In this category you will find professionally facilitated Art therapy group, Grief Circles and Parenting Living Children After Loss specialty workshops
Journeying Through Loss Adult Art Therapy Group
Run by Professional Art Therapists, this art therapy group will provide an accountable and nurturing holding space needed to help process and validate the grief and trauma from the loss. Over 6 weeks, we will gently work through feelings of isolation, shame and disconnect with the body while mindfully honoring the loss in a creative and symbolic way.
Why use art? Art has the power to influence how we integrate, unblock, and understand the pain of loss. While it may feel easier to avoid these feelings, art has the ability to invite these feelings into the light through visual forms, helping us lean into, learn from, and move through the feelings rather than be stuck in them. The healing act of making art can also offer release, allowing the grief to take up as much or as little space as it needs.
What is Art Therapy?Art therapy utilizes the healing potential of art-making within a therapeutic framework. Instead of relying on words alone, art therapy helps to give feelings a visual form, making them easier to process within the safety of the therapeutic relationship and the communal healing circle of the support group.
Who is this group for: Adults who have experienced the loss of a pregnancy or infant. No art experience is necessary.
Pregnant people are also welcome. Please no babes in arms or children in attendance.
Grief Circles
Grief Circles are intentional spaces for grief to be acknowledged and held. These grief circles are offered as a way to remember the inextricable link between love and loss. We invite you to bring presence, acceptance and compassion into our circle as we hold space for you, just as you are. This circle will be held in person at the Centre. Please feel free to bring an item that represents your journey to place on the altar as well and anything else that will help you feel comfortable and drop into this space. These Grief Circles are not a support group, and require more energetic participation than talking. This is an individual journey shared within a collective space. Snacks and supplies will be provided.
Who is this group for? This group is for adults only (partners are welcome).
Pregnant people are also welcome. Please no babes in arms or children in attendance.
FAQ
What to expect at a PILSC peer support group
A hybrid group is a peer support group that gives you the option of attending in person at the PILSC office in downtown Calgary or attending virtually on Zoom for those living outside of Calgary and for anyone who prefers to attend virtually.
Your hybrid group will have a designated facilitator for those who attend in person and the second facilitator will be supporting the group on Zoom. We have technology called Meeting Owl that allows for a seamless interaction experience between those attending in person and those who attend virtually.
(PILSC hybrid group using Meeting Owl technology with in-person and virtual attendees)
To see a video of a Hybrid group, see this video
For our 8 Week Groups, we require that all participants attend either the first or second session and as many sessions as possible to allow for a safe and consistent group environment. That being said, life happens and let us know if you are unable to attend a session by emailing info@pilsc.org.
As with all of our services at PILSC, we believe in the importance of removing barriers to accessing services. All of our groups are offered at no cost to participants. For those who have the means and ability to help support the centre and our groups programming, we graciously accept donations: https://pilsc.org/donate-to-pilsc
All of our online groups are open for anyone to attend anywhere in the world. Our groups that meet in person will always have a hybrid option so you can always attend any group virtually, regardless of your physical location.
You will receive a confirmation email from the Jane booking system and the day before your group you will receive an email welcoming you to your group. For 8 week groups, there are forms to fill out in the Jane booking system so please fill those out as we require your mailing information to send you materials for your group.
Yes, you are welcome to attend a group more than once. Every time you attend will be different because so much is determined by the people in a group with you. We also have various monthly groups that you can try after an 8-week group to meet others who have experienced.
We are dedicated to supporting individuals of all faiths, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and gender identities. In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge that we live, work and play on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the Îyâxe Nakoda Nations, the Métis Nation (Region 3), and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.