Family Therapy in Ottawa
Improve family dynamics, communication, and understanding through guided therapy sessions.
About Family Therapy
What is Family Therapy?
Family therapy views individual problems within the context of the family system. It brings parents, children, siblings, and sometimes extended family members together in sessions guided by a therapist. The goal is to improve communication, resolve conflicts, understand family roles and dynamics, and foster a healthier, more supportive family environment for everyone involved.
Who Can Benefit?
Family therapy can be helpful in a wide range of situations, including:
- Frequent conflicts or communication breakdowns
- Parent-child relationship difficulties
- Sibling rivalry or conflict
- Behavioral or emotional challenges in children or adolescents
- Navigating major life transitions (e.g., divorce, remarriage, relocation, loss)
- Impact of mental health or substance use issues on the family
- Blended family adjustments
- Improving overall family cohesion and support
It addresses issues impacting the family unit as a whole.
Our Approach to Family Therapy
Our therapists utilize various systemic approaches, recognizing that each family member's behavior affects the entire system. Common models include:
- Structural Family Therapy: Focusing on family structure, roles, and boundaries.
- Strategic Family Therapy: Targeting specific problems with direct interventions to change interaction patterns.
- Systemic Family Therapy (Milan Model): Exploring belief systems and communication patterns within the family.
- Narrative Therapy: Helping families re-author problem-saturated stories into more empowering narratives.
Sessions involve identifying unhelpful patterns, improving communication skills, setting boundaries, and strengthening relationships within the family.
Benefits of Family Therapy
Engaging in family therapy can lead to:
- Improved communication and understanding among family members.
- More effective conflict resolution skills.
- Stronger family bonds and cohesion.
- Clearer roles and boundaries within the family system.
- Reduced behavioral or emotional problems in children/adolescents.
- Better coping strategies for the entire family during stressful times.
- A more supportive and nurturing home environment.
Building Stronger Family Ties
Investing in family therapy can create lasting positive changes, fostering resilience and connection that benefits every member. Contact us to discuss how we can support your family.
Is Family Therapy Right for You?
Our Ottawa therapists are experienced in working with a wide range of concerns and will help determine if this approach is the best fit for your situation. Book a free consultation to discuss your specific needs, in person at our Hintonburg office or virtually anywhere in Ontario.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does family therapy cost in Ottawa?
A standard 60-minute family session at Culminate Group is typically $180, with extended 90-minute family sessions available at a higher rate. Psychotherapy and counselling services are HST-exempt, so no tax is added.
Who should attend family therapy sessions?
It depends on the concern. Some sessions involve the whole family, others focus on parents and one child, and your therapist may meet with different combinations of family members as the work progresses. You'll decide together what makes sense for your family.
How long is a family therapy session?
Family sessions typically run 60 minutes, with 90-minute sessions available when more room is needed for everyone to be heard.
Can we do family therapy online?
Yes. Virtual family sessions are available anywhere in Ontario over a secure video platform, alongside in-person sessions at our Hintonburg office in Ottawa.
Is family therapy covered by insurance?
Many extended health plans cover psychotherapy provided by a Registered Psychotherapist (RP) or Registered Social Worker (MSW, RSW), and many of our therapists offer direct billing to major insurers. Confirm with your insurer which designations your plan covers.
How do we get started?
Book a free 20-minute consultation through our consultation page or directly at culminategroup.janeapp.com. We'll talk through what's happening in your family and help you decide whether family therapy, or another format, is the right starting point.