Therapy for Conflict in Relationships
Break the cycle of the same recurring fight. Therapy for conflict in relationships in Ottawa & online.
✓ Same-week ✓ Direct billing ✓ Sliding scale ✓ Licensed therapists
Book a free consultationBreak the cycle of the same recurring fight. Therapy for conflict in relationships 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
Different topic, same structure. One escalates, the other withdraws, nothing resolves — and then it happens again. You've wondered if this is just how it'll be.
After a fight, it used to take a day or two. Now it takes a week, sometimes longer. The ruptures are accumulating faster than the repairs.
A fight starts over something trivial — a tone, a forgotten thing — but the feeling underneath is huge. Something bigger is getting activated.
At Auren Wellness, we approach conflict work from two directions: the what and the why.
The Gottman Method research has identified specific behaviours that predict whether conflict is healthy or corrosive — patterns like criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling, which the research calls the “Four Horsemen.” We help couples recognize when these patterns show up and give them concrete alternatives. At the same time, we use EFT to understand the emotional structure underneath the conflict. Most recurring fights aren't about the content — they're about unmet attachment needs like feeling unseen, criticized, abandoned, or controlled.
Together, these approaches help couples break the cycle rather than just interrupting it temporarily. For many couples the shift isn't dramatic — it's noticing the pattern starting, having a different response available, and using it. For couples where communication is the central issue rather than conflict specifically, see our page on therapy for communication issues.
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, conflict is one of the most common reasons couples seek support, and therapy for conflict in relationships can be genuinely helpful. Rather than assigning blame, a therapist helps you both understand the cycle driving repeated arguments and find calmer ways to respond. Many couples in Ottawa find that conflict becomes less frequent and easier to repair over time.
Some conflict is normal in every relationship, and disagreement itself is not a sign that something is wrong. It becomes more concerning when arguments are frequent, escalate quickly, or rarely get resolved, leaving both partners feeling distant. Therapy can help you tell the difference and address the patterns underneath, rather than just the surface disagreements.
Fees for relationship therapy in Ottawa depend on the clinician's designation and the length of each session, and Auren Wellness offers sliding-scale options where available. Many couples begin with a free 15-minute consultation to clarify cost and fit. We provide direct billing to many insurers, and you can book a free consult with an Auren couples therapist in Ottawa through our contact page.
Timelines vary depending on how entrenched the conflict patterns are and what you hope to achieve together. Some couples notice meaningful shifts within several sessions, while longer-standing dynamics often take a few months of consistent work. Your therapist will revisit your goals regularly so you can see how things are progressing across Ontario sessions.
Many couples find therapy for conflict in relationships effective, though outcomes depend on both partners' engagement and the issues involved. Sessions typically involve identifying the recurring conflict cycle, exploring the unmet needs beneath arguments, and practising new ways of responding. The aim is not to eliminate disagreement, but to help you handle it with more understanding and less harm.
Both formats can work well, and many couples appreciate the flexibility of attending virtually. Auren Wellness offers secure online sessions throughout Ontario as well as in-person appointments at our Ottawa office, so you can choose what suits you. Some couples prefer in-person for emotionally charged conversations, while others find video sessions easier to attend consistently.
When small issues repeatedly escalate, it often signals that deeper feelings, like hurt, fear, or feeling unappreciated, are getting triggered. Couples can fall into reactive patterns where each person's response unintentionally fuels the other's. Therapy for conflict in relationships helps you both slow these moments down, understand what is really happening, and interrupt the escalation.
It is completely normal for tension to surface in session, and your therapist is there to help you navigate it safely. In fact, those moments can be useful, since they show your real conflict pattern as it happens, in a setting where it can be gently explored. The therapist keeps the conversation respectful and helps you both feel heard.
OHIP typically does not cover couples or relationship therapy, but many extended health plans do, depending on whether your provider is a Registered Psychotherapist or Registered Social Worker. Check your plan for coverage of RP or RSW services and any session limits. Auren Wellness offers direct billing to many insurers and provides receipts you can submit for reimbursement.
Many couples reach out when they are uncertain about the future, and therapy can be a helpful space to gain clarity. It gives you both room to understand the conflict, address what is fixable, and make decisions with more honesty and less reactivity, whatever you ultimately choose. A free 15-minute consult with an Auren couples therapist in Ottawa is a supportive first step.
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.
