related concerns does not mean you have, or are being given, a diagnosis.

You set the pace. You decide what to talk about, how much to share, and when. What you share is confidential, with some legal limits your therapist will explain at the start (see Confidentiality and Privacy below). Each clinician works within their own training and professional registration, and will tell you if something you need is outside what they can offer.

You may also find these related pages useful: counselling for workplace stress, bullying therapy, workplace trauma counselling, returning to work support, and communication and negotiation counselling.

Signs Work May Be Affecting Your Wellbeing

Statistics Canada tracks three mental health risk factors at work: severe time pressure or work overload, violence or the threat of violence, and harassment or bullying (Statistics Canada, 2022). The Government of Canada also treats psychological health at work as something both employers and workers need to consider (Government of Canada, n.d.). Factors like these can be relevant to wellbeing, though each person responds in their own way.

You might notice:

• dreading the start of the workweek, or feeling your mood drop as a shift gets closer
• replaying conversations, emails, or mistakes long after the workday ends
• feeling tired in a way that a weekend or a holiday does not fix
• getting short with family or friends after work, then feeling bad about it
• pulling away from co-workers, or avoiding certain people or meetings
• trouble focusing, or making decisions you used to handle easily
• lighter or shorter sleep before workdays
• doubting yourself more than you used to, or wondering if you are the problem
• feeling unsure of your footing after a restructuring, a new role, or a return to work

Having some of these experiences does not mean something is permanently wrong with you. They are common reactions to demanding or hurtful situations. Structured, confidential support may help you sort out what is happening and what you want to do next.

How Treatment Works Here

• Find your therapist. Use the therapist Match Tool or browse Our Therapists. If you would like help choosing, call the admin team at 780-904-4880.
• Book your first session. You can book online. In the first session, your therapist will go over confidentiality and its limits, explain informed consent, and ask what you hope to get from counselling. If someone else is paying for or arranging your sessions, this is a good time to ask what, if anything, will be shared with them.
• Build your plan together. You and your therapist agree on goals and a way of working that suits you. Your priorities shape the plan.
• Ongoing sessions. Sessions are 50 minutes, usually weekly or every two weeks. You can adjust how often you come as your needs and schedule change.
• Progress check-ins. Your therapist reviews progress with you regularly. The plan can change as your situation at work or at home changes.

There is no fixed number of sessions. Counselling is a collaboration, and your voice matters at every stage. The Getting Started with Therapy page walks through the intake process in more detail.

Evidence and Approaches

The sources gathered for this page focus on workplace conditions and on how work-related concerns are described. They do not include systematic reviews comparing specific therapy models for workplace concerns. So this section explains what the evidence does and does not show, rather than ranking therapies.

Understanding Workplace Risk Factors

What it helps with: Making sense of how conditions such as heavy workload, conflict, or harassment may connect to how you have been feeling.

Evidence summary: Statistics Canada identifies severe time pressure or work overload, violence or threats of violence, and harassment or bullying as mental health risk factors at work (Statistics Canada, 2022). A systematic meta-review of work-related risk factors suggests that conditions at work can be relevant to common mental health problems ("Can Work Make You Mentally Ill?," n.d.).

Limitations: These sources describe risk across groups of people. They do not show that work caused any one person's difficulties, and they do not test counselling.

Naming Work-Related Concerns Without a Diagnosis

What it helps with: Putting words to concerns such as a job change, strained work relationships, worry about job loss, or burnout, without labelling you.

Evidence summary: The ICD-11 classification from the World Health Organization includes categories for employment conditions, relationships with people at work, unemployment, change of job, job-loss concerns, and burnout (World Health Organization [WHO], n.d.). This supports treating work-related circumstances as real and valid topics in care.

Limitations: These categories describe concerns. They are not treatments, and counselling at this service does not provide a diagnosis.

Personal Support Alongside Workplace Responses

What it helps with: Sorting out which parts of a work situation you can work on personally, and which belong with your employer or other services.

Evidence summary: Guidance on mental wellbeing at work (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence [NICE], n.d.) and a mental health playbook for business leaders (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health [CAMH], n.d.) suggest that workplace wellbeing involves organizational practices as well as individual support.

Limitations: These resources are written mainly for employers, and the NICE guidance comes from the United Kingdom. Counselling alone cannot change workplace conditions.

Client-Centred Counselling for Work-Related Concerns

What it helps with: Working through coping, boundaries, communication, values, and role transitions in a way that fits your goals.

Evidence summary: The evidence gathered for this page does not include reviews testing specific counselling models for workplace concerns. Sessions are guided by your goals and your clinician's training, not by a claim that one approach works best.

Limitations: Because direct evidence was not reviewed here, no specific benefit can be promised. Outcomes vary from person to person.

What Results to Expect

Progress is rarely a straight line. You may have a good stretch, then a hard week after a tense meeting or a setback. Change in how you feel and change at your workplace do not always move together.

