Group therapy is a facilitated format where several people meet together with a trained clinician around a shared topic, skill area, or process. Wholesome Psychology provides in-person therapy in Edmonton and St. Albert and virtual therapy across Alberta. Registered Psychologists at Wholesome Psychology are registered with the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP). Clinicians practise under the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists. Delivery options: in person at five locations, or virtual across Alberta. Group-specific delivery options need to be confirmed with the clinic.

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You Might Be Wondering Whether Group Therapy Is Right for You

You may be wondering whether you could sit in a room with strangers and say anything true. That is a fair thing to hesitate over. A lot of people who look up group therapy are not sure they want to be seen, and they are also tired of carrying something alone.

Some of what brought you here might be familiar in this way:

• Explaining yourself to people who care about you and still feeling like the words land wrong.
• Being the person others lean on, with no obvious place to put your own weight down.
• Knowing what you are supposed to do differently and not being able to make yourself do it.
• Feeling separate from people even in a full room.

Those patterns tend to make sense once you know what someone has been living with. They are common responses to circumstances that ask a lot of a person, not evidence that something is broken in you. Wondering whether you belong in a group is itself one of the more ordinary reasons people look into groups in the first place.

This page describes what group therapy generally involves, what the research does and does not show, what the format asks of participants, and how privacy works when more than one person is in the room. You may wish to read on and see whether any of it feels relevant to you.

Who We Help

Group therapy may be a reasonable option to explore if you recognize yourself in some of the following:

• You want to work on something specific, such as coping skills, low mood, or how you relate to other people.
• You are curious about hearing from people dealing with something similar.
• You find individual sessions useful but want structure and practice between them.
• Cost is a factor and you want to understand your options across different fee tiers.
• You are looking into support for a family member and want to understand the format before raising it with them.
• You have tried individual therapy before and want a different kind of room.

Group therapy may not be the right starting point if any of the following apply:

• You are in crisis or in immediate danger. Please use the crisis resources below. Group therapy is not an emergency service.
• You need a psychological assessment, a report, or documentation. Psychological assessments are a separate service at Wholesome Psychology and are not part of therapy. You can review the assessment services separately.
• You need a legal or forensic opinion. Therapy is not a legal service, an investigation, or a court process.
• You are currently unsafe at home or with another person. Safety planning usually comes before group participation. The resources below can help you think that through with someone.
• You are not sure a group format fits you. That is a normal thing to be unsure about. A clinician or an admin team member can explain the format and answer practical questions. There is no one format that fits everyone.

If You Need Help Right Now

Wholesome Psychology is not an emergency or crisis service. If you need immediate support, please use one of these instead of waiting for an appointment.

• 911 if there is immediate danger.
• Alberta Mental Health Help Line: 1-877-303-2642, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• 988 Suicide Crisis Helpline: call or text 988, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in Canada.
• Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741.

Wholesome Psychology is not an emergency or crisis service and does not monitor phone or email outside clinic hours.

What Group Therapy Is

Group therapy is a facilitated format in which participants meet around a shared topic, skill area, or process. One or two clinicians guide the group and provide structure, and the members do the work together (CAMH, n.d.). Depending on the group, sessions may include guided discussion, reflection, learning activities, or skills practice.

Groups differ from each other a great deal. Some are open, meaning members can join at various points, and some are closed, with a set start and end date (CAMH, n.d.). Some are built around a shared concern, and others focus on what happens between members in the room. A facilitator can explain a specific group's purpose, expectations, and format before you decide whether to take part.

Here is what group therapy is not. It is not a legal service, an investigative process, or crisis intervention. It does not include a psychological assessment, a diagnosis, or a report, and nothing on this page assesses or diagnoses anyone. Psychological assessments are offered separately at Wholesome Psychology and would need to be arranged on their own.

The pace belongs to you. In a group, you decide how much you share and when. Confidentiality has a particular shape in group settings, and there is a fuller explanation further down this page. Clinicians work within their scope of practice and their regulatory obligations, and they will tell you when something you need falls outside what they can offer.

Signs the Way You Are Coping May Be Wearing Thin

These are experiences people often describe when they start looking into therapy. They are not a checklist, and recognizing yourself here does not mean you have a condition.

