Services for:

Children & Family F.A.Q.

Counselling

What is counselling?

Counselling is a process that allows you to explore and discuss various aspects of your life in an open and free manner that is not always possible with friends and family.  Counselling sessions are scheduled appointments, they occur in a private and confidential setting, and what you discuss in your sessions with your counsellor is protected by the professional standards of the counsellor and the agency.  Counselling is a process in which you have the opportunity to explore the difficulties that you are experiencing, gain a better understanding of yourself, your relationships and your life, and work towards making the changes that are most important to you.

What types of problems do people seek counselling for?

There are a wide range of issues that lead individuals to seek counselling, such as:

These are just examples. If you feel that counselling may be helpful to you, please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss whether our services may be helpful to you.

Do I need a referral to obtain counselling?

You do not need a referral to obtain counselling at Family Services à la famille Ottawa (FSFO).   We ask that the person requesting the counselling services contact our Intake Worker.

How can I get the most out of counselling?

There are steps you can take that will help make counselling more beneficial to you, such as:

How long do I need counselling for before my issues are resolved?

Everyone’s needs and resources are different and so everyone resolves their problems at their own pace. There is no specific timeline at which issues should be resolved. Once you have met with your counsellor, he/she will be able to work with you to identify what might be reasonable goals and the amount of time that you agree to work towards those goals. What is most important is that steps are being taken to make positive changes and choices in your life and that you are moving towards your goals.

What is the difference between a psychiatrist, a psychologist and a social worker?

Psychiatrists are medical doctors that have specialized in psychiatry.  Therefore, their focus, training and treatment approaches are generally medically based. They specialize in diagnosing and treating mental illness; they may also provide counselling.  Because they are medical doctors, they are able to prescribe psychotropic medications. In order to access a psychiatrist, you need a referral from your family doctor. If you are referred to a psychiatrist, it will be covered by OHIP.

In Ontario, a psychologist has obtained a doctorate in psychology. They are able to administer diagnostic testing and provide assessments for identifying learning disorders, etc. They also provide counselling services. Many psychologists work in private practice and you can access them through your local directory. However, note that psychologists are not covered by OHIP.  Psychologist’s fees may be covered through insurance.

Social workers have a Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctorate degree in social work. Social workers provide various services including counselling services. Social workers also work in private practice and can be accessed through your local directory.  Social workers do not prescribe psychotropic medication and are not covered by OHIP. Social worker’s services may be covered through insurance, depending on the specific policy.

Is this service covered by OHIP?

Our counsellors are trained professionals in social work, counselling, and psychology; therefore, they are not covered by OHIP. However, we are subsidized and we utilize a sliding fee scale to adjust your fee according to your income and family size so that counselling becomes affordable and accessible to all. Our counselling services may be covered by insurance, depending on the policy agreements.

Our Anti-Violence Program has no fee.

Is this service confidential?

Privacy and confidentiality are fundamental aspects of counselling and Family Services à la famille Ottawa is committed to protecting your personal information. For more information, review our confidentiality policy.

How do I access service?

To initiate counselling, contact our Intake by one of the following:

Someone will contact you within 5 business days to discuss your options and book an appointment if appropriate. Note that no counselling will be provided over the phone and that counselling will begin at your first face-to-face session with a counsellor. If you are in crisis and require immediate attention, please contact the Distress Centre at 613-722-6914 or go to your nearest hospital emergency room.

Is there parking available?

There is free visitor’s parking available in our parking lot and there are street parking meters available on nearby streets. For more detailed information, review our contact page.

Alternative dispute resolution

What is the Alternative Dispute Resolution Program?

The Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Program was created to provide alternatives to court for child welfare agencies and their clients. The ADR Program operates independently from the four child welfare agencies in Eastern Ontario and is funded directly by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services through FSFO.

What are the advantages to participating in the program?

The facilitators are impartial, independent contractors with no decision making power and have no affiliation to the child welfare agencies.

The ADR services provide families with the opportunity to become active participants in the development of long-term plans for the care of their children.

The ADR services can be used as an alternative to court to address issues with a child welfare agency.

What is the cost associated to use the program?

There is no cost to a family for using the services in the ADR Program. However, the program does not cover the cost of an individual’s personal lawyer.

Do I have a choice to participate in the program?

Yes, participation in the program is voluntary.

What defines the services provided through the Alternative Dispute Resolution Program?

Ontario Regulation 496/06 identifies Methods and Procedures regarding the Alternative Dispute Resolution. Any form of alternative dispute resolution must:

(In some instances a family group conference may still proceed if a family member decides not to participate)

How do I access the services of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Program?

All referrals to the ADR Program must come through a child welfare agency. The CAS worker or lawyer refers directly to Family Services Ottawa. If you would like to use the services of the ADR Program, you can:

In order for a referral to go forward all parties need to be in agreement. Participation in this program is voluntary for everyone involved.

The Office of the Children’s Lawyer

The Child and Family Services Act identifies that every referral to the ADR Program must include a notification to the Office of the Children’s Lawyer (OCL). The OCL with decide on a case-by-case basis whether to assign a counsel to represent the child through the ADR process. If an OCL counsel is assigned, their level of involvement will depend on the circumstances of the case.

Supervised Access Program

How long will I wait to start visits?

The program needs to receive the completed application forms from both parents in order to begin the intake process.

Once completed application forms have been received from both parents, an intake interview will be arranged. When there is a wait list you will not be contacted right away for the intake – there may be a wait of weeks to several months. After the intake interviews, visits can start as soon as there is an opening on the day and time that works for your family. The waiting time depends on the number of families waiting for service, and on your family’s ability to be flexible about visit days and times.

When are visits possible?

A 2 hour visit every second week can be scheduled for Wednesday evening, Saturday during the day or Sunday during the day.

When are exchanges possible?

Weekend exchanges can be arranged from Friday evening to either Saturday or Sunday afternoon, or from Saturday morning to Sunday afternoon; one day exchanges can be arranged on Saturdays.

Where do visits and exchanges take place?

Visits are held on weekends at 1480 Heron Road, and on Wednesday evenings at 300 Goulburn Private in Sandy Hill. Friday exchanges occur at 312 Parkdale Avenue.

How much supervision is offered?

There is one trained volunteer to supervise each visit. Up to 5 families may visit for each two hour period. At all times, two experienced staff are on site to provide support and advice.

When would visits be terminated?

The program coordinator or on-site staff may terminate a visit if they observe abuse of a child during a visit, if a child becomes upset to the point where it is no longer in the best interests of the child to continue the visit, if there is repeated late arrival or missed visits, or there is harassment of either parent at the point of exchange. As the Program staff are not mandated to assess the parent-child relationship, we cannot recommend alternative arrangements. It is therefore up to the parent, their lawyers, or the the Court to propose alternatives to continued supervised access or exchange.

Family Services Ottawa
312 avenue Parkdale Ave.
Ottawa ON K1Y 4X5
T. 613-725-3601