Fall 2023 Adult Educational Workshops Schedule

Grief and Loss: Living with the Sorrow of Addiction and Codependency—Hybrid: In-person or virtual
Saturday, November 4, 2023 from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm
Facilitators: Wally Clare and Michelle Tasker
There are never simple answers for our individual experiences of grief, loss and sorrow. Addictive and codependent behaviours in ourselves and in our loved ones will often make our grief more complicated and harder to understand. What do we mean when we talk about a healing journey for our sorrow? Is there a way to distinguish between grief, sorrow, and depression? What are the symptoms of grief? Can I do anything about the inner voices of self-judgment and criticism? Why is it comforting to share with others who have experienced similar grief and loss?

Anger and Resentment—In-person ONLY
Saturday, October 21 from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm
Facilitator: Wally Clare
Resentment is simply defined as “bitter indignation at having been treated unfairly”. Our addiction and codependency literature identifies resentment as the single most dangerous character defect in our journey of healing and recovery. This workshop will provide the opportunity to explore the roots of our resentments, how they get triggered in everyday life and how we are able to let go of the old wounds at the root of our suffering.

*NEW WORKSHOP* WOMEN’S Only Workshop: Intimacy and Healthy Relationships—In-person ONLY
Saturday, October 14 from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm
Facilitator: Leanne McEwen
What we experienced growing up profoundly shapes our thinking, beliefs, behaviours, and choices for today, including our capacity for intimacy in our relationships with others. Our sexuality is a core dimension of who we are. The failure to fulfill this desire leaves us feeling incomplete, inadequate, and alone. Making healthy relationships and sexual choices is essential for personal growth.

Family of Origin – In-person ONLY
Saturday, September 30 from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm
Facilitators: Sheila Norquay
Family of Origin experiences have a profound influence on our thinking and beliefs. These shape the choices and feelings we experience in our relationships and in parenting our children. Because it is literally the basis from which you develop, your family of origin has a large impact on you and your life. But what happens when that impact is negative? In this workshop, we will explore how our family of origins have helped shape us and how we can heal to move forward in our journey.

*NEW WORKSHOP* Men’s Only Workshop: Intimacy and Healthy Relationships— In-person ONLY
Wednesday, September 20, September 27 and October 4 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm (three Wednesdays in a row)
Facilitator: Jeff Latimer
What we experienced growing up profoundly shapes our thinking, beliefs, behaviours, and choices for today, including our capacity for intimacy in our relationships with others. Our sexuality is a core dimension of who we are. The failure to fulfill this desire leaves us feeling incomplete, inadequate, and alone. Making healthy relationships and sexual choices is essential for personal growth.

Healthy Boundaries: Letting Go of Fear, Anxiety, Resentment and the Despair of Addictions and Codependency—Hybrid: In-person or virtual
Saturday, September 23 from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm
Facilitators: Catherine Pepper and Wally Clare
What is a boundary? How are they formed, shaped, damaged or broken? How can we recognize healthy and unhealthy boundaries in ourselves and others? What do our relationship patterns and choices tell us about the health of our own boundaries? How does the setting of new boundaries help in the healing of our broken or empty relationship patterns?

Introduction to Healing and Recovery—Hybrid: In-person or virtual
Saturday, August 26 from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm
Facilitator: Wally Clare
This four-part workshop will explore identifying addictive and codependent behaviours in ourselves and in our loved ones, what are the twelve steps and why are they important? This workshop will encourage participants to email questions to the facilitator. Finally, the workshop will provide direction for next steps in your journey of healing and recovery.

Body Image: Our Need for Self-Acceptance—Virtual
Monday, July 24 through Thursday, July 27 from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm each day
Facilitator: Michelle Tasker
Deeply held beliefs about how I look and how I feel about how I look, can affect my relationship with self and others. Looking with compassion at our bodies and exploring where the negative beliefs came from will help us move towards peace and joy. Body image issues are a profoundly important chapter in our stories of healing and recovery from addiction, codependency, and family of origin concerns. A decision to explore body image issues is a commitment towards our deepest need for self care.

Codependency: Reclaim Your Identity—Virtual
Monday, June 26 to Thursday, June 29 from 4:00 pm to 5:30 each day
Facilitator: Catherine Pepper
Codependent behaviour is a learned coping style that includes hyper-focusing on others while being unable to express one’s own needs. Learn to reclaim your identity and create authentic relationships.

Family of Origin—Hybrid: In-person or Virtual
Saturday, June 17 from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm
Facilitator: Catherine Pepper
Family of Origin experiences have a profound influence on our thinking and beliefs. These shape the choices and feelings we experience in our relationships and in parenting our children. Because it is literally the basis from which you develop, your family of origin has a large impact on you and your life. But what happens when that impact is negative? In this workshop, we will explore how our family of origins have helped shape us and how we can heal to move forward in our journey.

Introduction to Healing and Recovery—Virtual
Monday, June 12 to Thursday, June 15 from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm each of the four days
Facilitator: Wally Clare
This four-part workshop will explore identifying addictive and codependent behaviours in ourselves and in our loved ones, what are the twelve steps and why are they important? This workshop will encourage participants to email questions to the facilitator. Finally, the workshop will provide direction for next steps in your journey of healing and recovery.

