Counselling for autistic adults, teens, and children, and for the families and caregivers supporting them, at Wholesome Psychology. Registered Psychologists and Registered Provisional Psychologists registered with the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP), alongside 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. Practice guided by the College of Alberta Psychologists Standards of Practice (CAP, 2023) and the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists (CPA, 2017). In-person appointments in Edmonton and St. Albert, and virtual appointments across Alberta available.

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You Might Be Wondering Whether Autism Counselling Is Right for You

You may be wondering whether a therapist will spend the hour trying to change how you think, speak, or move through a room. That doubt is a reasonable one to bring with you. Plenty of people arrive having already been told, in one way or another, that the problem is them.

Some of what brings people here is quieter than that. Running out of energy by mid-afternoon after a day of holding yourself in a shape other people find easy to read. Replaying a two-minute conversation for hours, trying to locate the moment it went wrong. Wanting closeness and finding the getting-there part costs more than you have.

Those responses make sense. They are common reactions to environments, workplaces, and expectations that were not built with you in mind, and they are not evidence that something is broken in you. Clinical guidance for autistic adults says much the same thing, describing the social and physical environment as part of the picture rather than a backdrop (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence [NICE], 2021).

If you would like to see what this kind of support actually looks like before deciding anything, the sections below explain how it works, what the research does and does not show, and what it costs. You can read as much or as little as is useful.

Who We Help

This service may be a good fit if you are:

• An autistic adult who wants a space to talk about work, study, relationships, routines, or self-understanding.
• A person who identifies as autistic or is questioning, with or without a formal diagnosis, and wants support with day-to-day concerns.
• An autistic teen or child whose family is looking for counselling support.
• A parent, partner, sibling, or caregiver trying to work out how to support someone and how to look after yourself at the same time.
• Someone who has had therapy before that did not fit, and is willing to try a different approach or a different clinician.
• Someone dealing with anxiety, low mood, burnout, or stress that sits alongside being autistic.

This service may not be the right fit if you need:

• Immediate safety support. Scheduled counselling is not emergency care. Please use the crisis resources below.
• A formal autism assessment or diagnosis. That is a separate service. See the Autism Assessment page or call the administrative team to discuss options.
• Legal, forensic, or court-directed reports. Therapy is not an investigative or legal process, and this page does not describe litigation support services.
• Medication. Psychologists in Alberta do not prescribe. The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) notes that Health Canada has not approved any medication for the treatment of autism itself, and advises speaking with a physician before starting any medication (PHAC, n.d.).
• Occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, or school-based programming. These are delivered by other professionals and are described by PHAC as part of the broader range of autism supports (PHAC, n.d.).

If You Need Help Right Now

Wholesome Psychology is not an emergency or crisis service. Appointments are scheduled in advance and clinicians are not available between sessions. If you or someone you care about is in danger, please use one of these:

• 911 or your nearest emergency department, for immediate danger.
• Alberta Mental Health Help Line: 1-877-303-2642, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741.

What This Service Is

This is talk-based counselling and psychotherapy. You meet with a clinician, usually for 50 minutes, and work on the concerns you decide are worth the time. Sessions can be individual, or can involve family members or a partner when you want that and agree to it.

The word "treatment" in the title refers to therapy for the concerns a person brings, such as anxiety, burnout, family strain, or difficulty at work. It does not mean treating autism as an illness to be removed. Autism spectrum disorder appears in the World Health Organization's ICD-11 within neurodevelopmental disorders, and the classification itself recognizes considerable variation between people (World Health Organization [WHO], 2026). The purpose of counselling here is not to make someone less autistic.

A few boundaries worth stating plainly:

• Therapy here is not a formal autism assessment, and nothing in a counselling session should be read as a diagnosis. Assessment is a distinct service with its own process.
• Therapy is not a legal service, an investigation, or crisis intervention.
• Clinicians work within their scope of practice and their own training. If a concern falls outside that scope, your clinician should say so and discuss referral options with you.
• The pace is set by you. You decide what to raise, what to leave, and when.
• What you share is confidential, with legal limits that your clinician will explain before you share anything personal. The full explanation is further down this page.

Related pages you may find useful: Autism Spectrum Disorder Counselling, Neurodiversity, Family Therapy, Parenting Support, and Online Therapy.

Signs That Everyday Demands May Be Affecting You

These are experiences people often bring to a first session. They are not a checklist for working out whether someone is autistic, and no list on a website can tell you that.

