Support Groups

We offer FREE virtual and in-person support groups and workshops on a variety of topics.  Be sure to register early to ensure space is reserved for you.   ​
​
Here are some other community agencies who host free support groups: 

• Community Justice Initiatives
• Self-Help & Peer Support
• Camino 
• Porchlight (Cambridge)
• Crow Shield Lodge
• Community Healthcaring KW​​

Groups 

Open Session Groups (Drop-In)
Register to receive a Zoom link or location information, and join when you can!

Empower50+ - Monthly, In-Person, Kitchener

Date: Second Monday of the month 
Times: 10am to 11:30am
Location: SASC Office, 151 Frederick St. Kitchener
​
Refreshments will be provided, and bus tickets will be available. 

Empower50+ is a warm and welcoming in-person support group for female-identified survivors of sexual violence aged 50 and older. This group is a space for connection, empowerment, and solidarity — where lived experience is honoured and healing is shared.

Our goals are to reduce loneliness, build community and empower survivors to lead change against sexual violence and elder abuse

Come as you are — to share, listen, or simply be. Confidential, trauma-informed, and facilitated by trained staff.

This group is made possible thanks to funding from the Government of Canada's New Horizons for Seniors Program. 

Register

Noon Together - Weekly, Virtual

​Date: Weekly on Wednesdays, beginning November 19th
Times: 12:00 to 1:00 PM
Location: Online/Zoom

Noon Together is a weekly online support group for survivors by survivors. Through sharing our lived experience, we connect, heal, and empower together. Topics will range from safety, self-worth, relationships, boundaries, and hope/resilience. This group is open to survivors who identify as women or nonbinary​.

Register

The Art of Healing - Bi-Weekly, Virtual

Date: Every other Thursday starting January 22nd
Time:  1:00 - 2:30 PM 
Location: Online

This virtual expressive arts-based program will use various forms of media in hopes of exploring healing themes. No artistic experience is required. You will need a blank canvas (blank, lined paper, canvas, etc.) and something to create with (pens, markers, pencil crayons, paint, etc.). Artist Elfie Kalfakis will co-facilitate this group. This group is open to survivors who identify as women or nonbinary​.

Register

Rainbow of Healing - Monthly, In-Person 

​Date: 2nd Thursday of each month (beginning October 9th)
Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Location: SPECTRUM, 283 Duke Street West, Unit 210, Kitchener 
Parking and Accessibility info can be found here: Contact SPECTRUM Waterloo Region or Visit our space (ourspectrum.com) 

Join our monthly support group for 2S and LGBTQIA+ survivors of sexual violence. Facilitated by and for members of the Rainbow community, the Rainbow of Healing welcomes survivors of all sexualities and gender identities over the age of 16 to connect for mutual support and empowerment.  

Each meeting will incorporate a discussion dedicated to collective healing and affirming our Rainbow identities. After our discussion, we will have an arts-based activity in order to offer folks the opportunity to build a sense of community with one another. Snacks and refreshments will be provided.

Please RVSP if you plan to attend. ​

RSVP

The Shifa Circle - Coming Soon!

A new monthly healing circle for Black and racialized women. A warm space to breathe and build community. Join us for connection, conversation, and snacks. Bus tickets available.

Coming Soon!

Closed Session Groups 

Pathfinders Pre-Counselling Group

Dates: February 17th, 24th, March 3rd, 10th
Time: 4:30 P.M. to 6:30 P.M.
Location: Zoom
​
Pathfinders is a 4-week group program designed to help sexual trauma survivors go from isolation to belonging in a healing community. By establishing a foundation of safety and well-being, members will tap into their strengths and abilities to take charge of their healing journey.

Participants are introduced to the effects of trauma on the brain and body, along with how it can impact thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, and explore how common trauma reactions such as flight, fright, freeze, and fawn show up in their lives.

Next, new skills and tools are introduced that can help relieve some of the physical, psychological and emotional discomforts that many experience, helping to restore calm, clarity of mind, confidence, improved emotional management, and overall well-being.

Finally, we consider what healing might look like and discuss various resources and services that are available while recognizing that the path to healing looks different for everyone. 

This group is open to survivors of all genders over the age of 16. ​

Register

Healing Horizons for Black and Racialized Survivors - Winter 2026

Join our 8-week support group for Black and racialized women identifying as survivors of gender-based violence. This group aims to provide a safe and supportive space for sharing experiences and fostering healing, empower participants through community building and mutual support, offer resources and tools for coping with trauma and promoting well-being, facilitate discussions on the unique challenges faced by Black and racialized women, and promote resilience and self-advocacy among participants.

We are proud to partner with Kind Minds Family Wellness to offer this group. 

Date: Thursdays, beginning January 8th.
Time: 6:30 - 8:30 PM
Location: SASC Office, 151 Frederick St., Kitchener
​​
What's Provided: 

• Bus tickets
• Child Care 

• Light Supper 

* Spots are limited, so we encourage early registration to secure your place. 

Healing Horizons is supported by the Racial Equity Fund, the George Chatziz Fund, Weiland Family Foundation, The Moe Norman Memorial Fund, Strahan Chan Community Endowment Fund, and the Donald Lynes Family Fund all held at Waterloo Region Community Foundation

Register

Into The Light: Healing from Childhood Sexual Trauma - Fall 2026

Start Date: TBD
Time: TBD

A 12-week virtual group for survivors healing from childhood sexual trauma. As part of a community of survivors we will explore coping tools, sleep, emotional regulation, addiction, shame, the inner child, relationships, boundaries, resilience, acceptance and the sacred path to healing. ​This group is open to survivors who identify as women or nonbinary​.

Please note that this group is only open to those who live within Waterloo Region (Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge, North Dumfries, Woolwich, Wellesley, and Wilmot).

Coming Soon

6-Week Art Therapy - Winter 2026

Thursday, January 22nd (Weekly for 6 weeks)
10am to 11:30am
At SASC: 151 Frederick St. Kitchener

This 6-week group art therapy series is a supportive and confidential space for survivors of sexual assault to explore healing through creative expression. Facilitated by a student art therapist, the group uses art-making as a gentle, non-verbal way to process experiences, build emotional safety, and reconnect with the self.
​
No art experience is needed. The focus is not on creating “good” art, but on using materials, images, and symbols to express feelings, strengthen coping skills, and foster self-compassion. Participants are always in control of what they share, how they engage, and the pace of their process.

Over six weeks, the group will explore themes such as safety and grounding, emotional regulation, identity and self-worth, boundaries, connection, and hope. Sessions are structured yet flexible, offering options for both quiet reflection and shared discussion. Respect, choice, and consent are central to all activities.

This group offers an opportunity to connect with others who understand, reduce isolation, and support healing in a way that honours each person’s unique journey.

Mindful Movement - Winter 2026 (8-Weeks)

Date: Mondays starting on February 9th (8-weeks)
Time: 7:45 PM to 8:15 PM
Location: Online

This is a 30-minute virtual class for folks who would like to explore adding movement to their day. This class will include a gentle warmup, stretches, and some stability exercises that can be modified to suit every individual. All you need to bring is you!

Please note that this group is only open to female-identified and non-binary survivors. 

Facilitated by Meagan Walker from Resilience in Motion

Register

FEEDBACK FROM WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS...

“I found the workshop very organized and well thought out.”

“I liked the flow of the agenda”

“I appreciated the open dynamic. It kept it engaging.”

“I liked the detailed content provided and the inclusiveness.”
​
“It’s really nice to know that others struggle with the same things I do.”