Counselling workshops and groups

This workshop is offered in-person

Who this workshop is for:

This workshop series is for graduate students who are interested in committing to anti-racism, and the self-exploration and self-challenges that may arise when building an anti racist culture.  
Being anti-racist is not about who you are, but it is about what you do. 

Topics covered and what you will learn:

Antiracism is an active way of walking in the world, with the intent to identify, challenge and change values, ideas and policies that support and perpetuate racism.  Racism occurs in all areas of society and presents through individual attitudes and behaviors and through formal and unspoken policies and practices within multiple institutions.  In the absence of antiracism, we are upholding, consciously and unconsciously, aspects of white dominant culture, white supremacy and inequities on campus and in our communities.  

This workshop series provides a place to explore the question: How effective are my actions towards creating an anti racist culture?  It also allows a place to build community and foster resiliency when engaging in anti-racism work (“keeping skin in the game” versus putting it down when it gets tough).

Topics include:  

• Understanding and Managing Race Related Stress and Distress
•  Building Resiliency in the Face of Racialized Trauma
•  Recognizing and Responding to Racism and Micro-aggressions
• Recognizing and Learning to Manage Racialized Impostor Syndrome 

Workshop details:

Length of workshop: 1.5 hours (90 minutes)

Mondays:10:30 to 12:00 p.m.

October 7: Understanding and Managing Race Related Stress and Distress
October 21: Resiliency in the Face of Racial Trauma
October 28: Recognizing and Responding to Microaggressions
November 4: Learning to Recognized and Manage Racialized Impostor Syndrome

This workshop is offered in-person & Zoom

Who this workshop is for?

Anyone who would like to learn information and practical strategies to maintain and enhance their relationships. This workshop applies to all types of relationships, e.g., friends, family, partners, peers, co-workers, etc.

Topics covered and what you will learn:

Stress from life and school can and often does create stress in relationships we have with others. This workshop will focus on research derived, practical and effective strategies for maintaining and enhancing your relationships. Learn what can predict relationship stability and satisfaction with over 90% accuracy. You'll also learn strategies and skills to communicate and address conflict:

• Learn specific strategies and skills to communicate and address conflict in a way that may be easier for others to hear without compromising the integrity of your message
• Learn about conflict styles and non-verbal communication
• Gain skills to address behaviours that get in the way of connecting and communicating with others, including the four behaviours that have been empirically shown to be most damaging to communicating and building positive relationships

Reviews: see what other students are saying about this workshop

• "Please go! After taking this workshop, all I could think was wow, I wish everyone I know would go to this. It was so helpful!"
• "This is helpful for all relationships when approaching conflict or even improving them even when not in conflict. The skills are applicable in the moment and preventative as well."
• "I liked the fact I could relate to many of the scenarios, and my questions were answered without needing to ask. It is definitely worth the time investment, both in and out of it."
• "This is such a useful workshop. We cannot go through life without any sort of conflict, but learning how to deal with those situations in a more productive way is a skill that everyone should learn".
• "Very informative and helpful session not only for studies but for life... must go for it".

Workshop details:
Length of workshop: 2 hours (120 minutes)
Thursdays: 10:00-12:00 p.m.

• September 26 (in-person)
• October 24 (Zoom)
• November 21 (Zoom)
• Grad Steps: Thursday November 7, 2:30-4:30 p.m. (Zoom)
   

Students must be in Manitoba to attend the Zoom workshops.

This is workshop is offered in-person

Who this workshop is for: This workshop series is for students who would like to learn strategies for managing depression and anxiety. Attend all sessions or those of interest.

Topics covered:

November 18:  Managing Expectations: Enhancing Self-Esteem (CBT Session)
November 25: Knowing and Liking Myself (ACT Session)
December 2: Approaching My Fears (CBT Session)
December 9: Activities Scheduling (BA Session)

Workshop details:

Length of workshop: 2 hours (120 minutes)
Mondays: 10:30-12:30 p.m.

Session #1
November 18, 25
December 2, 9
Facilitators: Joshua LeClair and Christina Sander

This workshop is offered in-person

Who this workshop is for: 

Graduate students only, students must register through grad steps.

