Empty Nest Therapy
For parents whose youngest has left home and the house feels too quiet. In person in Ottawa or online in Ontario.
✓ Same-week ✓ Direct billing ✓ Sliding scale ✓ Licensed therapists
Book a free consultationFor parents whose youngest has left home and the house feels too quiet. In person in Ottawa or online in Ontario.
✓ Same-week ✓ Direct billing ✓ Sliding scale ✓ Licensed therapists
Book a free consultationEvery clinician is registered with a regulatory college — the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO), the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW), or the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO).
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 parents bring into the room.
FOR WHEN SOMETHING FEELS OFF
The door stays closed, or open, and you notice it either way. Many parents describe small, ordinary moments like this as the hardest part of the first months.
Without children at the centre of the day, some couples find they have plenty to say to each other. Others find the quiet at dinner harder to explain.
If most of your energy went to raising them, it may be hard to know what to do with the free hours. Some parents feel guilty for enjoying them, others for not.
Empty nest therapy at Auren Wellness is for parents adjusting to a home that no longer runs around their children. For years the calendar was set by school, practices and meals. When the last child leaves, that structure goes with them, and many parents are surprised by how much it held up.
Sessions can cover the grief of it, which is real even when you're proud of where they've gone. They can also cover what comes next: time you haven't had in years, interests that got set aside, and a relationship with your partner that may have been organized around parenting for a long time. For single parents the quiet can land differently again, and that is worth talking through too.
Your relationship with your adult children changes as well, and working out how often to call or when to offer advice is a common topic. If the change is bringing up conflict at home, family therapy is another option. Our retirement page covers a change that often follows close behind, and the wider picture is on our life transitions therapy page.
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.
QUESTIONS
Yes. Missing daily life with your children is a real loss, even when you're glad they've gone on to something good. Many parents feel both at once.
You can start on your own; many people do. If the change is affecting how the two of you get along, joint sessions can be added later.
Yes, it's a common topic. Sessions can cover how much contact feels right, when to offer advice and when to hold back, and what to do when they don't call as often as you'd like.
Psychotherapy with a Registered Psychotherapist or Registered Social Worker is not covered by OHIP. Many extended health and workplace benefit plans cover it, though plans differ on which credentials they reimburse. Check whether yours covers RP, RSW, or both.
No. You can book directly with a Registered Psychotherapist or Registered Social Worker without a doctor's referral. Some insurance plans ask for one before reimbursing, so it is worth checking your policy.
Yes. Our therapists offer secure video sessions to clients anywhere in Ontario, and many people mix virtual and in-person visits depending on the week. Everything discussed stays confidential either way.
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.