• Low mood that sits with you regardless of how the week actually went.
• Doing less than you used to, then feeling worse for having done less.
• Turning down invitations you would once have accepted.
• Sleep that either will not come or does not restore anything.
• Irritability that arrives faster than it used to and lands on people who did not earn it.
• Thoughts that loop, especially at night, and do not resolve into anything useful.
• Tension held in your jaw, shoulders, or stomach that no one else can see.
• Feeling like you are performing being fine, and that the performance is getting expensive.
• A sense that other people manage this more easily than you do.

Experiences like these are common human responses to strain, loss, and circumstances that ask more of a person than they have to give. They are not permanent features of who you are, and they do not mean something is wrong with you at the root. Structured support, whether in a group or one to one, gives these patterns somewhere to be worked on rather than managed alone.

How Therapy Works Here

• Find your therapist. You can use the therapist match tool or read through the Our Therapists profiles. If it is easier to talk it through, the admin team can be reached at 780-904-4880 and can help you narrow things down, including whether a group option is currently running.
• Book your first session. The first appointment covers consent, confidentiality and its limits, and what you are hoping to work on. You do not need to arrive with a clear goal. Working out what the goal is can be the first piece of work.
• Build your plan together. You and your clinician decide together what to focus on and how. If a group format is part of that plan, the facilitator will explain how that particular group runs, what is expected of members, and what the privacy agreement covers.
• Ongoing sessions. Individual sessions are 50 minutes and are usually weekly or bi-weekly, adjusted as things change. Group session length, frequency, and duration vary by program and would be confirmed before you enrol.
• Progress check-ins. Your clinician reviews with you how things are going and whether the approach still fits. Plans change when your needs change.

There is no fixed number of sessions that everyone needs. Therapy here is collaborative, and your voice matters at each stage, including when you want to change direction or stop.

Evidence and Approaches

The approaches below are described using the sources available in the evidence pack for this page. The clinical guideline cited was developed for adults with depression in the United Kingdom, so it describes those treatment pathways rather than every concern a group might address, and it does not describe any specific group at this clinic. Where only public education material is available, no effectiveness claim is made.

Group Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

What it helps with: Noticing unhelpful thought patterns and practising different responses alongside others working on similar goals.

Evidence summary: For adults with less severe depression, the guideline committee reported good evidence for the effectiveness of group CBT and judged it among the more cost effective options (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence [NICE], 2022). The guideline describes it as usually about eight sessions with roughly eight participants, delivered by two practitioners (NICE, 2022). Group CBT is also listed for relapse prevention in people at higher risk (NICE, 2022).

Limitations: This guidance is depression-specific and developed for a United Kingdom health system, so it does not cover every concern. Responses vary between individuals.

Group Behavioural Activation (BA)

What it helps with: Rebuilding routine and activity when low mood has led to withdrawal, inactivity, or doing less than usual.

Evidence summary: The guideline committee reported good evidence for the effectiveness of group behavioural activation for adults with less severe depression and considered it likely to be among the most cost effective options on average (NICE, 2022). It is described as a structured group of about eight sessions focused on the link between what a person does and how they feel (NICE, 2022).

Limitations: Because it does not directly target thoughts and feelings, some people prefer a different approach (NICE, 2022). The supporting evidence is depression-specific and does not extend to every presentation.

Group Mindfulness and Meditation, Including MBCT

What it helps with: Building a different relationship with distressing thoughts and bodily sensations rather than arguing with them.

Evidence summary: The guideline reports some evidence for the effectiveness of group mindfulness and meditation for adults with less severe depression, and lists it as an alternative for people who do not want CBT or behavioural activation (NICE, 2022). Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy is also listed for relapse prevention, usually about eight sessions over two to three months (NICE, 2022).

Limitations: The guideline notes this approach may be difficult for people experiencing intense or highly distressing thoughts, or who find focusing on the body hard, and that it does not directly address relationship or employment stressors (NICE, 2022).

Psychoeducational Groups

What it helps with: Learning about a particular topic and practising concrete coping skills in a structured, time-limited format.

Evidence summary: Canadian patient education material describes psychoeducational groups as more instructor-led and skills-focused, with the therapist taking an active teaching role, and these groups tend to be time-limited and relatively short-term (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health [CAMH], n.d.). One Canadian community example is a licensed course of eight weekly 90-minute sessions built on cognitive behavioural principles (Canadian Mental Health Association [CMHA], 2016).