Topics covered and what you will learn:

This grad steps workshop is for graduate students who are experiencing, witnessing and wanting to advocate to end microaggressions and to promote microaffirmations.  The session will define the different types of microaggressions that can occur on a daily basis, the impact of microaggressions and different ways to respond to microaggressions whether you are the person directly impacted by the microaggression or as a bystander with a responsibility to intercede.  Time will also be allocated to discussing ways to promote microaffirmations.

Workshop details:

This workshop is not offered in Fall 2024. Please check back with us to see the Winter dates and times. 

This workshop is offered in-person & Zoom

Who is this workshop for?

Anyone who has experienced trauma. What is trauma? It can include physical assault or sexual assault, physical or sexual abuse, emotional abuse, experiencing a crime (e.g. mugging), bullying, experiencing a natural disaster, experiencing war, traffic accidents, sudden loss of someone through violence or suicide, or experiencing a life-threatening illness. 

Topics covered and what you will learn:

If you have experienced a traumatic event that is continuing to affect you, consider attending this workshop to:

• Learn about and understand what happens in our bodies and brain when we experience trauma,
  • This includes how your brain made the decision how to survive, not you
• Learn quick and effective strategies to calm and ground ourselves to manage triggers and anxiety
• This workshop is focused on learning and skill-building: increase your control over your body and reactions

No personal sharing about your specific experience happens in this workshop

Reviews: see what other students are saying about this workshop

• "The workshop was very well thought out and included lots of helpful information. I thoroughly enjoyed the course and believe I have learned more about trauma and ways of coping through this course than I have throughout my entire mental health journey. I didn’t feel like I was being force fed information as the delivery of the workshop was very relaxing and easy to follow".
• "I highly recommend it, I think the questions you had us answer [on our own] were insightful. It’s the kind of stuff you won't just forget about once the workshop ends. I have a feeling I'll be going back to those questions and really think on them long after the workshop ends. I think it also provided me with knowledge on how to address trauma in others’ lives".
• "It was helpful to be with others who have experienced trauma, knowing that I'm not alone. Understanding that my experience fits with known patterns for trauma and being given tangible coping strategies was helpful in making me feel more supported and more in control of my own life moving forward".
• "I loved the layout of it. The balance of the scientific facts and how that affects us emotionally. I also loved the prompts. This workshop really brought a lot of issues to light for me and gave me a lot of answers I have been searching for".
• "This course is a great first step for those looking to understand and overcome trauma. I would also recommend this to people who have explored their trauma in a therapeutic setting, but feel that they require another approach".

Workshop details:

Length of workshop: 2 hours (120 minutes)
Thursdays: 2:30-4:30 p.m. for 2 weeks in a row (part 1 & 2)

Part 1                                                      Part 2

Sept 26 - in-person                                Oct 3 - in-person

Oct 17 - Zoom                                        Oct 24 - Zoom

Nov 21 - Zoom                                       Nov 28 - Zoom

This workshop is offered in-person & Zoom

Who this workshop is for: This workshop series is designed for students who would like to learn strategies to cope with difficulties that are common among university students. Students must be in the province of Manitoba to attend sessions offered via Zoom. 

Topics covered and what you will learn:

Each session focuses on a specific topic: Procrastination, Perfectionism, Sleep, and Low Self­ Esteem. The students will learn about the aforementioned topics and coping strategies to start addressing these difficulties.

Reviews: see what other students are saying about this workshop

• "The workshop gave me many tools to use on a daily basis and I learned a lot of things that I can incorporate in my daily life."

• "The worksheets helped a lot, instructions were straight forward. I left the workshop in a better mood."

Workshop details:

Length of Workshop: 1.5 hours (90 minutes)

Fridays: 1:30-3:00 p.m. (Zoom)

October 4: Procrastination
October 11: Low Self-Esteem 
October 18: Sleep Difficulties 
October 25: Perfectionism

Wednesdays: 2:30-4:00 p.m. (in-person):

November 6: Procrastination
November 13: Low Self-Esteem 
November 20: Sleep Difficulties 
November 27: Perfectionism 

This workshop is offered on Zoom

Who is this workshop for?

