About SPHEO

The Separation Planning Hub of Eastern Ontario (SPHEO) is a community-based, client-centred service that aims to assist individuals who are separating to navigate clinical, legal and other practical resources best suited to their individual needs. 

Our Goals:

  • Provide a supportive space to identify your goals and needs

  • Provide you with a Separation Planning Professional (SPP)

  • Prepare an individualized Separation Roadmap, including resource referrals within Eastern Ontario

  • Promote an affordable, collaborative and child-focussed approach to your separation

Learn More:

  • SPHEO connects you with a Separation Planning Professional (SPP) who is either a lawyer, a clinician, or a social worker specifically trained to explore and identify your needs, goals, and priorities. We aim to work with you to create a safe, affordable, and collaborative Separation Roadmap.

  • We support and educate individuals at any stage in the separation process by primarily providing system navigation support. We connect you with legal and clinical services in the community. We also provide process options, mental health education and domestic violence screening, as well as referrals to relevant community resources and services that you may need.

  • We emphasize and encourage cooperative and peaceful means to work through the legal and practical issues arising from a separation because conflict has a significant and ongoing effect on separating spouses and their children.

Process

Please note:  SPHEO aims to support you in finding counselling, legal and other professionals, and to prepare you for those meetings to ensure a supportive, efficient and cost-effective way forward.

  • Separation Planning meeting: The Separation Planning meeting is virtual (by Zoom) and confidential, taking 1.5 hours. In-person meetings may be arranged in special circumstances. During the meeting, you and a Separation Planning Professional (SPP) will discuss your specific concerns and the issues to be resolved. You will learn about community resources to support your particular needs, as well as the process options available to resolve the legal issues. Book your Separation Planning meeting here.

  • A Separation Roadmap is a personalized plan that you will receive following your Separation Planning meeting. It includes your stated objectives and priorities as well as a list of the community resources specific to your needs and goals.

  • There is a fee of $175.00 for the first 1.5 hours for the Separation Planning meeting. Every additional 30 minutes is $50.00 to a maximum of 2.5 hours.

    An e-transfer payment must be made prior to the beginning of the SPP session.

  • We serve all of Eastern Ontario. We offer services in both French and English. While we may meet with clients outside of our service area, we may be limited in identifying community resources outside of this geographical area.

  • All Separation Planning meetings include screening for domestic violence. All clients receive information about domestic violence resources. If you or any members of your family are deemed to be at risk, the Separation Planning Professional (SPP) is required by law to make a referral to a child protection agency (where there are children involved), and may consult with a domestic violence professional.

  • Book your Separation Planning Meeting here.