• This program is for:

    Individuals and/or families who reside in Alberta who need short-term counselling related to relationships, sexuality, gender and sexual diversity and sexual health.

  • Costs & Fees

    Our counselling services are free of charge.

  • Location

    Centre for Sexuality offices or virtually online or on the phone.

    Arrangements may be made to meet in public or other community locations.

  • Hours & Availability

    9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Friday
    9 a.m. – 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday

  • How to Book

    Book online through our intake form.

  • Contact Us

    Contact Us

Is This An Emergency?

If you’re having a crisis or need to talk with someone right away, Distress Centre, Alberta Health Services Mental Health Help Line and Canada’s Suicide Crisis Helpline (988) offer 24/7 service.

Counselling and Brief Therapy

We believe people have the capacity to make meaningful change when they have the right support, information and space to reflect.

Our counselling sessions provide brief, focused support to help you navigate challenges related to sexual health, gender, sexuality and relationships. Together, we will work on identifying your goals and exploring practical strategies, tools and next steps.

Our services are short-term and targeted, typically lasting 1-5 sessions, and are designed to support present-day concerns, decisions and skill development.

We are not a crisis service. If you need immediate support, please contact the Distress Centre or the Alberta Mental Health Help Line (available 24/7).

Sliding Scale Fees

Cost should never be a barrier to counselling. We are committed to making our services as accessible and barrier-free as possible.

Effective June 1, 2026, counselling sessions are offered on a flexible, pay-what-you-can scale ($0 to $225). This model allows clients who are able to pay more to help sustain our counselling programs and make services more accessible across the community.

We do not require proof of income. Clients may choose a fee from a set of suggested options based on what feels manageable for them. All counselling services are provided with the same level of care, professionalism and confidentiality, regardless of the fee selected.

Youth (18 and under) are not expected to pay any fees. If a youth is receiving support with the involvement of a parent or natural support, a fee may be contributed if they are able and choose to do so.

Sliding Scale Fee Options

Clients may choose from the following suggested fees:

  • $0
  • $25
  • $50
  • $75
  • $100
  • $125
  • $150
  • $175
  • $200
  • $225

Frequently Asked Questions

The suggested fees reflect the real cost of providing counselling, while allowing flexibility so that services remain accessible.

Counselling in private practice typically ranges from $160–$235 for a 50- to 60-minute session. This reflects clinician time, training, supervision, administrative support and organizational overhead.

Our model allows clients to choose an amount that feels manageable for them. When clients are able to contribute at or near the standard rate, they help sustain our counselling programs and support access for others who need reduced-fee options.

No. We do not ask for income verification or financial documentation.

Clients choose the fee that feels appropriate for their current situation. There is no application process or explanation required.

Many extended health benefit plans cover counselling services. Coverage depends on your specific plan and provider. We recommend checking directly with your benefits provider to confirm eligibility and reimbursement details.

We cannot direct bill. Sessions must be paid at the time of service. We can provide a receipt for reimbursement from your benefits plan.

Payment is collected at the time of service through our secure payment system. We accept payment by debit and credit card in person through Square. Clients who attend virtual sessions will be sent an electronic invoice for payment through Square.

For in-person sessions, payment will be collected by another staff member. For online appointments, your counsellor will need to know the payment amount in order to send an invoice for payment.

Book Online

About our Counselling Services

Our approach is client-centred, collaborative, and focused.

  • Brief Therapy Model: We offer short-term therapy designed to help you make progress on a specific concern. Many people find one or two sessions is enough to move forward.
  • Focused and Goal-Oriented: Sessions are centred on what matters most to you right now, whether that is making a decision, learning a new skill, or navigating a current challenge.
  • Psychoeducation & Practical Tools: We combine evidence-based information with practical strategies you can use in your daily life.
  • Strength-Based and Affirming: We recognize your existing strengths and support your capacity to make informed, self-directed choices.
  • Specialized, Affirming Care for 2SLGBTQ+ Communities: We provide inclusive, gender-affirming and culturally responsive support, with flexibility to meet the needs of communities who face barriers to accessing care.

Sessions are 60 minutes and provided by a registered social worker (MSW).