Anyone who is thinking about or in the process of career planning

Topics covered and what you will learn:

Learn how you can create unexpected opportunities for yourself by recognizing and including chance events into your career plan

Reviews: see what other students are saying about this workshop

• "This workshop will provide a bit of comfort about the future knowing that there are a large number of things you can control and do to help with job opportunities."
• "The instructor provided a lot of useful examples and approaches for implementing planned happenstance in career planning."
• "If you're feeling uncertain about your approach to career development or other more general contexts, you may find this workshop to be quite useful for re-evaluating your outlook
• You will learn some new skills about creating your own career opportunities."
• "To know about the concept of happenstance was the most useful thing about the workshop and it was great to know that any effort made counts towards the goal."

Workshop details:

Length of workshop: 1.5 hours (90 minutes)

Grad Steps (for graduate students only – students can register through Grad Steps)

Friday December 6, 2:30-4:00 p.m. (Zoom)
Thursday February 13, 2:30-4:00 p.m. (Zoom)

Students must be in Manitoba to attend the Zoom sessions.

This workshop is offered in-person 

Who this workshop is for: This is a single session workshop and is open to any UM student. No previous experience with mindfulness-based meditation is required. 

What you will learn: In each session, participants are introduced to the practice of mindfulness to become more aware and accepting of their experiences non-judgmentally, allowing them to respond to stressful situations in a different way.

Workshop details:

Length of workshop: 1 hour (60 minutes)
Wednesdays: 12:30-1:30 p.m.

Sept 11, 18, 25
Oct 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Nov 6, 13, 20, 27
Dec 4, 11, 18

This workshop is offered on Zoom

Who this work is for:

Anyone who has experienced the break-up of a romantic relationship and would like support to begin to process the loss. Participants will learn some information about the process and about themselves, and gain some resources and suggestions for next steps.

Topics covered and what you will learn:

• Stages of a break-up and the emotions involved
• Grief and coping
• Self-care
• Learning from the past
• Identity
• Self-esteem
• Learning about letting go

Reviews: see what other students are saying about this workshop

• "I say do it. If you're in a rough place and need some help getting out of it, you're definitely going to get something good out of this workshop. It's a step forward towards trying to be there for yourself, whether that'd be for present you, or future you."
• "This experience helped me clear things and open up."
• "It's nice to feel validated about strong feelings that one might be feeling in regards to breakups. It's definitely helpful knowing that there is hope in knowing that things can get better."
• "The tips and guidance helped a lot."

Workshop details:  
Length of workshop: 3 hours (180 minutes)
Tuesdays: 2:30-5:30 p.m. (Zoom)

Fall 2024: 
Tuesday October 22 
Tuesday November 26

This workshop is offered in-person at the SCC

Who this workshop is for:  Students of any gender who want to increase their sense of contentment and self-worth, reduce perfectionism or harsh self-talk, and have a more peaceful relationship with themselves.

Topics covered and what you will learn:

Self-compassion is a way of approaching our thoughts and feelings with kindness. But it is not just about being nicer to ourselves; research on self-compassion shows that it can increase our motivation and reduce self-blame and self-criticism. Together, we will learn about what self-compassion is, how it can be helpful, and do a short practice together. 

Workshop details:

Length of workshop: 1 hour (60 minutes)
Mondays: 12:30-1:30 p.m.
September 23
October 28
December 2

This workshop is offered in-person at the SCC and Zoom

Everyone experiences stress at times and this is definitely true for university students. It is also common for people and students to feel overwhelmed by stress and to struggle to cope and manage. The Student Counselling Centre has developed a three session workshop series to help students manage stress and wellness. Each workshop is unique and students can attend any that they would like – you do not need to attend all three but we do recommend doing so to get the most out of the workshop series.

Who this workshop is for: This workshop series is for any student looking to develop skills to improve coping when faced with life challenges and feeling stressed and distressed.

