If you've been searching for a sex therapist in Ottawa, you've probably noticed that most pages explain what sex therapy is and then go quiet on the part you actually need: how you'd book it, who you'd see, and whether you can do it without anyone in your building or your household knowing. This guide covers that practical side, plainly and without anything explicit.
This post is general information, not a diagnosis or medical advice.
Sex therapy in Ottawa, the short version
Sex therapy is talk therapy. You and your therapist talk, and that's all. There's no physical contact, no undressing and no examination. Sessions focus on the thoughts, feelings, relationship patterns and life pressures that shape your sexual well-being.
That focus has research behind it. A peer-reviewed review on the psychological and interpersonal side of sexual function describes how anxiety, guilt, past experiences and the quality of a relationship can all play a part in sexual concerns, which is why a conversation-based approach can help. For a broader look at the kinds of concerns sex therapy can address, see our sex therapy page.
Some concerns have physical contributors too. This post isn't medical advice, and a sex therapist won't diagnose a physical condition, but therapy can still help with the stress, worry and communication that often sit around them.
How Ottawa clients see a sex therapist with us
Our Ottawa office is at 1 Rideau St, 7th floor, inside the Château Laurier in downtown Ottawa. The office offers individual therapy for adults, teens and children aged 6 and up, couples sessions and ADHD assessments, in person and online.
For sex therapy specifically, the simplest route is online. Clinicians on our team whose profiles list sex therapy see clients online anywhere in Ontario, so an Ottawa client can work with them from home. If meeting in person downtown matters to you, ask us about in-person availability when you book, and we'll tell you honestly what we can offer.
There's no need for a referral. You can book sex therapy in Ottawa directly through our admin team.
Privacy when you meet from home
Privacy is often the biggest worry, and it's a reasonable one. Here's how online sessions work, plus a few practical tips:
How you join. We email you a secure link to an encrypted video platform. There's nothing to download.
Find a door that closes. A bedroom, a parked car or a borrowed office all work. Some people book a time when others in the household are out.
Use headphones. Your therapist's voice stays with you, even in a small apartment.
Set a cue. Agree with your therapist on a word or gesture that means "someone just walked in," so you can pause without explaining.
Check your notifications. Turn off previews on a shared tablet or laptop so session emails don't pop up for others.
These small steps make it easier to speak openly, which is where the real work happens.
Couples sex therapy in Ottawa, one link or two
Many people come as a couple. Couples sex therapy in Ottawa can happen online with both of you in the same room, sharing one screen. It can also work with each partner joining from a different place, which helps when you work different shifts, live apart for part of the week or simply speak more freely in your own space. Either way, both partners need to be in Ontario during the session.
Some couples alternate: a joint session one week, then an individual session for each partner. Your therapist will talk through what fits. Partners don't always want the same things, and when desire is out of step it's one of the most common reasons couples reach out. It's workable, and nobody is cast as the problem.
When it sits alongside couples counselling
Sexual concerns rarely live in a separate box from the rest of a relationship. Conflict, resentment, a new baby, an affair or just years of busy routine can all show up in the bedroom. Sometimes the most useful starting point is broader relationship work, with intimacy as one part of it.
If that sounds closer to where you are, our guide to couples counselling in Ottawa explains how that work is set up. You don't need to decide alone. Describe what's going on during the free consultation, and we'll help you choose between sex therapy, broader couples counselling or a mix of both.
Sexual health therapy for every orientation and relationship style
Sexual health therapy in Ottawa with us is affirming of every orientation, gender identity and relationship style, including consensual non-monogamy. You won't be asked to justify your relationship or educate your therapist. If identity or coming out is part of what you'd like to talk about, our post on 2SLGBTQIA+ affirming therapy in Ottawa may also help.
If past experiences are part of it
For some people, sexual concerns are tied to something painful that happened before, including sexual abuse or assault. If that's true for you, you stay in charge of the pace. You don't have to share details to get started, and you can say "I'm not ready to talk about that yet" at any point. A good therapist will focus first on helping you feel steady and safe in sessions, and only move toward harder material when you choose to. You can also let us know on the consultation call that trauma is part of the picture, so we can suggest a clinician with that experience.
Can intimacy counselling online really work?
It's a fair question. A systematic review and meta-analysis of internet-based psychological programs for sexual concerns found that they improved sexual functioning and satisfaction for many participants compared with control groups, although results varied and were stronger for some concerns than others. That research looked at structured online programs, not live video sessions, but it supports what many clients find: talking about intimacy can be easier from a familiar, private space.
Intimacy counselling in Ottawa online also removes the commute and the waiting room, which for some people is the difference between booking and not booking.
Questions to ask on the free consultation
The free call is with our admin team, not a therapist, and it's about logistics. Here are a few things you might ask:
"Which therapists on your team list sex therapy, and how do they work?"
"Can we do this online, or is there in-person availability downtown?"
"Can my partner join some sessions and not others?"
"Can you check whether you can direct bill my insurance?"
You don't need to describe the concern in detail on that call. "It's about our sex life" or "it's about intimacy" is enough.
Cost, billing and your first step
Sessions with our therapists range from $130 to $200, depending on the clinician.
Depending on your plan, insurance may cover some or all of the cost. Coverage varies, so check your plan.
We accept Health Spending Accounts (HSAs).
We can direct bill many insurers, including for sessions with a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying). Desjardins is the exception: through TELUS eClaims, we can direct bill Desjardins for sessions with an RSW, RP or psychologist, but not for an RP (Qualifying).
Book a free 15-minute consultation with our admin team. Mention that you're in Ottawa and whether you'd like to start online or ask about in person.
If you're in crisis: if you or anyone else is in immediate danger, call 911. If you're having thoughts of suicide, call or text 9-8-8 any time.
Talking about sex can feel like the hardest part. After the first few minutes, most people find it's just another conversation.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Sources
Assalian P. Psychological and interpersonal dimensions of sexual function and dysfunction, Arab Journal of Urology, 2013
Zarski AC and colleagues. Internet- and mobile-based psychological interventions for sexual dysfunctions: a systematic review and meta-analysis, npj Digital Medicine, 2022