Therapy for Teen Depression in Ottawa
Teen depression isn't a phase. It's real, it's treatable, and getting support early can make a significant difference.
✓ Same-week ✓ Direct billing ✓ Sliding scale ✓ Licensed therapists
Book a free consultationTeen depression isn't a phase. It's real, it's treatable, and getting support early can make a significant difference.
✓ 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
A sport, a hobby, a friend group, a show they watched every week. The withdrawal is gradual. What used to bring them to life doesn't seem to reach them anymore.
Everyone has hard days. But this has been weeks or months. A persistent heaviness that doesn't respond to good news, to fun plans, to the things that used to help. They describe feeling numb, empty, or like nothing matters.
Teen depression often looks less like sadness and more like irritability — snapping at family, losing patience quickly, seeming constantly frustrated. This is one of the most commonly missed presentations of adolescent depression.
Teen depression therapy at Auren Wellness is collaborative, direct, and built around the teenager's pace and readiness. Many teenagers with depression are ambivalent about therapy — feeling like it won't help, or that they don't deserve help. We work with that ambivalence rather than around it.
We draw on CBT and behavioural activation — both of which have strong evidence for adolescent depression. Behavioural activation focuses on rebuilding engagement with meaningful activities, which depression depletes. It sounds simple and it takes work. We also draw on DBT skills for emotional regulation, interpersonal therapy approaches where relationships are a significant factor, and narrative approaches that support teenagers in developing a more compassionate and accurate story about themselves.
We're also attentive to the parent relationship. Depression in teenagers affects the whole family, and parents often need support with how to be present in a way that helps rather than adds pressure. We work with parents alongside the individual therapy.
For teenagers whose depression co-occurs with anxiety, see our page on therapy for teen anxiety in Ottawa.
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
Duration and impact are the key indicators. Everyone has difficult periods. Depression is characterized by persistent low mood or loss of interest lasting at least two weeks that significantly affects daily functioning. If your teenager's mood or behaviour has changed noticeably for more than a few weeks and is affecting school, relationships, or daily activities, it's worth talking to someone.
Teenagers with depression often minimize what they're experiencing — partly because they don't want to worry you, partly because depression itself reduces their sense that things can get better. If you're seeing signs that something is wrong, a consultation to assess the situation is reasonable even if your teen insists they're okay.
We're psychotherapists, not physicians or psychiatrists, so we can't prescribe medication. For moderate to severe depression, medication and therapy together tend to produce better outcomes than either alone. We can help you think through next steps and support a referral to your family doctor or a psychiatrist if that seems appropriate.
Take it seriously. Talk to them calmly and directly. If you believe they are at immediate risk, call 9-1-1 or take them to the nearest emergency room. For ongoing support, the crisis lines below are available 24/7. A therapist can also help you figure out next steps during a consultation.
In teenagers, depression often shows up as irritability, anger, or withdrawal rather than obvious sadness — which is part of why it's sometimes missed or read as attitude. Changes in sleep, appetite, and interest in things they used to enjoy are common signs.
Our therapists draw on evidence-based approaches such as CBT and other talk therapies, adapted to the individual teen. The specific approach depends on your teen and what they're working through, and we'll talk it through together.
Take it seriously and reach out for support. If there's any concern about immediate safety, contact 9-8-8 (call or text) or Kids Help Phone right away. Therapy can help with ongoing low mood, but it isn't a substitute for crisis support in an urgent moment.
Sessions are 50 minutes and typically range from $150 to $225 depending on the therapist, 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 not 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.
