Searching for Support Groups

Support group for family members or friends who have a loved one with a serious mental illness

• group is peer-lead by volunteer facilitators

COVID-19 : Staff and resident health monitoring in place for service continuity.

Emergency shelter for abused women, with or without children, victimized or threatened with physical, psychological, economical, emotional or sexual abuse

• offers follow-up
• general public education
• referral and legal information
• individual counselling or group support
• children's assistance
• counselling for historical sexual abuse

Support program

• one-on-one support, in a family conferences, or in a peer support group

COVID-19 (September 7, 2021): Visitor screening and mask required for office visits.

Family support and advocacy for those with Alzheimer Disease or other related dementia

• aims to alleviate personal and social consequences
• support and counselling available as one-on-one or family groups
• Day Support Program provides relief for caregivers
• education and supports research

COVID-19 (August 17, 2022): Some in person services. Some services are offered remotely. Referrals continue to be accepted.

Sexual assault support services

• 24 hour crisis line
• public education
• information/support groups
• counseling
• advocacy
• accompaniment
• referrals
• outreach program to all women survivors of sexual assault

Residential addictions treatment centre

• four to six month supportive treatment program for men aged 18 and over
• 24-hour support staff and an in-house addiction worker offering individualized treatment planning and delivery, group counselling and referral
• programming includes life skills, recreation, recovery enhancement, and relapse prevention

Mutual support group for those dealing with alcohol addiction

• employs a 12-step program

COVID-19 (October 5, 2021): The program is currently operating by phone rather than at the Centre until further notice. Call 613-361-6363 for questions and to receive support.

This information is regularly updated on their website.

Addictions assessment/treatment agency

• offers initial assessment, treatment planning, individual/group therapy for individuals and their loved ones
• offers the Early Childhood Development (ECD) project, an addiction treatment service for women who are pregnant and/or have children under six years of age
• provides weekly or bi-weekly individual counselling/treatment sessions, family intervention and a Substance Relapse Prevention group
• Problem Gambling Community Treatment Program offers weekly or bi-weekly fifty-minute individual sessions based on bio-psychosocial and cognitive behavioral therapy modalities
• treatment is offered on site
• offers family intervention, relapse prevention, referrals as well as discharge and aftercare planning

Services available by appointment only in Winchester and Alexandria

Voluntary health organization for Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

• offers support to people with MS
• provides public education and information
• fund raises for client support and research
• support group

Helps to develop strategies to confidently manage children's or adolescents' behaviours

• reduce parental stress
• public seminars, groups or discussion groups for parents and caregivers
• toolbox of proven solutions for difficult parenting problems
• calendar of seminars and groups available online

Peer support groups, education, and training for family members, service providers, and caregivers

Sessions may include information such as advanced directives and safety issues

Peer support groups, education, and training for family members, service providers, and caregivers

Sessions may include information such as advanced directives and safety issues

Peer support groups, education, and training for family members, service providers, and caregivers

Sessions may include information such as advanced directives and safety issues

Peer support groups that provide education and training for family members, service providers, and caregivers

• on a person to person basis
• sessions may include information such as advanced directives, safety issues, and community resources
• group sessions may provide informal chat and social interactions
• online access to caregiver education

Francophone non-profit aiming to raise awareness in the community regarding violence against women, to support and equip affected women and their dependents

• education, prevention, awareness-raising in the community

Outreach Program:

• safety plan
• needs assessment
• individual counselling
• accompaniment to court, lawyer, police, etc.
• advocacy; and referrals
• individual counselling for children and youth

Transitional and Housing Support Programs:

• safety plan
• needs assessment
• find and keep suitable housing
• accompaniment
• assistance applying for documents and financial assistance
• budget assistance
• help when going back to school
• help finding a job

Pattern Changing Support Group: educational program to help abused women live a better life

