Support Groups

For Teens – Building Teen Wellness – this is a community group run a few times a year (basically, whenever they have a group of interested teens) – it’s 6 weeks, and they talk about healthy relationships, self-esteem and other things like that. If interested teens or parents can call the shelter and ask for Vikki.

For Children – Children's Support Group – runs from September to June, kids can attend whether or not they have been attached to shelter, but the subjects are based on that education around family violence, safety planning, and other kid oriented activities. This is an open group, so they will take kids at any time in the year as long as there is space in the group. If interested they can call Bev or Katrina at the shelter.

Courage to Change – offered once in fall and once in spring, this is an 11 week educational program that helps women recognize healthy boundaries, signs and types of abuse and how to break the cycle of abuse. Women can call the shelter to register (there is also a men’s group of the same name offered through Medicine Hat Family Services, it’s a partnership)

Journey to Hope and Healing – offered once in fall and once in spring, this is a 14 week group for women who are working on healing themselves after abuse. Topics such as guilt, shame and blame, forgiveness and the process of change are discussed, as well as grief, self-esteem and healthy relationships. Women are also offered one to one support during this process

For moms and kids – Growing Together – this group is offered to mom and child – mom goes to an adult group and child goes to a children's group (learn the same material as appropriate to their age) and then the last 15 minutes of group mom and child come together for an attachment exercise. Mom’s can call Katrina at the shelter for more info.

One to One – if a man or woman who is experiencing or has experienced abuse needs one on one support but group is not available, they can choose to see an Outreach worker. A referral can be called in to Nattie at the shelter and Nattie would assign it to an Outreach worker. We highly suggest one to ones before group just because sometimes women aren’t quite ready to share in a group setting and thrive more in a one on one.