What you will learn: Across all three workshops you will learn to: notice and identify triggers and factors contributing to stress in your life; develop and identify strategies to help you; and expand your awareness about resources available to you both on and off campus. 

Topics covered include:

Session 1: Foundations of Wellness (S1):

• Self-compassion and forgiveness
• Importance of nutrition, ways to improve sleep 
• Stress reduction strategies

Session 2: Calming the Body (S2):

• Strategies for reducing the stress in body including breathing techniques
• Progressive muscle relaxation
• Visualization activities and TIPP skills

Session 3: Calming the Mind (S3):

• Mindful observation of thoughts 
• "ABC's" of paying attention to thoughts
• Unhelpful thinking traps and strategies for challenging negative thinking 
• Being more self-supportive

Workshop details:

Length of Workshop: 1 hour 50 Minutes (110 minutes)

Tuesdays: 2:30-4:15 p.m.

Sept 10, 17, 24 

Fridays:10:30-12:15 p.m.

Sept 27, Oct 4, 11     

(This series will be offered outdoors, weather permitting. If interested, 

please contact us for more information).

Thursdays: 10:00 – 12:00 p.m.

Oct 10, 17, 24 

Fridays: 10:30-12:15 p.m. 

Oct 25, Nov 1, 8 

Tuesdays: 1:30-3:15 p.m. 

Nov 12, 19, 26 

Mondays: 10:30-12:15 p.m.

Dec 2, 9, 16

December series is on Zoom. Students must be in Manitoba to

attend.

This is a drop in group.

Who this group is for: A four session stand-alone workshop series to help students recognize other factors that may be contributing to their academic performance and overall sense of wellness. 

This workshop series will focus on building community connections, inclusion and active learning by providing opportunity to learn new information, engage in open dialogue and/or listening, share resources and practice new skills together at the Student Wellness Centre.   

Topics include:

• Recognizing and Responding to Impostor Syndrome
• Optimism and Personal Responsibility
• Happiness and Laughter 
• Mindful Digital Practices

Workshop details: 

Length of workshop: 1 hour 15 minutes (75 minutes)

Wednesdays from 2:00-3:15 p.m.

October 2: Recognizing and Responding to Impostor Syndrome
October 23: Optimism and Personal Responsibility
November 6: Happiness and Laughter
November 27: Mindful Digital Practices

This group is offered in-person at the SCC 

This three session group explores the Enneagram and leads students into a path of self-discovery. Using the nine spaces of the Enneagram as tools, students can begin to explore personality types as well as finding ways to bring balance into their lives.  Benefits include insight into self, relationships and others, and dedicated time to reflect on negative patterns of behaviour.  As well, understanding the symbols of the Enneagram calls attention and understanding to each part of ourselves, Head, Heart and Body.  Unlocking this tool promotes personal growth and helps us to understand the connections between personality, essence and spirituality.

Group Details:

Tuesdays: 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Sept. 24, 2024
Oct. 1, 2024
Oct. 8, 2024

Nov. 12, 2024
Nov. 19, 2024
Nov. 26, 2024

This group is offered in-person at the Spiritual Care and Multi-Faith Centre Group Room 5th Floor University Centre Room 524.

Who is this group for:

This six week group is for students who identify as BIBOC (Black, Indigenous Bodies of Culture) who are seeking to heal the soul wounds of racialized trauma. We will focus on understanding the impact of racialized trauma, recognizing how racialized trauma may be presenting in the body and learning individual and community healing strategies to help settle the body. 

Topics covered and what you will learn :

This group will focus on active body practices and processing of feelings that arise within the body when considering racialized trauma. 

Group details:

Tuesdays from 1:00 to 2:15 pm with an optional additional 15-minute holding space for students who may need time to settle before returning to their day.

October 15, 22,29

November 5, 12, 19

This group is offered in-person in Winter 2025

Who this group is for: This is a group for students who have lost a loved one through death.

What you will learn: Sorrow from the death of a loved one was never meant to be endured in isolation. The purpose of this group is to provide a safe forum for addressing the realities of loss and grief, to connect with others, and to access resources that aid in the healing process.

