Relationship Issues Therapists in Ottawa, ON
Jillian Ivany
Registered Psychotherapist
Life can feel overwhelming, leaving you anxious, disconnected, or stuck in painful patterns. I offer Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy in a warm, non-judgmental space where all parts of you are welcome. Together we explore your inner world with curiosity to support healing, clarity, and connection to yourself and others. I offer virtual/in person session. Free 15min consultations available.
Megan Gauthier
Registered Social Worker, Psychotherapist
*Accepting new client in-person in Guelph and virtually across Ontario* Therapy for people who struggle with self-doubt, overthinking, and repeating painful relationship patterns.
Jessica DeMille
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), MACP, B.Sc (Hons)
I work with individuals, couples, families, and children (10+), providing a safe, supportive space for exploration and growth. Using an integrative, client-centered approach, I help clients navigate anxiety, depression, relationships, and life transitions, fostering resilience, self-awareness, and meaningful change. Together, we explore tools and strategies to support emotional well-being.
Alexander Vasilovsky
Psychologist
Therapy can provide opportunities to reflect on the aspects of your life you’d like to change, as well as to explore new ways of seeing and being seen, of connecting and responding to yourself and others. This sort of change can expose us to feeling vulnerable, so I commend you on your courage to consider this next step.
Jamie Smith
Registered Psychotherapist
"My life is fine, why do I feel like this?" "I don't really know how I feel" Depression, loneliness, addiction, anxiety, feeling stuck, people pleasing often point to complex or developmental trauma with no quick fix. If you're reading this you can tell that something is wrong, but might not know where to start. The power to change and heal is inside you waiting to be found.
Alexia Wensing
Registered Psychotherapist, HBA, MACP, RP
Accepting NEW Clients – Do you find feeling stuck, anxious, or wishing you had more confidence or self-esteem? Are you interested in understanding yourself or your choices and want to dig into the roots of why you feel the way you do? Are you struggling to find your "why" or to find meaning in what you're doing? Are you an athlete feeling held back or blocked? Are you interested in looking at...
Jasmine Bruce
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
You deserve to feel lighter, calmer, and more connected to yourself and others. I help people move through trauma, anxiety, and relationship challenges. Offering a safe, judgment-free space to untangle stress, trauma, anxiety, and self-doubt, finding ways forward that work for you.
Shauna Mayer
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), CYI
With 25 years of experience in mental health, yoga therapy, and spiritual care, I bring a wealth of knowledge and compassionate support to our sessions. Are you looking for a therapist who provides a warm, collaborative, and empowering approach to healing? I believe that within each of us lies the strength and wisdom to create meaningful change and growth.
Elizabeth Waite
Registered Psychotherapist
Reaching out and asking for help does not come easily for many people. I respect your willingness to face difficult feelings to grow, create change, and find a more positive place in your life. Relationships and life stages come with many challenges, and I welcome the privilege of exploring these alongside you as we discuss your goals for therapy and develop a tailored plan to achieve them.
Karen Martinez
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Deciding to seek therapeutic help is a significant step, as it requires deep reflection. Therapy requires a personal investment, so it’s not a decision taken lightly. It takes great courage to acknowledge that you need help, to seek out that help, and to open up to a new person. I commend you for allowing yourself to feel better and prioritize your well-being by taking this crucial first step.
Fema Jacob
Registered Social Worker
I want to understand the intricate details of your life that make you uniquely you, and I would be honoured to facilitate the process of your self-discovery and healing. I love working with individuals in all walks of life, including but not limited to individuals experiencing anxiety, panic and/or anxiety attacks, phobias, issues controlling anger, improving self-esteem and many more.
Maya Dousti
Registered Psychotherapist
I am a BIPOC trauma therapist, and I work with a wide range of concerns including depression, anxiety, trauma, emotional dysregulation, self-esteem, life transitions, racial/cultural issues, new parenthood, identity, family and interpersonal relationships. I work eclectically, borrowing from several modalities to meet my client's needs.
Maya Awad
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), ADHD-SP, HBSc (she, her)
Accepting NEW clients - Are you feeling overwhelmed or like you’re carrying a lot on your own? Feel like you're doing everything you’re “supposed to do,” but something still doesn’t feel right? Have a desire to better understand your thoughts, emotions, or patterns, work on building confidence or self-esteem, or find support for your relationship?
