Having specialized groups at every stage of the loss journey is a key part of our mission. Our groups are designed so that you can access what resonates most for you in this current season of your life. What resonates now may change as your journey does. No matter where you are on the loss journey, there is a group support option for you.
Please note: all groups are FREE to attend and are affirming and trauma informed spaces. Partners are encouraged to join all groups.
Weekly Support Groups
These groups are 7-week professionally facilitated, peer-driven support groups for individuals and partners. These groups meet every week during this time and registration is closed after week two. These groups provide a space to connect, validate your experience, and hold space to process your grief as you navigate your journey
Monthly Support Groups
Our monthly Drop-in groups are casual peer support drop-in groups for individuals, partners and couples who are looking to connect through their loss experience at any stage of the journey. These groups provide a comfortable space to share in a more casual setting
Social Connections
These groups are not support groups, but a chance to connect with others who can relate to the journey of miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal loss, SIDS or infertility. They are for adults who have experienced the loss of a pregnancy or infant and who would like to connect with others in a casual and social environment
Specialty Workshops
In this category you will find professionally facilitated Art therapy group, Grief Circles and Parenting Living Children After Loss specialty workshops
Rural Ambassador Groups
These rural groups are not support groups, but a chance to connect with others who can relate to the journey of miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal loss, termination for medical reasons (TFMR), abortion, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), or infertility, in-person in your local community. They are for adults who have experienced the loss of pregnancy or infant loss and who would like to connect with others in a casual and social environment.
Connection:
Connection with community and others with shared lived experience has been shown to be one of the most impactful resiliency factors in life. Participants will be able to discover the power in community and understand that we are never meant to do this alone.
Belonging:
Participants will feel a sense of belonging, no matter their individual lived experiences, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or expressions, socioeconomic status, faith, ability amongst others.
Empowerment:
Participants will feel a sense of empowerment through their connecting with their emotions, journey and community.
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 7-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. Some of our groups that meet in person will have a hybrid option so you can 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 7-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 7-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.