Reviews: See what other students are saying about this group

• “I wish it could have last longer”.
• “Sessions seemed too short”.
•  “I felt less alone”.

Group Details:

• Sessions: This group involves six 90-minute sessions. Students who register will be contacted and asked to provide best weekdays and times that suit their schedule. The facilitator will then notify them of a time that work for the majority. 
• Length of Group: 1.5 hours (90 minutes)

Please call the SCC office to be added to the registration list for this group. The group will be scheduled based on the availability of the registered students.

This group will be offered in-person in Winter 2025

Who this group is for:

For students who want to better understand and constructively communicate their emotions.

Topics covered: 

• "What are emotions and why do they exist?" 

• "Exploring Our History with Emotions"

• "Becoming Mindful of Our Emotions"

• "Connecting with Others" 

• Topics raised by participants

Group Details:

Please call the SCC office to be added to the registration list for this group. The group will be scheduled based on the availability of the students. It is anticipated that this group will begin in October 2024.There will be a total of 6 sessions and each session will be 90 minutes long.

Reviews: See what other students are saying about this group

"Linda was a great facilitator! We received many practical tools, worksheets, and resources."

"This is a great group if you are experiencing difficulty and uncertainty around processing your emotions. A group setting can be daunting but Linda made it very safe."

"It was validating to realize that my concerns/difficulties are experienced by other people."

"Great for practicing and building empathy and compassion."

"I feel so much more enlightened and calmer."

This group is offered in-person & Zoom

Who this group is for:  Any UM student experiencing anxiety. This is a 5 session group that is closed to new participants after the group starts, as skills are additive over sessions.

What you will learn:  Participants will learn a number of strategies to cope more effectively with anxiety and worry which are part of everyday life and can sabotage our dreams and goals. This group will help you manage anxiety and worry by providing strategies to calm your body and understand and change your thinking to help you be more self supporting.

Group Details:

Students must be in Manitoba to attend the zoom sessions.

Fridays: 1:30 - 3:30 pm

Session #1, In-person
September 20, 27 
October 4, 11, 18
Facilitators: Tim Osachuk  (Joshua LeClair and Christina Sanderson observing &/or co-facilitating)

Session #2, ZOOM
November 1, 8, 22, 29, 
December 6
Facilitators:  Joshua LeClair and Christina Sander
(No group meeting during Fall Reading Week – Nov 15)
 

This group is offered in-person

Who this group is for:  Who this group is for: Any UM student experiencing some level of stress/ distress. This is a 5 session group and students are encouraged to attend all session because skills are additive over sessions.

What you will learn: Participants will be introduced to the practice of mindfulness to become more aware and accepting of their experiences non-judgmentally, allowing them to respond to stressful situations in different ways. Participants will be guided to practice a variety of mindfulness-based meditations over course of the group.

Group Details:

Fridays: 1:30 - 3:30 pm

Session #1
October 25
November 1, 8, 22, 29
December 6
No group meeting during Fall Reading Week – Nov 15, 2024

Facilitator:  Tim Osachuk

Reviews: see what other students are saying about this workshop

"It will help you more than you expect.  It deserves your time.  If you're overwhelmed now, this group is the key to change your situation."

"It will help you to focus better & achieve your study plans."

This group is offered via Zoom & in-person at the SCC 

Who this group is for: 

This group is for students who have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or suspect that they have ADHD. Although students are encouraged to attend all sessions of the group, students can attend as many or as few of the group topics as they desire. Pre-registration is required for each group topic. Each session will cover a specific topic that is relevant for students with ADHD. 

Topics covered and what you will learn:

• Managing My Attention and Focus 
• Organizing Myself and My Time
• Managing My Distracting and Negative Thoughts
• Improving My Self-Esteem and Social Connections
• Understanding and Regulating My Emotions

Students will learn about how these topics relate to ADHD and discuss ways to manage these ADHD-related difficulties and draw upon ADHD-related strengths. The group also provides participants the opportunity to connect with other students with ADHD. 

