Therapy for Communication Issues
Say what you mean and feel genuinely heard. Therapy for communication issues in Ottawa & online.
✓ Same-week ✓ Direct billing ✓ Sliding scale ✓ Licensed therapists
Book a free consultationSay what you mean and feel genuinely heard. Therapy for communication issues in Ottawa & 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 withholding — you're saying what you feel or need. But it doesn't land, and you end up in a conversation about the conversation.
There are subjects you both know will be difficult. You avoid them, then when you finally address them it rarely ends well — and you can't figure out why.
When things get tense, one of you goes quiet and the other gets louder. It reads as not caring versus not being able to stop — neither quite accurate.
Communication difficulties in relationships are almost always symptoms of something deeper — patterns of pursuing or withdrawing, fears about vulnerability, old experiences of not being heard. At Auren Wellness, we work with both layers.
We use the Gottman Method's research-based communication tools alongside EFT's focus on the emotional patterns underneath conflict. The Gottman approach helps couples learn specific skills — how to raise difficult topics in a way that can be received, how to listen without going defensive, how to repair after something goes wrong. EFT helps couples understand what they're actually trying to say when communication breaks down, and why the other's response triggers them.
In practice, this often means slowing conversations down — looking at what happened just before things went sideways, noticing what both people felt but didn't say, then practising saying it in the room with a therapist who can help it land. For couples where communication breakdown has led to entrenched conflict, 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
In therapy there's a third person whose job is to slow things down before they escalate. A trained therapist notices what's happening between you in real time, helps you name what you're feeling rather than what you're accusing, and creates enough safety for both people to stay in the conversation. It doesn't always feel comfortable, but it moves things forward in ways the same conversation at home rarely does.
Communication in relationships is learned and contextual. Someone who communicates well at work or with friends can struggle with the person they're closest to, because the emotional stakes are completely different. It isn't a fixed trait — it changes with the right support.
Almost never is it only one person. Communication is a dynamic — it takes two people to maintain a pattern, even when one person's behaviour seems more obviously problematic. Therapy helps both partners understand their role. That's not about blame; it's about finding the points where change is actually possible.
Many couples notice things shifting after a few sessions — not because every problem is solved, but because they understand their pattern more clearly and have a few tools for navigating it differently. Real change across the full range of issues takes longer. We'll be honest about what to expect.
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.