Limitations: These are public education and program materials rather than outcome research, so they do not establish how well any particular group works. Content and quality vary considerably between programs.

Process-Oriented Groups

What it helps with: Understanding how you relate to other people, using the group itself as the place those patterns become visible.

Evidence summary: Canadian patient education material describes process groups as focused on the interpersonal experience between members, with the weekly agenda typically set by members while therapists facilitate rather than lead (CAMH, n.d.). These groups are described as generally running for at least six months and may be open-ended or time-limited (CAMH, n.d.).

Limitations: This description is educational rather than a review of outcomes, so no effectiveness claim is made here. Speaking openly in front of others can be uncomfortable, and a commitment of that length does not suit everyone.

What Results to Expect

Progress in therapy is rarely a straight line. People often find that some weeks feel like movement and others feel like standing still, and that both can be part of the same piece of work.

The structured group programs described in the guideline above usually run around eight sessions, and mindfulness-based relapse prevention work is described as roughly eight sessions over two to three months (NICE, 2022). Process-oriented groups are described as running considerably longer, generally at least six months (CAMH, n.d.). Those figures describe how those programs are typically delivered. They are not a prediction about you, and no source in the evidence pack for this page supports a claim about how quickly any individual might notice change.

Several things influence how therapy goes:

• What you are working on and how long it has been part of your life.
• What is happening in your circumstances right now, including safety, housing, work, and money.
• Fit between you and the clinician or group.
• How much room you have in your week for the work, including anything between sessions.
• Whether you have support around you outside the therapy room.

No therapy guarantees an outcome, and no one here will tell you otherwise. Outcomes vary, and some people find that a particular format is not what they needed. Fit matters more than most people expect, and changing clinician or approach is always available to you. Saying that a group is not working for you is useful information, not a failure.

Confidentiality and Privacy

What you share in therapy is confidential. Registered Psychologists at Wholesome Psychology are regulated by the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP), and psychologists in Alberta have an ethical and legal responsibility to protect client privacy and confidentiality (CAP, 2026). Practice is guided by the CAP Standards of Practice (CAP, 2023) and the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) Canadian Code of Ethics for Psychologists (CPA, 2017).

Two pieces of Alberta legislation apply to how your information is handled. The Health Information Act (HIA) and the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) are both identified by CAP as privacy legislation that can apply to psychological practice in this province, alongside other federal and provincial statutes (CAP, 2026).

Confidentiality has limits set by law and professional obligation. Information may be disclosed without your consent in circumstances including:

• Risk of serious harm to you or to another person.
• Suspected abuse or neglect of a child, which carries mandatory reporting duties under Alberta legislation such as the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act (CAP, 2018).
• A court order or subpoena directing a psychologist to produce records (CAP, 2018).

Group settings add one more consideration, and it is worth being clear about it. Facilitators can set privacy expectations and hold members to a group agreement, and members are usually expected to keep other participants' identities and the content of sessions private (CAMH, n.d.). What no clinic can do is guarantee what another participant will say or do outside the room. If privacy is a significant concern for you, ask about the group agreement and how confidentiality concerns are handled before you register.

Your clinician will explain these limits during your first session, before you share anything personal. You are welcome to ask questions about privacy first and decide afterwards how much you want to say.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to describe what happened in detail?

No. You decide what you share and when, and that applies in a group as much as in individual sessions. Plenty of useful work happens in the present tense, focused on how something affects your sleep, your relationships, or your ability to get through a week, without a detailed account of the past. If a group has a shared topic, you can participate without narrating your own history. Tell the facilitator what you would rather not discuss and that boundary can be part of your plan.

Is what I share kept private?

Yes, with limits set by law and professional obligation. Clinicians must protect your privacy under Alberta legislation including the Health Information Act and the Personal Information Protection Act, and there are specific circumstances where disclosure is required, such as risk of serious harm, suspected child abuse or neglect, or a court order. In a group, members are expected to keep each other's identities and session content private, though no service can guarantee another participant's conduct outside the room. The confidentiality section above sets this out in more detail, and your clinician will go through it with you at the first session.

How many sessions will I need?

There is no fixed answer, and anyone who gives you a number without knowing you is guessing. Some people work well in short-term structured programs, and the guideline sources describe structured group courses as typically running around eight sessions (NICE, 2022). Others benefit from longer work, and process-oriented groups are usually described as running at least six months (CAMH, n.d.). Progress is reviewed with you as you go, and the plan can change.