Reviews: see what other students are saying about this group

• “Kim fostered an extremely safe and accepting environment which allowed students to share what they were comfortable with. I enjoyed being able to share my experiences and hear the experiences of other students. Each session provided helpful tips and information for students, but also (and more importantly, in my opinion) really well explained what was happening in the ADHD brain and why we are experiencing these things - all using kind language. The tips are of course helpful, but understanding why without placing any additional blame on myself was the most valuable takeaway.”

• “Neurodivergence is greater than the sum of its parts, and it was great to have a space that validated all of my neurodivergence, not just the slice that is diagnosed as ADHD.”

• “Really appreciated the opportunity to meet other folks with attention difficulties, share experiences, and hear about the common issues! It really made certain things "click" for me and explained a lot of the difficulties I've been having lately.”

• “I liked that I was able to hear about and relate to other people's experience with ADHD. The information presented during the sessions also helped me to better understand my own experiences/issues and ways to deal with them, and to learn more about what ADHD is and how it affects one's everyday life.”

• “If you are a student struggling with ADHD or want to feel more affirmed, then I advise you to join this group. Kim creates a welcoming atmosphere that encourages people to share their stories, thoughts, and feelings.”

Group Details:

Students must be in Manitoba to attend the Zoom sessions.

• Length of Group: 2 hours (120 minutes)
• In person 1:30 to 3:30, Zoom 2:30 to 4:30

In-person: Wednesdays from September 25 to October 23
September 25: Managing My Attention and Focus
October 2: Organizing Myself and My Time 
October 9: Managing My Distracting and Negative Thoughts 
October 16: Improving My Self-Esteem and Social Connections 
October 23: Understanding and Regulating My Emotions

Zoom: Tuesdays from November 5 to December 3
November 5: Managing My Attention and Focus 
November 12: Organizing Myself and My Time 
November 19: Managing My Distracting and Negative Thoughts 
November 26: Improving My Self-Esteem and Social Connections 
December 3: Understanding and Regulating My Emotions 

This group is offered in-person 

Who this group is for: 

A group for Queer students and allies in the UM student community who have experienced harm and hurt through your faith community* simply because of your identity, who you love, or who you support.

A space to authentically show up, knowing you will be welcomed and supported, regardless of whether you:

• Have left your faith
• Are grappling with whether or not to stay
• Are choosing to remain part of your faith community

What will be covered in this group:

A gathering space for you to belong, to know, hear, and feel that you are beloved, to tell and process your story, and to receive the stories of others who have walked a similar path. We will explore ways of processing, healing, creating peace with identity, boundary making, loss and grief, the role or hope, and looking ahead to new ways of connection with your spiritual self and with community.

Queerly Beloved will be facilitated by Karla Penner, an SCC Counsellor who celebrates and delights in all of the Queer students she gets to cross paths with and Michelle Collins, a fully affirming and embracing Lutheran minister who is part of UM's Spiritual Care team.

*Students from all faith backgrounds and experiences are welcome.

Reviews: See what other students are saying about this workshop

"I appreciated the compassion of the facilitators and their willingness to learn.  Through attending Queerly Beloved I was able to have  weekly reminder that I am worthy and deserving."

"Queerly Beloved was helpful for finding people who relate to things that I find hard to connect with others about.  It helped to remind me that I'm not alone."

"I took away the shared experiences of others that helped me feel normal.  I became braver in reclaiming my identity."

Group Details: 

6 Consecutive Weeks, Sessions are 90 minutes in length

Please call the SCC office to be added to the registration list for this group. The group will be scheduled based on the availability of the students.

This is a “closed group” meaning that once the group begins with the first gathering, no new members will be able to join.

This group is offered in-person

 Who this group is for: Anyone who is feeling frustrated with family, friends, co-workers, or a romantic partner and anyone having difficulty relating to them, communicating, or getting along. It is also great for anyone who would like to improve relationships that are going well.

Topics covered: Learning what four empirically derived behaviors are part of research that can predict relationship stability and satisfaction with over 90% accuracy and how to identify and manage them.

