By Karine Langley, PhD in TheologyPublished: 2026-10-28Reading Time: 7 min readRelationshipsBilingual Practice
Couples counselling with me in Ottawa costs $250 an hour, the same rate as individual sessions, and that fee covers both partners in the room. Psychotherapy is not covered by OHIP, but many extended health plans and employee assistance programs cover sessions with a Registered Psychotherapist, and you can meet in person at 854 Wingate Dr or by secure video.
If you have been searching "couples therapy near me" and comparing websites, this post sets out what you would actually pay, what the fee includes, how to decide between in-person and video sessions, and what to ask any couples counsellor before you book.
What a Session Costs
One shared fee per session for couples, due at the end of the session.
My fee is $250 per hour for couples and marriage counselling, and the same for family sessions. It is a shared rate for the session, not a fee for each partner.
A few practical details are worth knowing before the first appointment:
Payment is due at the end of each session, by Interac e-Transfer, Visa or Mastercard.
Cancellations need at least 24 hours' notice. A session cancelled later than that, or missed without notice, is charged the full fee.
Sliding scale. A limited number of reduced-fee spots are set aside for people facing financial hardship. Availability changes, so ask when you call.
The fees page has the full policy. If you are comparing practices, check three things on every quote: whether the fee is per session or per person, how long the session runs, and whether the same rate applies when you come in separately.
Will Insurance Help Pay for It?
Often, yes, but you need to check your own plan. Private psychotherapy is not an OHIP service. Many extended health benefit plans and employee assistance programs in Ontario do cover sessions with a Registered Psychotherapist (RP), usually up to a yearly dollar amount.
I do not bill insurers directly. You pay at the session and receive an official receipt with my registration details, which you submit to your insurer for reimbursement.
Questions to ask your benefits provider before you start:
Does my plan cover a Registered Psychotherapist? Some plans list covered professions by title, and the wording matters.
What is the yearly maximum, and is there a per-session limit?
Can a couples session be claimed under one partner's plan, and can we split sessions across both partners' plans if we each have coverage?
Do I need a doctor's referral for the claim to be accepted?
Couples with two benefit plans can sometimes stretch their coverage further by alternating claims. Your insurer is the only one who can confirm that for your plan.
How Many Sessions Couples Usually Book
There is no fixed number, and I will not quote one before we have met. Some couples come for a handful of sessions to get through one specific problem, such as a decision about moving or a conflict about parenting. Others come for longer because the same argument has been running for years, or trust has been damaged.
What I can tell you is how we decide. After the first one or two sessions we talk openly about what you each want from counselling, how often it makes sense to meet, and when to check whether it is still useful. Couples often start weekly or every second week and space sessions out later. You can change the pace at any point, including for budget reasons.
In Person or by Video
Video sessions on Doxy.me need no download or account.
Both formats are available, and you can switch between them.
In person sessions take place at 854 Wingate Dr in Ottawa. Some couples prefer the office because home is where the arguments happen, and a neutral room makes it easier to slow down and listen.
Video sessions run on Doxy.me, a secure telehealth platform. There is nothing to download and no account to create. Video suits couples in Orleans, Barrhaven, Almonte, Renfrew or elsewhere in Ontario who would otherwise spend an hour in the car, and couples who work different shifts and can only meet from home.
A few things make video work better for couples: sit side by side so the camera sees you both, close the door, and choose a time when children cannot overhear. Video is used where it is clinically appropriate. If there are safety concerns at home, we talk about whether separate or in-person sessions are a better fit.
How to Choose a Couples Counsellor Near You
Pick a location or format that is realistic for both partners.
Most searches for a couples counsellor near you return a long list. These questions narrow it quickly, whoever you end up seeing:
Are they registered? In Ontario, look for RP (Registered Psychotherapist) or another regulated title, and check it. The College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario asks the public to "Verify the status of a Registered Psychotherapist by visiting the public register." You can search it on the CRPO website, crpo.ca.
Do they see couples regularly, or mostly individuals?
Can you both speak in your own language? I work in English and French, which matters when one or both of you think and argue more easily in French.
Will faith be respected, or left out? If you want your faith to be part of the conversation, that is possible here through Catholic psychotherapy. If you do not, it never has to come up.
Is the location or format realistic for both of you? A counsellor who is ideal on paper but a long drive away for one partner often means missed sessions.
How do they handle it if only one of you wants to come? It is common. If that is your situation, my post on when to start couples counselling covers it.
If you are unsure whether you need marriage counselling or couples therapy, the short answer is that the terms overlap. The post on marriage counselling vs couples therapy explains the difference in more detail.
When Joint Sessions Are Not the First Step
Couples counselling is not always the right place to begin. If one partner is afraid of the other, if there is violence or threats at home, or if drinking or drug use is driving the conflict, joint sessions can make things less safe rather than more.
In those situations I usually suggest individual sessions first, and where alcohol is part of the picture, addiction counselling may come before couples work.
This is also why the first call matters. It gives me a chance to ask a few careful questions before you are both in the room.
What Happens After You Call
The first step is a phone call to (613) 859-8740, or a confidential message through the contact page. Either partner can make it. You can describe what is going on in a few sentences, ask about fees and format, and decide whether to book.
In the first session I meet with you both. We talk about what brought you in now, what you have each tried, and what you would like to be different. Many couples are surprised by how much of that first hour is spent listening rather than talking about who is right. By the end, you should have a clear idea of whether this feels like the right fit and what the work would focus on.
If You Need Help Right Now
If you are having thoughts of suicide or feel unsafe, call or text 9-8-8, the Suicide Crisis Helpline, at any hour. If you are in danger at home, call 9-1-1.
Couples Counselling in Ottawa, in English or French