Girls Only Support Group: for girls in grades 9 and 10

Hand in Hand Network: network of volunteers offering clients transportation, child care, shelter support, and community development

Self Discovery Group: Group for getting to know and accepting yourself

Branch office of a community support services agency

• counselling services
• customized workshops and community integration services
• advocacy for adults with a developmental disability
• group therapy for male survivors of sexual abuse

See separate listings for additional programs

Peer support groups, education, and training for family members, service providers, and caregivers

Sessions may include information such as advanced directives and safety issues

Support groups

Confidential, comfortable and open atmosphere where families, friends, spouses, and people who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans (GLBT) can:

• share their feelings and experiences
• share knowledge
• reach out
• search and discover more about the human condition.

Presentations for groups wishing to gain a better understanding and awareness of LGBTQI2S identities and issues

Peer support groups, education, and training for family members, service providers, and caregivers

Sessions may include information such as advanced directives and safety issues

Branch office of a community counselling agency

• counselling services
• customized workshops
• community integration services
• advocacy for adults with a developmental disability
• group therapy for male survivors of sexual abuse

See separate listings for additional programs

COVID-19 (10 Jan 2023): shelter remains open with health and safety precautions in place. The crisis line remains open to provide assistance. Support groups and other programming are on hold until further notice.

Visit their website for additional information.

Emergency shelter for abused women 16 years and older with or without children

Support services:

• informal counselling at the shelter
• Child & Youth Services for residents
• support groups for women and/or children
• educational presentations on violence against women sector
• information about community resources and assistance in accessing those resources
• if available, emergency clothing provided
• daily balanced meals
• toiletries
• referral to appropriate medical attention when necessary
• follow-up services

Program created to help women overcome the consequences related to violence and abuse and to help them reorganize their lives

• support
• information regarding the different types of abuse
• advice to help women take control of their lives
• opportunity to build a support network

Program that offers support groups for family violence witnesses

• simultaneous support groups for children and the mothers
• mothers whose children refuse to join the program can still attend group sessions to get advice on how to support their children

Support groups

Beating the Blues:

• group for individuals with symptoms of depression or anxiety, or individuals who are feeling stressed
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)-based program consists of eight online sessions lasting approximately an hour
• teaches strategies to help cope better in the short term, and skills to face the future
• held in a group setting in the conference room
• each client will be provided with a laptop and their own earphones
• a therapist will be present to guide clients through the program, answer questions, and offer assistance as needed
• capacity of 7

Stepping Forward:

• group for individuals suffering from major depression and who want to enter therapy to better understand and manage their symptoms
• cognitive-behavioral approach
• psychoeducation and psychotherapy
• capacity of 6-10 people
• 16 week group that can be completed in blocks of four weeks
• semi-open group accepting new clients every four weeks

Social Anxiety Group:

• group for individuals experiencing social anxiety symptoms
• psychoeducation on social anxiety and its cognitive distortions
• lifestyle education

Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR):

• mindfulness group to help clients learn to manage their stress to better adapt to daily life in a balanced and healthy way
• evaluation period followed by 9 weeks of 2.5 hour long group sessions, as well as a full day session between the 6th and 7th session
• participants are asked to practice meditation every day at home, guided by CDs
• capacity of 8-12 people
• see www.umassmed.edu/cfm for more information

Mindfulness-based Relapse Prevention (MBRP):

• program that integrates mindfulness meditation with relapse prevention
• cognitive-behavioural treatment to help prevent or manage relapse in individuals following addiction treatments

Yoga:

• helps individuals manage mental health symptoms (depression, anxiety) and reduce stress
• capacity of 6-10 people

Sessions include:

• open discussions on daily stress factors and how to manage them
• low-impact yoga
• relaxation
• breathing techniques
• meditation

Peer Support Groups:

• personal coaching
• various workshops customizable to the client's needs and interests
• Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP)

Art Therapy:

• individuals create art through various mediums
• unstructured approach focused on individual progress