Matteo Castelli
Registered Psychotherapist & Counsellor
Matteo Castelli has over 15 years of experience providing psychotherapy, group education, counselor training, and mental health advocacy. With an educational background including a Master’s in Counseling Psychology and an Honours Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, he brings both academic knowledge and practical experience to his work with clients.
Gulrukh Khan
Registered Psychotherapist, Qualifying
Helping South Asians, immigrants, and BIPOC individuals break free from cultural pressures, heal from trauma, people-pleasing, anxiety, guilt, and perfectionism as they embrace their true identity, and build a life that honours both heritage and personal well-being. At Empowering Roots in Brampton, Ontario, we offer culturally sensitive therapy tailored to your unique experiences.
Anastasia Berezowsky
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
My practice blends talk therapy and structured accountability to help you find balance and resilience—especially when life feels demanding and you need some direction. With a background in Kinesiology and Psychology, I take a whole-person approach that connects mind and body. I support clients who feel misaligned and need the space to untangle themselves from the stressors of every day.
Signy Fridriksson
Registered Psychotherapist
It takes a lot of courage to start a healing journey! I listen with empathy and respect as you explore the challenges that life has brought you. I am known to be warm, calm and non-judgmental. I provide a safe, reassuring environment, allowing you to grow in self-awareness, self-compassion and a sense of hope.
Kimberly Lee-Louis
Counselor, RSW
Registered Social Worker offering integrative, culturally responsive therapy that considers identity, family systems, and broader social and institutional influences. I support clients navigating stress, burnout, and intergenerational patterns using CBT and strengths-based approaches to foster self-awareness, emotional balance, and more aligned ways of living.
Varshini Skantharajah
Registered Psychotherapist
Alysha Bernstein
Registered Psychotherapist, Clinical Supervisor & Traumatologist
I am a registered psychotherapist with a decade of experience in mental healthcare. I have built an authentic, client-centred, and empathic space in my private practice since 2020. We provide care for a wide range of mental health issues and couples or family conflict. My team is as accessible and affordable as possible and we are constantly learning new and better ways to support our clients
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Frequently Asked Questions About Relationship Issues
What kinds of relationship issues can therapy help with?
Therapy addresses a wide range of relationship concerns — not only romantic partnerships but also family relationships, friendships, and workplace dynamics. Common issues include communication breakdowns, conflict patterns, trust and jealousy, intimacy difficulties, attachment challenges, codependency, loneliness, setting boundaries, and recovering from betrayal or loss in a relationship. Both individuals and couples can benefit from relationship-focused therapy.
Can I work on relationship issues in individual therapy without my partner?
Yes — individual therapy is often very effective for relationship concerns. Working one-on-one with a therapist allows you to explore your own patterns, attachment style, communication habits, and emotional responses without the complexity of navigating the dynamic with your partner present. Many people find that individual therapy changes how they show up in relationships, which in turn shifts relationship dynamics even when only one person attends.
What is attachment theory and why does it matter for relationships?
Attachment theory describes the patterns of relating to others we develop in early childhood based on our caregiving experiences. These patterns — broadly categorized as secure, anxious, avoidant, or disorganized — shape how we connect, communicate, and respond to closeness or conflict as adults. Understanding your attachment style is often a foundation of relationship therapy, as it explains many recurring patterns that feel confusing or out of your control.
How long does relationship therapy typically take?
Timeline varies based on the nature and depth of the issues. Specific, recent concerns — such as navigating a difficult conversation or adjusting to a relationship change — may resolve within 6–12 sessions. Longer-standing patterns rooted in early experiences or repeated relationship cycles often benefit from longer-term work. Your therapist will set goals with you at the outset and review progress regularly.
What therapy approaches are used for relationship issues?
Attachment-based therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Gottman Method, and psychodynamic therapy are among the most commonly used approaches for relationship concerns. CBT-based communication skills training is also widely integrated. Many therapists draw on more than one approach, tailoring the work to whether the issue is primarily about communication, emotional regulation, past wounds, or changing ingrained relational patterns.
