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.   ​
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Here are some other community agencies who host free support groups: 

• Community Justice Initiatives
• Self-Help & Peer Support
• Camino 
• 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 and Fourth Mondays of each month 
Times: 10am to 11:30am
Location: SASC Office, 151 Frederick St. Kitchener
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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: Wednesdays
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 (Paused)

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
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, this group is open to those ages 16 and up across ALL identities under the Rainbow. Anyone who is queer-identifying and/or questioning above the age of 16 is welcome.

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. 

SASC can offer GRT bus tickets to make transportation easier. Each ticket contains 2 full rides, excluding transfers. Food packages (small "to-go" bags) are also offered, whether you want to eat during the group or take food with you afterwards.

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: Tuesdays: October 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th 2026
Time: 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Location: Zoom
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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
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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: September 22nd
End Date: December 8th 
Time: 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Location: Virtual (Secure Zoom)

Who Is This Group For?
This group is designed for female and non-binary identifying adults (18+) who experienced sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, grooming, sexual boundary violations, or other unwanted sexual experiences during childhood or adolescence.

Participants often find the group most beneficial when they have already engaged in some counselling, therapy, or other healing work and are looking to continue that journey in a supportive group environment.

What We Explore
The program combines psychoeducation, practical coping skills, guided reflection, and supportive group discussion within a trauma-informed framework.

Together, we explore themes such as:

• Shame, secrecy, and self-blame
• Emotional regulation and coping
• Trust, safety, and vulnerability
• Boundaries and relationships
• Identity, self-worth, and self-compassion
• Grief, loss, and healing
• Reclaiming personal agency and voice
• Building hope and a meaningful future

Participants are never required to share details of their experiences.

A Community of Healing
One of the most powerful aspects of the program is the opportunity to connect with others who understand.

Many participants describe Into the Light as a meaningful and transformative part of their healing journey. Through shared understanding, practical skills, and supportive relationships, participants often leave feeling less alone, more empowered, and better equipped to continue moving forward.

Our goal is not to help participants forget what happened. Our goal is to help them reclaim more of who they are beyond what happened.

Participant Readiness
Because trauma-related discussions can evoke strong emotions, participants should be sufficiently stable to participate safely in a group setting. This group is generally appropriate for individuals who are not currently experiencing a mental health crisis or at imminent risk of suicide or serious self-harm.

Facilitators
The group is facilitated by Sherry Slejska, MSW, RSW, Registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist, and is typically co-facilitated by a peer facilitator who has previously completed the program.

Together, we strive to create a compassionate, respectful, and emotionally safe environment where healing can unfold at a pace that honours each participant's unique journey.

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

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.”
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“It’s really nice to know that others struggle with the same things I do.”