• Flattening out after social contact that other people seem to find easy and even restful.
• Turning a short conversation over for hours afterward, hunting for the part you got wrong.
• Bright light, background noise, crowds, or certain textures making a place hard to stay in.
• Changes to plans or routines costing far more than they seem like they should.
• Holding a version of yourself together all day at work or school, then having nothing left for the people at home.
• Stepping back from people you care about because staying in touch costs more than you can spend.
• Sleep that will not come, headaches, or a stomach that reacts before you have noticed you are under strain.
• Feeling misread often enough that you have stopped trying to explain.
• As a caregiver, running thin, and unsure which door to knock on next.

Recognizing several of these does not mean something is permanently wrong with you or with your family. Many of these patterns shift when the demands change, when support is better matched, or when there is a regular place to think out loud. That is the kind of work counselling is built for.

How Treatment Works Here

• Find your therapist. You can use the Match with a Therapist tool, read profiles on the Our Therapists page, or call the administrative team at 780-904-4880 and describe what you are looking for. Telling them about communication or sensory preferences at this stage is welcome and often saves time later.
• Book your first session. The first appointment covers consent, confidentiality and its limits, and what you would like to work on. You are not expected to arrive with a tidy explanation of yourself.
• Build your plan together. You and your clinician decide the focus. Clinical guidance for working with autistic adults emphasizes partnership, supporting a person's autonomy, and active participation in decisions about care (NICE, 2021).
• Ongoing sessions. Sessions are 50 minutes. Follow-ups are commonly weekly or bi-weekly and can be adjusted as circumstances change. Some people space sessions further apart by choice.
• Progress check-ins. Your clinician reviews with you whether the work is doing anything useful. Goals change, approaches change, and sometimes the conclusion is that a different clinician or a different service would serve you better.

There is no fixed number of sessions and no standard course you have to complete. The Getting Started with Therapy page walks through the process in more detail.

Evidence and Approaches

Below is what the supplied evidence base actually supports, including where it is thin. Approaches are matched to the person and the concern, not applied from a template.

Adapted Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

What it helps with: Anxiety, low mood, and stress that sit alongside being autistic, rather than autism itself.

Evidence summary: Clinical guidance recommends that autistic adults with a co-occurring mental disorder be offered the intervention indicated for that disorder, with delivery adapted rather than the goal changed (NICE, 2021). Suggested adaptations include a more concrete and structured approach, more written and visual material, plain language, and involving a family member or partner if the person agrees (NICE, 2021). The Canadian Psychological Association notes that CBT strategies can help some autistic people manage anxiety or self-regulation (Smith, 2025).

Limitations: This guidance comes from UK adult services and may not transfer evenly to Canadian settings or to children. Individual response varies.

Social Learning and Social Skills Support

What it helps with: Difficulty with social interaction that the person themselves wants to work on.

Evidence summary: Guidance suggests considering a social learning program for autistic adults with identified problems in social interaction, delivered individually where group formats are difficult, and typically including modelling, feedback, discussion, and explicit rules (NICE, 2021). An umbrella review reported suggestive evidence that social skills groups improved social communication and overall autism-related outcomes in school-aged children and adolescents (Gosling et al., 2022).

Limitations: Gosling et al. (2022) graded this as suggestive rather than strong, and few meta-analyses held up in analyses restricted to trials at low risk of detection bias. Some autistic people decline this work, which is a legitimate choice.

Parent-Mediated and Family-Focused Support

What it helps with: Caregivers who want practical ways to support a child and to sustain themselves.

Evidence summary: An umbrella review found suggestive evidence for parent-mediated interventions on at least one outcome in preschool children, and highly suggestive indications of improved disruptive behaviour in early school-aged children (Gosling et al., 2022). The Canadian Psychological Association describes strategies used within a child's daily routines with parents as partners, covering communication, daily living skills, self-regulation, and family support (Smith, 2025). PHAC lists caregiver training among common autism supports (PHAC, n.d.).

Limitations: Reported effects are group averages and say little about any individual family. Programs vary widely in content and intensity.

Structured Skills and Daily Living Support

What it helps with: Practical difficulty with activities of daily living, routines, and transitions.

Evidence summary: Guidance suggests considering a structured and predictable training program based on behavioural principles for autistic adults across the range of intellectual ability who need help with activities of daily living (NICE, 2021). It also suggests structured leisure activity programs, built around the person's own interests, for those who are socially isolated or have restricted social contact (NICE, 2021). PHAC describes behavioural approaches that may address daily routines and independence (PHAC, n.d.).

Limitations: These are service-level recommendations rather than one specific therapy, and some are delivered outside a counselling office. The supplied sources do not report effect sizes for adults.

Anger and Emotion Regulation Support

What it helps with: Anger and frustration that a person finds distressing or that is affecting relationships.

