If life has been feeling overwhelming, heavy, or harder to manage, you are not alone. Everyone goes through harder times.
At OCFR, we support children, teens, adults, caregivers, parents, and families who are dealing with anxiety and worry, low mood, grief, big emotions, relationship stress, parenting challenges, and stressful life transitions. Whether things have felt hard for a long time or something has recently thrown you off balance, we’re here to help.
It’s okay if you are not sure what would be most helpful for you right now:
Most people come to therapy because they know something is off or not working, but they often are unsure exactly why. That’s okay. Part of our job is to help you figure out what is going on and what kind of support would be most helpful.
You might be having some of these experiences if you are looking for help:
- feeling more anxious, overwhelmed, irritable, or reactive than usual
- feeling stressed or burned out without relief
- stuck in the same relationship patterns
- worried about your child’s emotions or behaviours
- trying to support your family while also holding everything together yourself
How We Help:
We offer a supportive space to build safe and attuned relationships that help reduce struggle and distress and build resilience for daily life. We support your to recharge your ability to find calm and joy, even in the face of stress. We want to help you feel more connected and grounded in all areas of your life for the long-term.
We offer a range of services, including:
Therapy for Children, Teens, Adults, & Families:
Our support is tailored to your age, stage of life, relationships, and the reasons you are coming to therapy. Depending on your needs, therapy may involve individual sessions, caregiver supports, family work, or a combination.
We often help with:
- anxiety
- chronic stress
- low mood
- emotional overwhelm
- grief and loss
- relationship strain
- parenting challenges
- emotional or behavioural worries in children and teens
- difficult life transitions or changes
Assessment Services When You Need More Clarity:
Sometimes therapy is the best starting point, and sometimes it is helpful to have a formal assessment to clarify what is going on.
We offer assessment services tailored to individual needs, including:
- Psychodiagnostic (mental health) assessment
- Psychoeducational assessments to better understand learning strengths and challenges
- Comprehensive psychological assessments that include cognitive and mental health components
Our Approach:
Our team provides evidence-based treatment to children, adolescents, adults and families anchored in neurobiology (i.e., how the brain develops, how it adapts to its environment, and how to effect change in the brain and nervous system), attachment, and family systems theories. Our team uses an integrative approach to treatment, drawing from a range of evidence-based modalities such as:
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Brainspotting (BSP)
Circle of Security – Parenting (COS-P)
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT)
Emotion Focused Family Therapy (EFFT)
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Mindfulness-based approaches:
Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP)
Somatic Experiencing (SE)
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I need therapy, or if I'm just stressed?
If stress, worry, or low mood is sticking around, affecting your sleep, relationships, or daily life, or if something recently knocked you off balance, therapy can help, even if you can't name exactly what's wrong. Most people come in knowing something feels “off” but unsure why. Part of our job is helping you figure that out. You can book a free 15-minute consultation to talk it through, no commitment required.
Do you offer therapy for anxiety and stress in Ottawa?
Yes. OCFR provides evidence-based therapy for anxiety, chronic stress, burnout, and emotional overwhelm for children, teens, adults, and families in Ottawa. Our approach is grounded in neurobiology, attachment, and family systems, and tailored to your age, stage of life, and goals. Sessions are available online across Ontario or in person at our Isabella Street office near Bank Street in downtown Ottawa, ON.
How do I get started at OCFR?
Getting started is simple: book a free 15-minute consultation by calling 613-714-0662 or emailing info@ocfr.ca - no referral needed. On this call, we'll learn what's bringing you in, answer your questions, and help you figure out which type of support fits best. From there, we'll match you with the right clinician.
Do I need a referral to see a therapist or psychologist?
No referral is required to begin therapy or book an assessment at OCFR. You can reach out directly to schedule a free consultation. If you'd like to use extended health benefits, we can also discuss your coverage and direct billing options when you contact us.
How much does therapy cost, and is it covered by insurance?
Fees vary by service and clinician, ranging from $100/hr for a trainee to $250/hr for senior psychologists. We offer direct billing to many extended health plans. We also offer direct billing through Jordan's Principle, Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB), VQRP, and IFHP, and sliding-scale or reduced-fee spots may be available. Contact us to discuss what works for your situation.
Do you offer therapy for children and teens?
Yes. OCFR has expertise in child, teen, and family mental health. We support kids and adolescents experiencing anxiety, big emotions, low mood, behavioural worries, grief, and difficult transitions. Depending on what your child needs, support may include individual sessions, caregiver support, family work, or a combination.
Can you help with parenting challenges?
Yes. We support parents and caregivers who feel worried about their child's emotions or behaviours, or who are stretched thin holding everything together. Alongside family therapy, we offer caregiver support and the Circle of Security – Parenting (COS-P) approach to help you better understand and respond to what your child really needs.
What types of therapy do you use?
Our team uses an integrative, evidence-based approach, drawing from modalities including CBT, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), EMDR, Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), Emotion Focused Family Therapy (EFFT), Brainspotting, Somatic Experiencing, Circle of Security – Parenting, and mindfulness-based approaches like the Safe and Sound Protocol. We'll help you find the best fit for your needs.
What's the difference between therapy and an assessment?
Therapy focuses on support and change over time, while an assessment gives you clarity on what's going on. Sometimes therapy is the best starting point; other times a formal assessment helps. We offer psychodiagnostic (mental health), psychoeducational (learning), and comprehensive psychological assessments. If you're unsure which you need, we'll help you decide on your free consultation.
I'm not even sure what's wrong, can you still help?
Absolutely. You don't need a diagnosis or the “right words” to reach out. Most people come to therapy because they sense something isn't working, not because they have it all figured out. Helping you understand what's going on, and what kind of support would help most, is part of what we do.
What happens during the free 15-minute consultation?
The consultation is a relaxed, no-pressure call to see if we're a good fit. We'll ask what's bringing you in, answer your questions about therapy, fees, and next steps, and suggest the type of support that might help. There's no obligation to book ongoing sessions. Email info@ocfr.ca to schedule.
Can therapy help with grief or a major life transition?
Yes. We support children, teens, adults, and families through grief, loss, and stressful life changes, including separation, moves, and other transitions that throw daily life off balance. Our goal is to help you feel more grounded, connected, and resilient, even during hard chapters.
How long is a therapy session?
Sessions are booked for 60 minutes. You'll have a full 50 minutes of face-to-face time with your clinician, with the final 10 minutes reserved for notes and administrative work that supports your care. We'll always make the most of your time together, and your clinician can talk through scheduling and frequency on your free consultation.
Do you offer virtual (online) therapy?
Yes, we offer virtual sessions to clients within Ontario when it's clinically appropriate for your needs, and your clinician will help you decide whether in-person or online is the better fit. To get the most from a virtual session, we recommend a private room where you won't be overheard, a strong Wi-Fi connection, and a laptop (preferred over a phone or tablet). If you'd like to explore virtual therapy in Ontario, mention it on your free consultation.