What you will learn: This group is intended to provide information about healthy relationships. You will explore and develop skills to better understand and manage your relationships with others.  Participants will have an opportunity to discover their own strengths and style of relating, while gaining knowledge and resources. 

Reviews: see what other students are saying about this group

• "Do it! The content given in this group, the work you do outside of it (reading/quizzes) is SUPER helpful, not just for a romantic relationship, but with friends/family - any relationship with another person."
• "We were given the space to share our opinions about others' issues or questions. In my opinion, hearing others who have experiencing the issues I have experienced is as valuable as a professional counsellor. It also gives me a chance to see different responses to the same situation and help me to think differently than the way I am customized to."
• "Lori is very caring. It wasn't just giving out information about psychology but actually listening, understanding, and sorting things out. I will miss this group."
• "It is a great space to reflect and learn. It provides very applicable tools."
• "Lori was really great at creating a comfortable and safe space. Discussing the ideas and doing the readings was a great opportunity to reflect on things that we often take for granted."
   

Group Details:

Mondays: 1:30-3:30 p.m. 
October 21-December 2 
(no group on Nov 11 – Remembrance Day)

This Group is offered in-person

Who this group is for:  This support group is designed for Autistic students with official or self-diagnosis. The hope is to a provide a safe space for members to connect, validate, inform and support each other in areas of mutual interest, while creating a place to explore the unique challenges and gifts that adults on the spectrum face.

Topics covered: Some topics may include masking, communication, relationships, identity, emotions, etc. The possibilities will be as unique as the members of the group!

Group Details: To register please call SCC reception. The group facilitator/counsellor will contact you directly to arrange a time for a short intake session and will then determine group dates and time based on availability of the majority.

Sessions: The group will run for 6 consecutive weeks and each gathering will be 90 minutes in length. It is a “closed group” meaning that once the group begins with the first gathering, no new members will be able to join.

Reviews: see what other students are saying about this group

• “Being someone who struggles to connect with others, SOS facilitated deep connections with other’s experiences that I don’t often feel.”
• “The most useful thing about SOS was learning how other students navigate the world with Autism.  This resulted in me learning to face my challenges better and affirm the unique experiences that come with them.”
• “SOS was a welcoming and safe space to feel comfortable being myself.”

This group is offered in-person

Who this Group is for: 

For students who want to connect with others who care deeply about the climate emergency.

Topics covered: Check in and share ideas for coping, action, living with enormous systemic problems, and dreaming up a better future.

Let's talk about engaging the climate emergency in ways that show care for the climate / world, our close relationships, and our 'internal worlds' of thoughts, emotions, etc.

We'll use IFS and narrative therapy approaches, humour, acknowledgement of grief, and other approaches to the climate crisis.

Group details: 

Thursdays: 2:45 - 4:00p.m

5 meetings, every other Thursday:
October 10
October 24
November 7
November 21
December 5

This Group is offered in-person

Who is this group for:

Anyone who has experienced trauma and who has already attended Part 1 and Part 2 of this counsellor’s “It’s Over But It’s Not: Understanding and Managing the Ongoing Impact of Trauma” workshop. This is to ensure that everyone has the knowledge and skills from the workshop to draw on and share with one another. This group is a place to talk about the experience of trauma in a safe and supportive space, and to be with others who have a shared experience and can support one another. 
 

Topics covered and what you will learn:

This group is focused on an open discussion related to the experience of going through and managing trauma, not discussing or sharing specific details of any one person’s trauma (i.e. sharing what happened to you), as that has been shown to not be helpful in a group setting. 

Discussion topics may include:

• Managing trauma symptoms
• Self-esteem
• Trusting self and others
• Understanding emotions
• Reactions and symptoms
• Interacting with others and navigating relationships post-trauma
• Exploring shattered life assumptions
• Exploring new beliefs
• Exploring identity post-trauma
• Practicing calming and grounding strategies
• Anything else that the group members agree would be helpful.

You may come to as many or as few sessions as you like or find helpful.

Group Details:

Once a month for 1.5 hours - Day and time TBD. Please contact the SCC to add your name to the waitlist. The group will be scheduled based on the availability of the students.