Support Groups & Emotional Wellness

This group offers emotional support and strength to those who are dealing with breast cancer, as well as information and shared stories about breast cancer treatments and surgery.

Meets on the second and fourth Monday mornings of the month, from 10:00am – 12:00pm – hybrid.

To register, please call Stephanie at 905-579-4833 or email stephanie@hearthplace.org.

A cancer diagnosis affects not just the patient but the immediate and extended family, as well as friends. This group offers support for the caregiver as they care for their loved ones. Caregivers will develop a wealth of self-care tools to reduce personal stress, change negative self-talk, communicate their needs to family members and healthcare providers, deal with difficult feelings and make tough caregiver decisions.

Meets on the first and third Tuesday afternoons of the month, from 4:00-6:00pm – hybrid.

Please call Avery at 905-579-4833 or email avery@hearthplace.org for more information, or to register for this group.

Facilitator: Avery Maxwell

This group offers support and strength in dealing with a colorectal cancer, which can be a difficult cancer to talk about. Join others with the same diagnosis, and find comfort in the company of this understanding group.

Meets on the third Monday evening of the month, from 6:30-8:00pm – hybrid.

To register, please contact Stephanie at stephanie@hearthplace.org or call 905-579-4833.

This 6 week series is for women with a gynecological cancer who may be seeking more information.  Participants will have the opportunity to pick the topics that will be covered in each meeting.  Examples include fear of recurrence, body image, dealing with the side effects of treatment, and so on.  The group is facilitated by a nurse who believes that knowledge is power, and that information will help boost confidence.

For information on when this group will next be offered, and to register, please email Stephanie at stephanie@hearthplace.org or call 905-579-4833.

Facilitator: Pamela West

This support group offers women a safe place to gather with other women to share experiences and coping skills, and to explore the emotional, physical and spiritual impacts of living with a gynecological cancer.

The group meets on the second Monday evening of the month from 7:00-9:00pm (online only) and the fourth Thursday afternoon of the month from 1:00-3:00pm (hybrid).

To register, please contact Stephanie at stephanie@hearthplace.org or call 905-579-4833.

Facilitators: Pamela West and Susan Viminitz

We offer individual counseling by appointment for any of our members who feel the need to talk to someone about their cancer-related thoughts and worries.

Please call 905-579-4833 and speak with us about setting up an appointment.

In this 8-week, in-person series, we offer a safe place where we can drop our facades and be the sad, angry and confused person we sometimes feel like, instead of wearing the ‘brave person’ mask we don in front of our loved ones. Using expressive arts and discussions, we will get real about our emotions, learn how to process them, and move forward with self-compassion and relief.

Thursdays from 10:00am-12:00pm, beginning October 10th.

To register, please call Stephanie at 905-579-4833 or email stephanie@hearthplace.org.

This on-going enthusiastic support group is for those diagnosed with a blood cancer, being a Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Hodgkin’s Disease, Leukemia or Multiple Myeloma, and we are committed to:

• Giving each other support and strength through initial diagnosis and in the event of recurrence
• Providing educational material and resources to help you understand and make informed decisions about your treatment and wellness after treatment
• Celebrating cancer survival

The group meets on the second Thursday evening and fourth Wednesday evening of the month, from 7:00-9:00pm. Both meetings are hybrid.

To register, please call 905 579-4833 or email stephanie@hearthplace.org.

Facilitators: Sonja Shepherd and Pamela West

We are pleased to have partnered with the Melanoma Network to offer a support group for patients with Melanoma. This group is led by experienced health care professionals along with cancer survivors; the sessions are structured but also flexible in format and topics. The MNC patient support group is a supportive place to share your feelings, challenges and an opportunity to ask questions.

Note that this group is currently offered online through the Melanoma Network of Canada.

https://www.melanomanetwork.ca/

This group is a safe and supportive group for men with any kind of cancer to join other men for conversation, support, and the sharing of resources.

Meets on the second Tuesday evening of the month from 5:30-7:30pm – online.

To register, please contact Stephanie at stephanie@hearthplace.org or call 905-579-4833.

This weekly support group provides people living with metastatic cancer the opportunity to meet with other metastatic cancer patients. In a supportive setting, meetings focus on discussion and the sharing of feelings and concerns regarding the unique issues that can be triggered by this diagnosis. Through participation in this program patients may find comfort and reassurance and improve their ability to cope with the roller-coaster of emotions and re-entry into the medical system.

Meets every Wednesday afternoon, from 12:30-2:30pm. These meetings are hybrid.

Facilitated by Barb Franks-McNaughton

To register, please contact Stephanie at stephanie@hearthplace.org or call 905-579-4833.

A diagnosis of cancer is a profound crisis, not only physically but psychologically and spiritually as well. The Healing Journey program has been developed to offer support to people looking for new ways to help themselves. It evolved as a result of research conducted at the Princess Margaret Hospital by Dr. Alastair Cunningham.

There is evidence showing that psycho-spiritual self-help work improves the quality of life. The methods taught in this program are offered as a complement to conventional medical treatment. There are many levels to this series; each level builds on the last and takes you further along the healing journey.

Please contact Stephanie at stephanie@hearthplace.org for more information about each level, and the series as a whole.

This is an eight week series which goes into more depth with self-help techniques including consulting an inner healer, meditation, journaling and reflecting on the spiritual aspects of healing.

To register, please call Stephanie at 905-579-4833 or email stephanie@hearthplace.org.

Facilitator: Sue Valentine

This 9-session program furthers your healing journey by teaching you the basics of spiritual connection. Questions considered include “Who am I, really?”, and “How can I find meaning in my life’s circumstances?”.

Both in-person and virtual, Thursdays, 1:00pm – 3:00pm, starting December 5th

Pre-requisite: Healing Journey Levels 1 and 2

To register, please contact Stephanie at stephanie@hearthplace.org or call 905-579-4833.

This group is open to all women with cancer.  It does not matter what type you have, you are invited to join.  The drop-in style allows for topics to be covered as they arise; there is no formal agenda.  Share your experiences and emotions in a compassionate and safe environment.

Meets on the fourth Tuesday evening of the month, from 6:30-8:00pm – hybrid.

To register, please call Stephanie at 905-579-4833 or email stephanie@hearthplace.org.

This monthly gathering is for anyone between the ages of 19 and 40, who is dealing with a cancer diagnosis. Join others in this warm and open group to share experiences and concerns that are unique to those who are in this age range.

Meetings are on the second Tuesday evening of the month, from 6:30-8:00pm, online.

Please call Stephanie at 905-579-4833 or email stephanie@hearthplace.org to register.

Cancer can have a large effect on our bodies, and on how we see ourselves. This 9-week educational series will help you develop an appreciation for your body and all it can do. You will learn strategies to help you move towards accepting yourself, through a mix of discussions, expressive arts, and group activities

This program is offered in collaboration with the Durham Region Cancer Centre.

The next series begins on Wednesday, September 18th, from 10:00am-12:00pm – in person

Please call Stephanie at 905-579-4833 or email stephanie@hearthplace.org to register.