Evidence summary: Guidance recommends offering an anger management intervention, adjusted to the needs of autistic adults, where anger and aggression have been identified (NICE, 2021). These typically include functional analysis of anger-provoking situations, coping-skills training and behaviour rehearsal, relaxation training, and problem-solving skills (NICE, 2021). Guidance also advises first addressing physical health and environmental factors that may be triggering or maintaining the behaviour (NICE, 2021).

Limitations: The recommendation covers autistic adults without a learning disability or with a mild to moderate one, so it may not apply to everyone. The supplied material does not report effect sizes.

What Results to Expect

No therapy guarantees an outcome, and nobody can tell you in advance how this will go for you. What the supplied research supports is that several psychosocial approaches show promise, and that better-designed trials are still needed before anyone can describe their effects with confidence (Gosling et al., 2022).

Progress is rarely a straight line. Some weeks move, some sit still, and a hard week after a good stretch is not a sign the work has failed.

Several things shape how it goes:

• What you are working on, and how long it has been part of your life.
• What is happening around you right now, including work, school, housing, and money.
• Whether the environments you spend your time in can be adjusted at all.
• Whether other conditions are in the picture alongside autism.
• How well you and your clinician work together.

That last one matters more than people expect. Some people arrive with one focused concern and find a small number of sessions useful. Others want a longer working relationship and return to it over years. Both are ordinary. You are not committing to a set course by booking once.

The Canadian Psychological Association notes that long-term outcomes for autistic people vary considerably, and that access to appropriate support is one of the factors involved (Smith, 2025). If the fit is not working, changing clinician or approach is always available and does not require an explanation you find uncomfortable to give.

Confidentiality and Privacy

What you say in session stays in session, within limits set by law and by professional regulation. Your clinician will go through those limits with you at the start, before you share anything personal, and you can ask questions about any of it first.

Who regulates this. Psychologists at Wholesome Psychology are registered with the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP) and practise under the CAP Standards of Practice (CAP, 2023). Practice is also informed by the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists (CPA, 2017). Registered Social Workers are regulated by the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW). Canadian Certified Counsellors (CCCs) are certified by the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA). Other clinicians practise under their own regulatory or certifying bodies.

Which laws apply. Two pieces of Alberta legislation are relevant. The Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) generally applies to psychologists working in private practice. The Health Information Act (HIA) applies to health custodians, and a psychologist employed or contracted by a custodian is considered an affiliate with obligations under it. CAP publishes an interpretive guide on how these two laws apply to regulated members (CAP, 2026).

Legal exceptions to confidentiality. A clinician may disclose information without your consent in a limited set of circumstances:

• Where there are reasonable and probable grounds to believe disclosure is necessary to prevent imminent and grave harm to you, to another person's health or safety, or to public safety (CAP, 2023).
• Where there is suspected abuse or neglect of a child, which carries a reporting duty under Alberta law.
• Where disclosure is required by a court order or by federal or provincial law (CAP, 2023).

Where disclosure is necessary, it is limited to the people who reasonably need to know and to what is needed in the circumstances (CAP, 2023). Two situations deserve a specific note. When more than one person is in the room, such as a family or a couple, confidentiality is discussed with everyone at the outset and all clients consent to the terms. When the client is a minor with a guardian, the clinician clarifies at the start what the law says about the young person's right to confidentiality.

This section describes general professional and legal obligations. It is not legal advice, and how it applies depends on the circumstances. Your clinician is the right person to ask about your own situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to explain my whole history in the first session?

No. You set the pace and choose what to raise. Some people want to give background early because it helps them feel understood. Others would rather start with what is happening this week and leave history alone for now, which is a workable place to begin.

If a question does not sit right, you can say so or leave it, and your clinician should adjust. Written notes, a prepared list, or typing instead of speaking are all fine if that makes the session easier.

Is what I share kept private?

Yes, within the legal limits described in the confidentiality section above. Your clinician will go through those limits at the start of your first session, before you share anything personal. In short, information may be disclosed without consent where there are reasonable and probable grounds to believe it is needed to prevent imminent and grave harm, where child abuse or neglect is suspected, or where a court order or law requires it (CAP, 2023).

How many sessions will I need?

There is no fixed answer, and anyone who gives you a firm number without knowing you is guessing. Some people come with one specific concern and find a small number of sessions enough. Others prefer ongoing support and stay longer, sometimes returning at different points in life. Follow-ups are commonly weekly or bi-weekly and can be spaced differently to suit you. Your clinician reviews progress with you regularly so the plan can change as your needs do.

What if the therapist is not the right fit?