What if the therapist is not the right fit?

Then you say so, and something changes. Fit is one of the more practical things that affects how therapy goes, and it is not a comment on you or on the clinician when it is not there. The admin team can help you move to a different clinician at 780-904-4880, and you can also use the therapist match tool to look at other options. New clients may access their first session at 50% off to help find the right therapeutic fit. Ask the admin team whether this applies to a particular group option you are considering.

Can I access therapy online?

Yes. Wholesome Psychology offers virtual sessions across Alberta, and the same confidentiality standards and professional obligations apply as they do in person. Whether a particular group runs virtually depends on the program, and that was not confirmed in the information available for this page. Contact the clinic to ask which delivery formats are currently available.

How is group therapy different from individual therapy?

Individual therapy is one client and one therapist. Group therapy involves several participants with one or two facilitators who guide the process and provide structure (CAMH, n.d.). The structure, topic, level of interaction, and privacy considerations differ from one group to another. No comparison of effectiveness between the two formats is made on this page, because the research capture available for this page did not include the results needed to support one.

Is there a group running right now?

That needs to be confirmed directly. The information available for this page does not include the clinic's current group schedule, eligibility criteria, facilitators, or fees. Call 780-904-4880 or email info@wholesomepsychology.ca to ask what is running, whether an introductory conversation is required, and what the attendance expectations are.

Do I need a referral or a diagnosis?

No referral is needed to book therapy at Wholesome Psychology, and you do not need a diagnosis to start. Some insurance plans ask for particular documentation for reimbursement, so it is worth checking your own plan. If you are specifically looking for a formal diagnosis or a report, that falls under psychological assessment, which is a separate service and is not part of therapy.

Meet Your Clinicians

Wholesome Psychology works with Registered Psychologists, Registered Provisional Psychologists, Registered Social Workers, Certified Canadian Counsellors, Mental Health Therapists, and Student Therapists. Each credential carries a different scope of practice and a different fee tier, and the admin team can explain which is likely to suit what you are looking for.

All psychologists at the clinic are registered with the College of Alberta Psychologists. 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 have completed their graduate training and practise under the supervision of a senior registered psychologist while completing the requirements for full registration. Many clinicians here have training in group facilitation, cognitive behavioural approaches, and related areas, and individual training backgrounds are listed on their profiles.

You can read individual profiles on the Our Therapists page, or use the therapist match tool if you would rather answer a few questions and see suggestions. The admin team is at 780-904-4880 if you would prefer to talk it through with a person. Availability changes, and some clinicians are not accepting new clients at a given time.

Children and Youth

Wholesome Psychology offers counselling for children, adolescents, and young people as well as adults. Clinicians working with younger clients use approaches suited to the child's age and stage, which often means less talking and more doing.

Caregivers are usually part of the picture. Clinicians work with parents and guardians to support the environment a young person returns to between sessions, while being clear with the young person about what is shared and what is not. Confidentiality for minors has its own considerations, and a clinician will explain how it works in your family's situation.

Whether a group option is currently available for children or adolescents needs to be confirmed with the admin team at 780-904-4880.

Taking a Next Step

If group therapy sounds like something worth asking about, here is what is available:

• Book a session online through the clinic booking system.
• Match with a therapist by answering a few questions.
• Call 780-904-4880 to ask about current group options, formats, and fees.
• Email info@wholesomepsychology.ca.
• Read Getting Started with Therapy if you want to know what the first appointment involves before you commit to anything.

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

Starting the conversation is enough.

References

• Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division. (2016). The Living Life to the Full course [Brochure]. https://www.livinglifetothefull.ca
• Canadian Psychological Association. (2017). Canadian code of ethics for psychologists (4th ed.).
• Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. (n.d.). Group therapy. Retrieved September 6, 2026, from https://www.camh.ca
• College of Alberta Psychologists. (2018). Practice guideline: Disclosure of personal or confidential information.
• College of Alberta Psychologists. (2023). Standards of practice.
• College of Alberta Psychologists. (2026). Interpretive guide: Privacy legislation in Alberta (Approved November 24, 2023; revised January 23, 2026).
• Government of Canada. (n.d.). Mental health support: Get help. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/mental-health-services/mental-health-get-help.html
• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (2022). Depression in adults: Treatment and management (NICE Guideline NG222). https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng222