Name

Counselling and Family Service Ottawa

Legal name

Counselling and Family Service Ottawa

Website

https://cfsottawa.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1940

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Counselling and Social Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Domestic Violence & Abuse Support Services (BPAGAEAD)

Keywords

• Counselling services
• Family therapy
• Domestic violence support
• Gender-based violence
• Community social services

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottawa (Vanier)

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: CFS Ottawa receives funding from government bodies including the Ministry of Health, Ministry of the Attorney General, Ontario Health, the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, the City of Ottawa, and National Defence. This constitutes the primary revenue stream supporting agency operations.
2. United Way: CFS Ottawa receives significant fundraising support through United Way, identified as one of the core donors under Franca DiDiomete's leadership.
3. Donations: The organization accepts charitable donations from the public, with a dedicated donation page on its website.
4. Client Fees (Sliding Scale): Many programs are available on a sliding scale fee basis based on income and number of dependents. Some services, including advocacy, walk-in counselling, and all services for survivors of gender-based violence, are provided free of charge.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CFS Ottawa delivers professional counselling, education, outreach, and advocacy services to Ottawa residents of all ages. The organization operates individual, couple, family, and group counselling programs, walk-in counselling, specialized intervention programs for domestic violence offenders, child/youth court witness support, and survivor support services for victims of gender-based violence and sexual abuse. Services are offered in English and French, delivered in-person, by phone, and online, with sliding-scale and free-of-charge pricing options.

Product overview

Counselling and Family Service Ottawa (CFS Ottawa) is a bilingual non-profit social service organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of counselling and support programmes. The organization operates primarily as a service provider rather than a technology product company. Core services include individual, couple, and family counselling, walk-in counselling, and advocacy services. Specialized programmes address domestic violence (New Directions PAR, Caring Dads), sexual abuse survivors (separate programmes for men, Francophone women), partner violence survivors, and child/youth court witness support. Additional services include practical support for women leaving abusive relationships, resilience building, and parenting counselling. Services are delivered primarily in-person at their Ottawa location with some online components. Many services are free; others use a sliding scale fee based on income.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Counselling for Individuals, Couples and Families Professional counselling services including individual, couple, and group counselling sessions to help clients cope with trauma, anger management, depression, anxiety, and relationship issues. Available to Ottawa residents of all ages on a sliding-scale fee basis.
• Walk-in Counselling Clinic Free, no-appointment counselling clinic offering in-person, virtual, and phone sessions on Thursdays 12-8pm and Fridays 12-5pm. Available to anyone over age 6.
• New Directions (Partner Assault Response) 12-week group counselling program for individuals charged with or convicted of domestic violence, referred via Court Order. Sliding-scale fee based on annual income. Helps participants take responsibility and learn healthier relationship behaviours.
• Caring Dads Program 14-session group program for fathers who have neglected, abused, or exposed children to domestic violence, aimed at improving child safety and emotional well-being.
• Child and Youth Court Witness Program Support program helping children and youth prepare for and navigate court testimony, including courtroom tours, preparation sessions, and accompaniment.
• Counselling for Children Individual counselling and play therapy for children and youth aged 4-17 dealing with anxiety, anger, depression, family changes, and other emotional challenges.
• Counselling for Parents Parenting support program helping parents explore personal challenges affecting parenting and develop enhanced parenting skills.
• Men Who are Survivors of Sexual Abuse Programme Programme providing a safe environment for men (aged 16+) who have been sexually abused, including 12-week group sessions and up to 12 individual counselling sessions.
• Francophone Women Survivors of Sexual Abuse Programme French-language programme offering counselling and support groups for Francophone women survivors of sexual abuse to help regain control and manage trauma symptoms.
• Francophone Women Survivors of Partner Violence Programme French-language services for Francophone women subjected to partner abuse, including individual counselling, support groups, accompaniment, and advocacy.
• Practical Support for Women Survivors of Violence Services helping women leaving abusive relationships navigate practical challenges including housing, financial assistance, legal aid, and safety planning.
• Support for Francophone Survivors of Sexual Misconduct in the CAF Community-based counselling and group therapy for Francophone survivors of sexual misconduct in the Canadian Armed Forces, available online, in-person, and by phone. Funded by National Defence.
• Advocacy for Excluded Communities Advocacy services for vulnerable and marginalized individuals facing barriers related to immigration, refugee status, disabilities, and low income, providing information, referrals, and community outreach.
• Resilience and Capacity Building Programme Programme building emotional resilience through individual or group sessions focusing on emotional regulation, anger management, and daily living skills.
• Francophone Children Witnesses to Domestic Violence Program French-language counselling services for children (aged 4-17) and their mothers who have witnessed or been victims of domestic abuse, including individual and group sessions.
• Survivor Supports Resource Directory Online directory connecting survivors of gender-based violence to community resources including emergency shelters, crisis lines, and specialized services. Funded by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services.