Some people notice shifts within a few months. Others benefit from longer-term work, especially when a situation at work is still going on. What happens depends on many things, including:

• the nature of what you have experienced at work
• whether the situation is still happening or has ended
• your current circumstances and support outside work
• the fit between you and your therapist

No therapy can guarantee a particular outcome, and counselling cannot promise changes at your workplace. Fit matters. If a therapist or approach does not feel right, you can change, and the admin team can help you find someone else.

Confidentiality and Privacy

What you share in counselling is confidential. Information about your sessions is not shared with your employer without your consent, except in the limited situations listed below.

Psychologists at Wholesome Psychology are regulated by the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP). They also follow the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists. Other clinicians follow the standards of their own professional bodies.

Alberta privacy law applies as well. As a private clinic, Wholesome Psychology's handling of personal information is generally governed by Alberta's Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA), which places consent at the centre. Alberta's Health Information Act (HIA) governs health information held by health custodians, such as Alberta Health Services, and by professionals working on their behalf. The HIA may apply if part of your care involves one of those organizations.

There are legal exceptions to confidentiality. Your therapist may need to share information when there is:

• a risk of serious harm to yourself or someone else
• suspected abuse or neglect of a child, which must be reported under Alberta law
• a court order

If an employer, benefits plan, employee assistance program, or insurer is arranging or paying for your sessions, ask what they may request. Also ask what needs your written consent before anything is shared.

Your therapist will explain these limits clearly during your 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 at work in detail?

No. You decide how much to share and when. Some people want to talk through specific events. Others prefer to focus on what is happening now, such as how they are sleeping, how they handle a tense meeting, or how to hold a boundary. Both are valid ways to work, and you can change your mind as you go.

Will my employer find out what I talk about?

Not without your consent, except in limited situations the law requires. These include a risk of serious harm, suspected abuse or neglect of a child, and a court order. If a third party is paying for your sessions, ask your therapist what that party may request. The Confidentiality and Privacy section above has more detail.

How many sessions will I need?

There is no set number. Some people come for a short stretch to work through one situation, such as a role change or a hard conversation. Others benefit from longer-term support, especially if things at work are ongoing. You and your therapist review progress regularly and adjust the plan together.

What if the therapist is not the right fit?

Fit matters, and it is okay to try someone else. The admin team at 780-904-4880 can help you find a different clinician, and the Match Tool can help you compare options. New clients may access their first session at 50% off to help find the right therapeutic fit.

Can I have sessions online?

Yes. Virtual sessions are available anywhere in Alberta, and the same confidentiality standards apply as in person. Availability varies by clinician. You can learn more on the online counselling page.

Can my therapist write a note for my employer or decide on accommodations?

Counselling is not a formal occupational, medical, legal, or workplace assessment. It does not decide accommodations, job status, or fitness for work. If you have questions about documentation or third-party forms, raise them with your therapist early so you know what they can and cannot provide. Some questions may need to go to your physician, an occupational health professional, or a lawyer.

What if the situation at work is still happening?

You do not have to wait until it is over to talk with someone. Counselling can support you while a situation is ongoing, including thinking through your options and how you want to respond. It does not replace your workplace's reporting process, a union, or legal advice. If you ever feel unsafe, at work or at home, call 911 or use the crisis resources above.

I am a manager or employer. Can you help my workplace?

This page describes individual counselling. Managers and business owners are welcome to book for their own stress or concerns. Workplace programs, training, consultation, and formal workplace assessments are not part of this service. If you are looking for organizational support, contact the admin team to ask whether a separate service or referral is available.

Meet Your Clinicians

Our 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.

Training and areas of focus vary from clinician to clinician. Each profile on Our Therapists describes that person's experience, and the Match Tool can help you narrow your options. If you would rather talk it through with a person, the admin team at 780-904-4880 can help you find someone whose focus includes work-related concerns. You can also read about our approach.

Children and Youth

Work concerns are not only an adult issue. Teens and young adults in part-time or first jobs can also run into conflict, harassment, or pressure at work. Wholesome Psychology offers counselling for children, adolescents, and young people. Therapists who work with younger clients use age-appropriate approaches. Where it fits, they also work with caregivers to support the young person at home.

Taking a Next Step

If you would like to learn more or get started, you can:

• 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

Starting the conversation is enough.

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

References

• Can work make you mentally ill? A systematic meta-review of work-related risk factors for common mental health problems. (n.d.). PubMed record.
• Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. (n.d.). Mental health playbook for business leaders [PDF].
• Government of Canada. (n.d.). Psychological health in the workplace.
• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (n.d.). Mental wellbeing at work [PDF].
• Statistics Canada. (2022, May 30). Mental health risk factors, 2016.
• World Health Organization. (n.d.). ICD-11 for mortality and morbidity statistics: Employment-related factors section.