Relationship Counselling in Ottawa
Relationships come with patterns — learn yours. Relationship counselling in Ottawa, in person and online.
✓ Same-week ✓ Direct billing ✓ Sliding scale ✓ Licensed therapists
Book a free consultationRelationships come with patterns — learn yours. Relationship counselling in Ottawa, in person and online.
✓ 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
You're not unhappy or fighting, but something feels a bit flat or distant. You love each other — you just want the relationship to feel more alive.
A new job, a move, a child, a loss. Major changes stress even strong relationships. What worked before doesn't quite work now.
You've both changed over the years, which is normal — but some of those changes created distance rather than depth. You want to feel close again.
Relationship counselling at Auren Wellness is collaborative and focused on real change — not just giving you things to say, but helping you understand why you react the way you do and what you actually need from each other.
We draw on the Gottman Method and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). The Gottman Method gives couples concrete, research-based tools for communication, conflict, and connection. EFT looks at the emotional patterns underneath conflict — what each person is reaching for when they fight, withdraw, or go quiet — and helps them reach in a way their partner can receive. Together, these address both the practical and emotional dimensions of what's happening.
Most couples find that seeing the cycle they're in, rather than just the content of the latest argument, shifts something meaningful — and the work tends to go faster than people expect. For couples where conflict has become a central issue, see our page on therapy for conflict in relationships.
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
The terms are often used interchangeably. Relationship counselling tends to suggest a slightly more structured, goal-focused approach, while “couples therapy” sometimes implies a longer, more exploratory process. In practice, what we do draws on both — focused on your goals and informed by approaches with a strong evidence base.
Not identically committed. Some couples come in with one partner more certain than the other, and a bit of ambivalence going in is not unusual. What matters more is a genuine willingness from both partners to show up and be honest. We can work with ambivalence — we just need it to be honest.
Yes. Individual therapy focused on the relationship can be useful, particularly when the other partner isn't ready or willing to attend. Working on your own patterns in the dynamic often shifts the relationship even when only one of you is in the room.
Most couples notice something shifting within the first few sessions — a new frame, a moment of being genuinely heard, some tension reduced. Meaningful change typically comes over months, not weeks. We'll give you a sense of what to expect once we understand what you're working on.
That's what the space is for. A good therapist can work with high emotion and help both partners stay in the conversation rather than shutting down. You won't be judged for what comes up, and your therapist is trained to help you navigate it.
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.