Quantifiable outcome

• 738 people received individual, couple and family counselling at CFS last year
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Eastern Ottawa Resource CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Survivor Supports program. Provides crisis line and community-based non-residential support for survivors of intimate partner violence in Eastern Ottawa.
• Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women (OCTEVAW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Survivor Supports program. Coalition of organizations working to end violence against women in Ottawa.
• Unsafe At Home OttawacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Survivor Supports program. Provides safe text and chat service for women and 2SLGBTQ+ community members experiencing violence at home.
• Western Ottawa Community Resource CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Survivor Supports program. Provides community-based non-residential support for survivors of intimate partner violence in Western Ottawa.
• Jewish Family ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead agency for the walk-in counselling clinic program, transferring funds to CFS Ottawa and other partner agencies in the Champlain Region.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• YWCA Ottawa: Ottawa non-profit focused on women, gender-diverse people, and families fleeing violence. Direct peer in gender-based violence service delivery, shelter referral pathways, and survivor advocacy programming.
• Jewish Family Services of Ottawa: Ottawa-based non-profit social services agency delivering counselling, case management, and community programs. Lead agency for the walk-in counselling clinic that transfers funds to CFS Ottawa, making it both a direct operational peer and a funding counterpart.
• Western Ottawa Community Resource Centre: Community resource centre serving Western Ottawa with social services including survivor supports and crisis line. Direct partner in CFS Ottawa's Survivor Supports program and operator of the 24-hour crisis helpline CFS Ottawa refers clients to.
• Eastern Ottawa Resource Centre: Community resource centre providing non-residential support for survivors of intimate partner violence in Eastern Ottawa. Direct partner in CFS Ottawa's Survivor Supports program with overlapping counselling and crisis service offerings.
• Canadian Mental Health Association Ottawa: Ottawa branch of national mental health non-profit offering counselling, support groups, and advocacy. Comparable in mental-health counselling mandate, sliding-scale pricing, and government-grant funding model.
• Distress Centre Ottawa and Region: Ottawa-based crisis and distress line non-profit serving the same regional population. Comparable as a non-profit mental-health/crisis provider reliant on government and donor funding for 24/7 service delivery.
• Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women (OCTEVAW): Coalition of Ottawa organizations working to end gender-based violence; CFS Ottawa is a partner member. OCTEVAW operates in the same service ecosystem coordinating survivor support, advocacy, and policy work.
• Family Services Ottawa (Centretown/Westboro): Ottawa-area non-profit providing individual, couple, and family counselling with sliding-scale fees. Directly comparable in service model, fee structure, and target population to CFS Ottawa's core counselling programme.

Broad incumbents

• Kids Help Phone: National non-profit providing e-mental-health services to young people in Canada, including live chat and phone counselling for ages 5-29. Comparable in youth counselling mandate though national in scale versus CFS Ottawa's regional focus.
• Catholic Family Services of Toronto (Valerie Mason Memorial Counselling Centre): Toronto-area Catholic-affiliated family services agency with a similar faith-origin heritage to CFS Ottawa. Comparable in counselling, family services, and historical identity, though operating in a different geography and larger market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cfsottawa

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Counselling and Family Service Ottawa