Women's Recovery Group

Facilitated by two female Umbrella staff in recovery, the Women’s Recovery Group focuses on those who identify as women, and are seeking a safe space to give and receive support as they progress toward their personal recovery goals.  Eight weeks in length, the program is intended to empower women in early recovery by introducing them to topics like forgiveness, mindfulness, gratitude, and boundary-setting, among others.  By fostering a warm and caring environment that is conducive to honesty and vulnerability, the facilitators strive to promote healing while also building a sense of community and connection.

To register for this in-person group, please contact Umbrella at 250-380-0595 or wecanhelp@umbrellasociety.ca.

Recipes for Recovery

A four week program running every Friday, this cooking class helps address food insecurity and teaches about budgeting, ingredients and cooking skills.

This group is open to current Umbrella clients and registration is required as there is a cap on the amount of participants we can accommodate in our Umbrella kitchen. Please contact our office for more information at wecanhelp@umbrellasociety.ca or 250-380-0595.

SMART Recovery

Umbrella hosts and in-person SMART Recovery meeting on Thursday from 6-7:30pm at our office. SMART stands for Self-Management and Recovery Training. SMART recovery provides method of moving from addictive substances and negative behaviors to a life of positive self-regard and willingness to change.

Hosted by two Umbrella certified SMART facilitators, everyone is welcome, no registration necessary.

Comfortably UN-Numb – Learning to Live without Substances

Established in September 2020, Comfortably UN-Numb was intended to meet a desperate need: the notable lack of adequate local outpatient programming for those with substance use issues. Many addicted have too many responsibilities to attend residential treatment, but need to develop recovery tools than cannot easily be gained at a daily recovery meeting.

Designed to meet this need, Comfortably UN-Numb is a four-week intensive outpatient recovery group hosted weekdays at Umbrella from 9-11:30am.  Intended for about 15-20 participants, Comfortably UN-Numb covers topics that are critical to progress in early recovery.  These include gratitude, forgiveness, relapse prevention, and trigger management, among others.  As they progress through the four week program, participants develop tools of recovery while building connection and a sense of community.  Most find Comfortably UN-Numb so valuable and enjoyable that they wish it were longer!

Those wishing to attend must pre-register by calling 250-380-0595 or emailing wecanhelp@umbrellasociety.ca.

Parents Group

Launched in 2021, the Parents Group was established by a registered clinical counselor to address an urgent need – to provide support specific to the needs of those with children in active addiction.  Originally, the group consisted of Umbrella counseling clients; however, since then, it has expanded membership to include anyone with a child suffering from substance use disorder.  The group’s intention was to foster a space in which parents could freely share their experiences, exchange wisdom on how to cope, and support one another.  The original members found the group highly compelling and, enjoying the ongoing companionship it affords, have formed a core group of consistent participants.  Others with more specific needs and goals have come and gone as these have been attained.

Participants are encouraged to maintain each other’s anonymity and confidentiality.  This, coupled with the atmosphere of kindness, warmth, and acceptance that prevails in Parents’ Group, tends to produce open and honest disclosure.  Members testify to the therapeutic power of ‘getting things out’ to those who have gone through similar trials, and can therefore empathize.  Due to the participants’ candour and the sensitive nature of the information shared, this is a closed group.  To register, call 250-380-0595.

Codependency Group

Umbrella is excited to offer a Codependency Group.

This weekly in person group, facilitated by two highly skilled counsellors, will focus specifically on the needs of people who struggle with issues related to codependent behaviours. These in-person groups will create space to learn new strategies and healthier communication styles. This small, in person, weekly group is a great place for anyone who wants to learn healthy ways to move forward in any relationship. This group is by registration only.

To learn more and to register please contact our office at 250-380-0595.

Intensive Journaling Group

Umbrella is pleased to share that the Intensive Journaling Group hosted by Bill Israel is being offered on Monday evenings, in person.

This 6 week group will help participants explore what journaling means and how it can help process emotions and regulate reactions.

This group is very popular and registration is required.

Please call or text Umbrella at 250-380-0595 for more information or to register.