Conflict between parents and children is normal. Conflict that feels endless, that damages the relationship, or that no one knows how to get out of — that's what therapy is for.
✓ 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 people bring into the room.
FOR WHEN SOMETHING FEELS OFF
You try to have a simple conversation and it escalates. You say one thing, they hear another. It ends badly. You both feel misunderstood and you're not sure how to get back to solid ground.
You may be in the same home but emotionally miles apart, with your child or teen shutting you out. You're managing logistics but you're not actually close anymore, and you're not sure how that happened or how to get back.
It can feel like every limit, rule, or expectation is contested. You feel like you're either constantly fighting or giving up to keep the peace. Neither feels sustainable, and you're not sure what else to try.
Parent-child conflict therapy at Auren Wellness takes a relational view. There is often something on both sides of the conflict — things both the parent and the child are doing that make it worse, and things both need to understand about the other. We use family systems approaches and emotionally focused work to help parents and children understand each other's experience more clearly. Often, beneath a child's defiance is a bid for connection that isn't landing. And beneath a parent's frustration is often worry and love that isn't being communicated effectively. Therapy aims to create a space where both can say what's actually happening. We work with both parents and children, sometimes together, sometimes separately, depending on what the work needs. We're direct about what we're seeing on both sides. Our job isn't to be on the parent's side or the child's side. It's to help the relationship work. For families where conflict is one piece of a larger picture, see our page on family counselling 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
Either way works to start. Some parents begin with a consultation on their own to talk through what's happening; others bring the child or teen from the first session. We'll figure out the right structure during the consultation.
Teen refusal is common. Sometimes it helps to give them a say in which therapist they see, or reassure them that the therapist isn't going to report everything back to you. In some cases, parent-only work is the starting point — helping you shift how you're showing up in the dynamic can change things even without your teen in the room.
That's fine. We'll coordinate where it's useful and appropriate, with your consent. Having a separate individual therapist and a family therapist can work well — each serves a different function.
That's a completely understandable thing to believe. A family therapist will still want to understand the full picture, including how parental responses to the behaviour may be maintaining it. This isn't about blame — it's about finding the leverage points where change is most possible.
Yes — friction is a normal part of every parent-child relationship. It's worth addressing when arguments are constant, when connection has broken down, or when the relationship feels like it's fraying. The goal isn't to remove conflict but to have it without damaging the relationship.
No. The work focuses on the relationship and the patterns between you, not on deciding who's right. Both of you are heard, and the aim is to rebuild communication and connection rather than assign blame.
It depends on the situation and your child's age. Some sessions include both parent and child, others are parent-only to build strategies. Your therapist will recommend what's most likely to help based on what's going on.
Sessions are 50 minutes. Rates vary by therapist and are 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.