Isolation, Loneliness and Our Need for Connectedness—Hybrid: In-person or Virtual
Saturday, May 27 from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm
Facilitator: Marie Binelli
Feelings of isolation, loneliness and despair only add to our general state of unhappiness. Fear, anger, resentment, self-pity, and denial may also be a part of the pattern. We feel disconnected from other people. We struggle with our self-esteem.

Grief and Loss: Living with the Sorrow of Addiction and Codependency—Virtual
Tuesday, May 23 to Friday, May 26 from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm
Facilitator: Wally Clare
There are never simple answers for our individual experiences of grief, loss, and sorrow. Addictive and codependent behaviours in ourselves and in our loved ones will often make our grief more complicated and harder to understand. What do we mean when we talk about a healing journey for our sorrow?

Couples’ Communication Workshop—Hybrid: In-person or Virtual
Saturday, May 6 from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm
Facilitator: Wally Clare
How do we communicate effectively? What are the essential ingredients for a healthy, intimate relationship? Learn how to identify and change unhealthy patterns. In this workshop, you will learn communication skills that can be practised, improving your relationship

Self Esteem and Self Awareness—Virtual
Saturday, April 29 and Sunday, April 30 from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm
Facilitator: Catherine Pepper
Learn how to achieve healthy self-esteem through exploring existing thoughts and behaviours. Discover self-awareness, self-worth, and self-care.

Introduction to Healing and Recovery—Hybrid: In-person or Virtual
Saturday, April 15 and Sunday, April 16 from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm each day
Facilitator: Wally Clare
This workshop will explore identifying addictive and codependent behaviours in ourselves and in our loved ones, what are the twelve steps and why are they important? This workshop will encourage participants to email questions to the facilitator. Finally, the workshop will provide direction for next steps in your journey of healing and recovery.

Mindfulness for Mood—Hybrid: In-person or Virtual
Saturday, April 1 from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm
Facilitator: Sofie Charron
Find out how mindfulness skills can help improve the way you respond to difficult thoughts and emotions in everyday situations and in times of crisis. Learn about the many ways to practice mindfulness through walking, breathing, eating and more.

Forgiveness and Spirituality—Virtual
Monday, March 20 to Thursday, March 23 from 4:00 to 5:30 pm
Facilitator: Catherine Pepper
Forgiveness is both a decision and a process. Explore how to identify resentments – the feeling of being treated unfairly; and the impact that this has on our lives. Learn the practice of forgiveness and the ability to move forward. Discover spirituality that gives meaning and purpose to our lives.

Healthy Boundaries: Letting Go of Fear, Anxiety, Resentment and the Despair of Addictions and Codependency—Hybrid: In-person or Virtual
Saturday, March 18 from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm
Facilitator: Wally Clare
Why is an understanding of boundaries so important for addictions and codependency? How are healthy and unhealthy boundaries formed? How are feelings and boundaries connected in recovery? How do we let go of our destructive feeling patterns and the destructive behaviours they drive? Why does the recovery and healing pathway seem harder for some people, easier for others?

Family of Origin—Virtual
Monday, March 6 through Thursday, March 9 (4 days) from 4:00 to 5:30 pm
Facilitator: Catherine Pepper
Family of Origin experiences have a profound influence on our thinking and beliefs. These shape the choices and feelings we experience in our relationships and in parenting our children. Because it is literally the basis from which you develop, your family of origin has a large impact on you and your life. But what happens when that impact is negative? In this workshop, we will explore how our family of origins have helped shape us and how we can heal to move forward in our journey.

Introduction to Healing and Recovery—Virtual
Monday, February 27 through Thursday, March 2 (4 days) from 4:00 to 5:30 pm
Facilitator: Wally Clare
This workshop is for those who are addicted as well as those who are dealing with the addiction of a loved one. This four-part workshop will explore identifying addictive and codependent behaviours in ourselves and in our loved ones, what are the twelve steps and why are they important? This workshop will encourage participants to email questions to the facilitator. Finally, the workshop will provide direction for next steps in your journey of healing and recovery.

Codependency: Reclaim Your Identity: —Hybrid: In-person or Virtual
Saturday, February 11 from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm
Facilitator: Marian Meade
Codependent behaviour is a learned coping style that includes hyper focusing on others while being unable to express one’s own needs. Learn to reclaim your identity and create authentic relationships.

Body Image: Our Need for Self-Acceptance—Hybrid: In-person or virtual
Saturday, February 4 from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm
Facilitator: Deborah Brooks
Deeply held beliefs about how I look and how I feel about how I look, can affect my relationship with self and others. Looking with compassion at our bodies and exploring where the negative beliefs came from will help us move towards peace and joy. Body image issues are a profoundly important chapter in our stories of healing and recovery from addiction, codependency, and family of origin concerns. A decision to explore body image issues is a commitment towards our deepest need for self care.

Couples’ Communication Workshop– Hybrid: In-person or virtual
Saturday, January 28 from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm
Facilitator: Wally Clare
How do we communicate effectively? What are the essential ingredients for a healthy, intimate relationship? Learn how to identify and change unhealthy patterns. In this workshop, you will learn communication skills that can be practised, improving your relationship.