Our services are best suited for focused, present-day concerns where brief support can make a meaningful difference. Our model works best if you are:

  • Looking for short-term support rather than ongoing therapy
  • Wanting help with a specific issue or decision
  • Open to trying new strategies or perspectives
  • Seeking affirming, non-judgmental support related to sexuality gender, or relationships

We support individuals and families in Alberta who are looking for help with a specific, current concern related to:

  • Gender, Sexuality, and Identity: Identity exploration; coming out; support for transgender, non-binary and gender diverse individuals; support for parents, caregivers or family members
  • Relationships (Focused Support): Setting and maintaining boundaries; consent and communication; navigating a specific relationship challenge; making relationship decisions (e.g., staying, leaving, disclosure)
  • Sexual Health: STBBI information and support; pregnancy options counselling (parenting, adoption, abortion); post-abortion support

Consent for counselling services

Children aged 13 and under need permission from a parent or caregiver to access our services.

Youth aged 14 to 17 may be able to give their own consent, depending on their situation. We may assess whether a youth is able to make this decision on their own. This is called being a “mature minor.”

A mature minor is a young person who understands what counselling is for, possible benefits and risks and the impact of their choices about participating. If a youth shows they understand these things, they may be able to access counselling without parental or caregiver permission. At Centre for Sexuality, we may complete this assessment for youth aged 14 to 17 to see if they meet the criteria for giving their own consent. When it is safe and appropriate to do so, we also encourage youth to involve parents and/or a trusted adults when accessing counselling.

To ensure we can offer accessible, timely support to as many people as possible, we do not provide:

  • Long-Term or Ongoing Therapy: Our services are brief and not designed for ongoing, long-term counselling.
  • Trauma-Specific Therapy: Healing from trauma often requires longer-term, specialized support. If trauma is impacting your current situation, we can support you in the moment and help connect you to appropriate longer-term services. Contact our Information Specialist for help.
  • Sexual Difficulties / Sexual Dysfunction Therapy: We do not provide therapy for ongoing or complex sexual difficulties or sexual dysfunction (e.g., concerns related to addiction, arousal, desire, pain or performance that require specialized or ongoing treatment). Support for sexual functioning concerns often involves longer-term, specialized therapy that goes beyond the scope of our brief, focused model.
  • Support for Long-Standing or Complex Mental Health Concerns: We are not able to provide treatment for chronic or pervasive mental health challenges or long-standing relationship/attachment patterns requiring ongoing therapy.
  • Crisis Services: We are not a crisis service. If you need immediate help, please contact the Distress Centre or the Alberta Mental Health Help Line.
  • Conversion Therapy: We do not offer or support any form of conversion therapy. Our approach is affirming, feminist, and grounded in self-determination.

If you are looking for more information about our programming for boys involved in the justice system, please check out our WiseGuyz Criminal Justice program.

If your needs fall outside of our scope, we will work with you to connect you to appropriate, longer-term or specialized services.

2SLGBTQ+ Supports

We help folks who want emotional support and guidance related to gender and sexual diversity. We can provide information and support related to topics like:

  • Coming out​
  • Exploration of gender and/or sexuality​
  • Navigating medical, social or legal transition
  • Referral letters to gender affirming specialists​
  • Gender affirming gear

If you need more information, please give us a call at 403-283-5580, or fill out an intake form to book a free counselling session.

Safe and supportive environments at home for children, teens and young adults are vital to their well-being. We offer counselling sessions for parents/natural supports of 2SLGBTQ+ individuals to help them create safe, affirming spaces. We cover topics like:​

  • Family relationships
  • Advocacy/systems navigation
  • School systems
  • Healthcare systems​
  • Grief and loss​
  • Strategies to support your 2SLGBTQ+ family member
  • Which behaviours help and which behaviours hurt​

If you need more information, please give us a call at 403-283-5580, or fill out an intake form to book a free counselling session.

We offer referrals to match clients with services and resources that can help them. All referrals are discussed with clients and we always get consent to disclose information before contacting any service on a client’s behalf.

To book a free supportive counselling session, complete our counselling intake form.

Questions?

We’re here to help direct you to the services and supports most useful to you. If you’d like to talk to someone about your options, contact our Information Specialist: intake@centreforsexuality.ca

A woman sitting at a keyboard talking on the phone.