Fit matters, and it is not a personal failure on anyone's part when it is not there. You can tell your clinician directly, or you can call the administrative team at 780-904-4880 and ask to be matched with someone else. You do not owe anyone a detailed reason. The Match with a Therapist tool and the Our Therapists profiles can help you narrow the options before you try again. 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 across Alberta, and the same confidentiality standards apply as they do in person. For some people video is easier than a waiting room, a commute, and an unfamiliar building. For others it is harder.

You can switch between formats if your clinician offers both. If you have preferences about cameras, lighting, or how sessions are structured, raise them early.

Do I need a diagnosis before booking counselling?

No. You can book counselling whether you are formally diagnosed, waiting for an assessment, or exploring the question without any intention of pursuing one. Sessions focus on the concerns you bring rather than on establishing a label. If you decide you do want an assessment, that is a separate service and the administrative team can explain the difference.

Do you provide autism assessments or diagnoses on this service?

No. This page describes counselling and psychotherapy only. Nothing said in a counselling session constitutes a diagnosis. Autism assessment is a distinct service with its own process and clinicians, described on the Autism Assessment page.

Diagnosis is made by an experienced clinician using in-depth developmental information and direct observation, and there is no medical test for autism (Smith, 2025). Call 780-904-4880 if you are unsure which service you are looking for.

Can a parent, partner, or support person come with me?

Often, yes, if that is what you want. Clinical guidance for autistic adults includes involving a family member, partner, or carer to support an intervention where the person agrees to it (NICE, 2021). When more than one person takes part, confidentiality and how information is handled are discussed with everyone before the work begins, and all clients consent to those terms (CAP, 2023). Mention it when you book so the session can be set up properly.

Meet Your Clinicians

Wholesome Psychology's team includes Registered Psychologists, Registered Provisional Psychologists, Registered Social Workers, Canadian Certified Counsellors, Mental Health Therapists, and master's level practicum students. 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). Canadian Certified Counsellors (CCCs) are certified by the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA).

Clinicians work within their own training and scope of practice. Experience with autistic clients, neurodivergent adults, families, and caregivers varies from clinician to clinician, so the most reliable way to find someone suited to what you are looking for is to ask. The administrative team at 780-904-4880 can tell you who currently has relevant training and who is accepting new clients.

You can also read individual profiles on the Our Therapists page, or use the Match with a Therapist tool to narrow things down first.

Children and Youth

Counselling is available for children, adolescents, and young adults, not only for adults. Clinicians working with younger clients use approaches suited to the child's age, communication style, and interests, which may involve less talking and more doing.

Caregivers are usually part of this work. The Canadian Psychological Association describes strategies used within a child's ordinary daily routines with parents as partners, focusing on areas such as communication, daily living skills, self-regulation, and family support (Smith, 2025). PHAC similarly lists training for parents, families, and caregivers among common autism supports (PHAC, n.d.).

Where a minor has a guardian, the clinician explains at the outset what the law says about the young person's right to confidentiality, so that everyone understands the terms before the work starts. Families looking for broader support may also find the Parenting Support and Family Therapy pages useful.

Taking a Next Step

If you would like to go further, here are the ways in:

• Book a session online through our booking system.
• Match with a therapist if you would rather narrow the options first.
• Call the administrative team at 780-904-4880 with questions about fit, fees, or availability.
• Email info@wholesomepsychology.ca.
• Read the Getting Started with Therapy page to see what the process involves.

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

Starting the conversation is enough.

References

• College of Alberta Psychologists. (2023). Standards of practice (May 31, 2023).
• College of Alberta Psychologists. (2026). Interpretive guide: Privacy legislation in Alberta (January 23, 2026).
• Canadian Psychological Association. (2017). Canadian code of ethics for psychologists (4th ed.).
• Gosling, C. J., Cartigny, A., Mellier, B. C., Solanes, A., Radua, J., & Delorme, R. (2022). Efficacy of psychosocial interventions for autism spectrum disorder: An umbrella review. Molecular Psychiatry, 27, 3647-3656. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-022-01670-z
• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (2021). Autism spectrum disorder in adults: Diagnosis and management (Clinical guideline CG142; published June 27, 2012, last updated June 14, 2021). https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg142
• Public Health Agency of Canada. (n.d.). Autism: Supports and services. Canada.ca.
• Smith, I. M. (2025). Psychology works fact sheet: Autism spectrum disorder (rev. October 2025). Canadian Psychological Association. https://cpa.ca/psychologyfactsheets
• World Health Organization. (2026). ICD-11 for mortality and morbidity statistics (2026-01 release): 6A02 Autism spectrum disorder.