Refugee Counselling Services in Ottawa

Compassionate Counselling Support for Refugees and Asylum Seekers

At Family-Therapy™, we recognize the courage it takes to begin a new life in Canada. Our refugee counselling services in person in Ottawa or virtually provides confidential, culturally sensitive mental health support for refugees and asylum seekers who have experienced significant hardship, loss, and displacement.

Counselling supports individuals, couples or families coping with experiences such as trauma, persecution, grief, separation from loved ones, forced migration, and challenges adjusting to life in Canada. Sessions are offered in a safe, respectful space where you can share them at your own pace.

Eligible refugees and asylum seekers can access free counselling services covered through the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) with valid UCI documentation and a doctor’s referral. Our team can help explain eligibility and help you get set up with a refugee therapist.

You Are Not Alone

As a refugees and asylum seekers you may experience a wide range of emotional and physical challenges, including:

  • Trauma related to war, persecution, torture, or violence
  • Grief and loss connected to family separation or death
  • Persistent sadness, fear, guilt, or emotional numbness
  • Sleep difficulties, headaches, or unexplained body pains
  • Feeling overwhelmed, isolated, or unsure where to seek help
  • Cultural or social barriers that make it difficult to talk about mental health

Counselling provides a space to talk about these experiences in a way that feels respectful, supportive, and non-judgmental.

How Family-Therapy™ Can Support You

Our refugee counselling approach focuses on emotional wellbeing, stability, and resilience. Therapy does not require you to share details you are not ready to discuss, and sessions progress at a pace that feels safe for you.

Through counselling, we may support you to:

  • Process trauma and distress related to past experiences
  • Develop coping strategies for stress, fear, and uncertainty
  • Improve emotional regulation and sleep
  • Strengthen confidence and self-understanding
  • Prepare emotionally for important life events or appointments

Counselling is not legal advice, and our therapists do not offer representation or instruction for refugee claims. Our counselling services in Ottawa provide emotional support, helping refugees and newcomers feel grounded, resilient, and empowered while navigating challenging life transitions and preparing for your refugee board hearing.

Our therapists prepare detailed case summaries to accompany Refugee Board hearings, Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) applications, or removal deferral requests, as required. We attend your Refugee Board hearings with you as your emotional support person, providing you with a stable and reassuring presence throughout your proceeding.

Language Access and Coverage

Counselling services can be offered in your preferred language with the support of a professional interpreter for a fee or through your IFHP insurance. Interpretation services are available at no cost in cases involving violence or domestic violence.

The IFHP may cover counselling services for eligible refugees and asylum seekers when a referral is provided by a doctor. Our team can help explain how to access services and answer questions about eligibility.

Take the First Step

Your journey toward healing and stability begins with support. Whether you are seeking emotional care, help understanding available services, or guidance with administrative processes, our team is here to walk alongside you.

Call 613-287-3799 to learn more about refugee counselling services in Ottawa. You can also text us in your own langauge.

Frequently Asked Questions About Refugee Counselling Services in Ottawa

Refugee counselling services are available to refugees and asylum seekers living in Ottawa, the surrounding areas and throughout Ontario. . We can provide in person counselling sessions in Ottawa and virtual sessions throughout Ontario, Manitoba, and Alberta. Eligibility for free counselling through IFHP depends on valid UCI documentation and a doctor’s referral. Our team can help explain eligibility requirements.

In most cases, yes. The Interim Federal Health Program covers the cost of counselling services for eligible refugees and asylum seekers. Coverage depends on each individual having valid IFHP coverage and a getting your therapist a doctor’s referral for counselling serivces.

Yes. A doctor’s referral is required for IFHP covered counselling services. Your IFHP insurance requires that you obtain a doctor’s referral for couselling for every 10 hours of service. If you are unsure how to obtain a referral, our team can help guide you through the process.

Yes. Counselling services are confidential. Our therapists at Family-Therapy adhere to strict standards of confidentiality and professional ethics in all our counselling services. Your personal information is kept private and confidential. Client information is only shared with your informed consent or when required by law, in accordance with Canadian privacy legislation and professional regulatory guidelines related to safety or legal obligations. Your therapist can explain the limits of confidentiality.

Yes, counselling can help with trauma related to war, displacement, and persecution, and is often an important part of recovery and adjustment. Counselling in a trauma-informed, culturally sensitive setting can improve your well-being, daily functioning, and sense of safety. Therapy moves at your pace, and you are never required to share painful details before you are ready. Counselling is support, not pressure, and you decide what to talk about and when.

Yes. We offer counselling services in a wide variety of languages, or they can be provided with the help of professional interpreters so clients can communicate in their preferred language. Counselling services can be offered in your preferred language with the support of a professional interpreter for a fee or through your IFHP insurance. Interpretation services are available at no cost in cases involving domestic violence. Language access is an essential part of culturally responsive care, ensuring you can receive counselling in their preferred language, so you feel understood, safe, and respected.

Yes, attending counselling before your Refugee Board hearing can help you feel better emotionally and more confidently prepared for your hearing. We encourage clients to begin counselling several months before their hearing. Counselling or mental health support can help you recall important past events more clearly and consistently, manage intense emotions, learn skills for coping with flashbacks or insomnia, feel calmer, and organize your thoughts so you can participate more confidently in your hearing. Early support can also help reduce anxiety, improve emotional stability, and strengthen your ability to take part clearly and consistently in your hearing process. Counselling does not replace your need for legal advice and representation.

We prioritize your emotional safety from the moment you reach out to our clinic for refugee mental health support. Our intake process for counselling for refugee claimants is designed to be accessible and stress-free.

Your journey begins with meeting with our intake worker to complete your forms, a process that usually takes just a few sessions and does not require you to disclose any painful details. When you are ready to meet your therapist, our primary goal is to understand your unique needs and what you hope to achieve through counselling. You remain in full control of your story and will never be pressured to discuss uncomfortable topics before you are ready.

Take your first step toward your recovery today by contacting Family-Therapy™ by phone or by using our easy online booking system to schedule a confidential consultation. Our team is available to answer your questions regarding IFHP eligibility and will clearly explain the next steps for starting your counselling sessions.