Child & Teen Therapy in Ottawa
Children and teens don't always have words for what they're carrying. Therapy offers them other ways to find them.
✓ Same-week ✓ Direct billing ✓ Sliding scale ✓ Licensed therapists
Book a free consultationChildren and teens don't always have words for what they're carrying. Therapy offers them other ways to find them.
✓ Same-week ✓ Direct billing ✓ Sliding scale ✓ Licensed therapists
Book a free consultationEvery clinician is registered with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) or the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW).
We want therapy to be financially accessible for everyone. Reduced rates are available case-by-case based on need and availability.
We submit directly to most major insurers, so you don't pay out of pocket upfront.
Our office is in Ottawa. All client records are stored in Canada and handled under PIPEDA and PHIPA.
Therapy is a space to slow down and look at what's underneath. These are some of the patterns people bring into the room.
FOR WHEN SOMETHING FEELS OFF
In younger children this can look like refusing school, worrying constantly, or needing reassurance that never quite sticks. In teens it more often shows up as dread before school, before social situations, or before anything that involves being seen and evaluated.
Meltdowns, shutdowns and difficulty recovering from upset are common in younger children, who feel things intensely before they have the tools to manage that intensity. In teens it can look like the opposite: withdrawal, losing interest in what they used to care about, sleeping too much or too little.
A move, a new sibling, a separation, a loss, or a change in school can leave a child different from how they were before, without the words to explain it. For teens, academic and social pressure can turn school itself into the thing they dread.
What helpful therapy looks like is genuinely different for a seven-year-old and a fifteen-year-old, so we do not treat them the same way.
With younger children, the work is play-informed and developmentally appropriate. Children do not process their inner world the way adults do. They communicate through play, drawing, movement and story, and our therapists meet them there. We draw on play therapy, child-centred approaches, and cognitive-behavioural tools adapted for children. We work closely with parents throughout, with regular updates and practical strategies for home, because the people a child lives with matter to the work as much as anything that happens in the room.
With teenagers, the work is teen-centred, which means their sense of safety and autonomy in the room comes first. We are careful about what is shared back to parents, because teens need to know the space is genuinely theirs. We work with parents separately where that is useful, and we are transparent with the teen about how that works. We draw on CBT, DBT skills, narrative approaches, and motivational interviewing depending on the teen and what they are working through. Many teenagers respond best to therapists who are direct and do not talk down to them, and we try to match on that.
If your child sits between those two, roughly eleven to thirteen, we will work out together which approach suits them better. That is part of what the free consult is for.
Email, phone, or fill out our booking form. There's no script and no pressure. You can share as much or as little as you want.
A real person, not a bot, will reply as soon as we can with a few options for a free 15-minute consultation.
We listen. You ask questions. No paperwork, no obligation. If we're not the right match, we'll point you toward someone who might be.
Direct billing where possible. Evening and weekend availability. Virtual or in-person in Ottawa.
Sessions are 50 minutes in length. Rates vary by therapist and are confirmed during your free consultation. We accept e-transfer and credit cards, and direct-bill most insurers.
Sliding-scale spots are available based on need. Ask during your free consultation.
Same 50-minute format, structured for two participants and shared concerns.
Registered Psychotherapist and Registered Social Worker services are covered by most extended health plans in Canada. We recommend confirming your specific coverage before your first paid session. Sun Life, Manulife, Canada Life, Green Shield, and most major insurers include coverage.
We direct-bill where your insurer allows it. Otherwise, you pay at the time of session and submit the receipt for reimbursement.
Every session generates a receipt listing the provider's license number, suitable for insurance reimbursement.
In-person sessions are held at our Ottawa office. Virtual sessions use a secure, PIPEDA-compliant video platform. You can switch between the two.
We ask for 24 hours notice on cancellations. Late cancellations and no-shows are charged the full session fee.
After the free 15-minute consultation, your first paid session is intake-focused. Bring questions, anything you have already tried, and any goals you have in mind.
Everyone's experience is different. Explore the focus that fits what you're navigating, or book a free consult and we'll help you find the right starting point.
Book a free consultationQUESTIONS
We work with children across a range of ages. The specific age range varies by therapist — some specialize in younger children, others in older children approaching adolescence. We'll match your child with a therapist who is well-suited to their age and what they're working through.
We maintain open communication with parents throughout the process. We balance your child's need for a private, safe space with your need to understand how the work is going. We'll be clear about how this looks in practice before you start.
It's common for children to be reluctant at first. We're experienced with this and we don't force anything. Often the first session or two is just about making the child comfortable with the space and the therapist. Many children who come in reluctantly end up looking forward to their sessions.
It depends on the child's age and what they're working on. For younger children, we often include parents in parts of sessions. For older children, having their own space tends to be more therapeutically useful. We'll figure out what makes sense for your child.
Yes. For some children online works very well; for others, in-person is more effective. We'll talk through what makes the most sense for your child during the consultation. ---
Child therapy is play-informed and developmentally appropriate. Rather than sitting and talking the way adults do, younger children often communicate through play, drawing, movement, and story. The therapist meets your child where they are and works in the way that fits their age and temperament.
Yes. Child therapy at Auren Wellness includes regular parent check-ins and concrete strategies for home. We balance your child's need for a safe, private space with your need to understand how the work is going, and we're clear about how that looks before you start.
Sessions are 50 minutes. Rates vary by therapist and are confirmed during your free 15-minute consultation. We accept e-transfer and credit, direct-bill where your insurer allows, and hold a limited number of sliding-scale spots. Full details are on our fair-fee page.
Psychotherapy isn't covered by OHIP, but most extended health plans cover sessions with a Registered Psychotherapist or Registered Social Worker. Check whether your plan lists those services under mental health, and we'll direct-bill where your insurer allows.
It depends on what you're working through. Some families come for a handful of sessions focused on a specific issue; others stay longer. We review how things are going regularly, and you're never locked into a fixed number of sessions.
Therapy is a longer-term relationship. If you're in acute distress, please reach the services below first. They are free, confidential, and available right now.
