Serenity Renewal for Families
2255 Saint Laurent Blvd # 202 K1G 4K3 Ottawa, ON, Canada

Our organization is supporting people with our adult educational workshops, our family programs and our counselling and support groups. Visit our website to learn more: www.serenityrenewal.ca #BellLetsTalk

Interested in Family Programs? Email [email protected] for more details about our two upcoming programs: B.A.B.E.S.: Beginning Awareness and Basic Education Studies Children ages 5 to 8 and Parents or Guardians Saturdays; January 23rd - February 27th, 2021; 11:00 am to 12:00 pm (the 9:30 am to 10:30 am workshop is full)... Facilitators: Lynda Donaldson and Kyla Groves Strengthening Families for the Future Children ages 7 to 11 and Parents or Guardians Saturdays; March 13th - May 1st, 2021; 10:00 am to 12:00 pm (excluding Saturday, April 3: Easter weekend) Facilitators: Lynda Donaldson and Kyla Groves

Take time to take care of...yourself!!! Serenity Renewal for Families is offering 11 virtual educational workshops between now and the end of March. For more information, please visit our website at: https://www.serenityrenewal.ca/winter-virtual-workshop-sch/

December 27, 2020 marked the two-year anniversary of the passing of Sister Louise. In 2020, we looked for guidance and knew Sister Louise and her legacy would help us through this time of high anxiety. Serenity Renewal for Families has had over 4,000 interactions this year with people looking for support which is over 40% more than last year. We have been able to take our workshops and counselling to a virtual world and still impact the lives of families who are affected by addictions. Please help Serenity Renewal for Families help others. There is still time to receive a tax receipt for 2020. Just click on the link below. (the photo shows Sister Louise Dunn and Alexa Smith, the co-founders of Serenity Renewal for Families). https://www.gifttool.com/donations/Donate

From our heart to yours, the staff at Serenity Renewal for Families wish you a safe and wondrous Christmas season. In other years our staff photo included more people but all of the counsellors are working virtually off-site.

Our virtual educational workshops for January to March 2021 will be released next week. If you would like to have the schedule emailed to you directly, please let us know! Sign up by emailing [email protected].

Today is International Volunteer Day. Our organization is grateful for the giving, caring generosity of all our volunteers.

The pandemic has not been easy for any of us. Thanks to donors like you, individuals and families who are struggling in their everyday lives are able to connect to services being offered here at Serenity Renewal for Families. Please help us help our community. https://www.gifttool.com/donations/Donate?ID=1689&AID=1581

New Virtual Educational Workshop Added! Email [email protected] to register now. Isolation, Loneliness and Despair: Monday, December 14 to Thursday, December 17, 1:00 pm to 2:30 Facilitator: Wally Clare Feelings of isolation, loneliness and despair only add to our general state of unhappiness. Fear, anger, resentment, self-pity, and denial further isolate us behind our wall of isolation. We feel disconnected from other people. We struggle with our self-esteem.

Would you like to participate in a virtual educational workshop? Email [email protected] and you will notified when new workshops become available. Email [email protected] if you would like to join the next workshop: Shame and Guilt Monday, November 30 to Thursday, December 3 from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm Facilitator: Wally Clare Shame is grounded in an overwhelming feeling of brokenness. We believe ourselves to be defective or unworthy. Guilt is different. It... is the feeling that comes when we are aware of having made a mistake or having done something wrong or improper. Feelings of shame and guilt may cause us to believe ourselves unworthy of the serenity that would come from following a journey of recovery and healing. Facing shame and guilt is important for those of us wanting to accept a spiritual path of trust, humility, tolerance, and gratitude. See more

Would you like to join our next Virtual Educational workshop? If you are interested in the workshop, please email [email protected] Codependency: Reclaim Your Identity Monday, November 2 to Thursday, November 5 from 6:00 to 7:30 pm Facilitator: Marian Meade Codependent behaviour is a learned coping style that includes hyper focusing on others while being unable to express one’s own needs. Learn to reclaim your identity and create authentic relationships.

SERENITY IN SEPTEMBER Some of our staff, board members and volunteers have committed to finding their Serenity in September. By bicycling, walking their dog, running or choosing another activity that brings them serenity, donations have kept them motivated to their chosen goal. Serenity Renewal for Families is raising funds to provide hope and support to individuals and families affected directly or indirectly by addictions through counselling and educational workshops. P...lease donate now! https://www.gifttool.com/donations/Donate?ID=1689&AID=1581 Or call: 613-523-5143 to process a gift through credit card Or mail a cheque to: Suite 202, 2255 St. Laurent Blvd., Ottawa, ON, K1G 4K3 All donations coming to Serenity Renewal for Families help people recovering from addictions and supporting their loved ones also affected by their addictions. Serenity Renewal for Families has a guaranteed access policy, so thanks to your generosity and your sponsors, everyone can receive the support they need through counselling and workshops. FIND SERENITY AND SUPPORT OTHERS TO FIND THEIRS!!! See more

Please plan to celebrate and de-stigmatize people in recovery by joining Recovery Day Ottawa's celebration this afternoon starting at 3:00 pm. Don't miss this wonderful celebration of community and hope. Get notified when Recover Day Ottawa goes live: https://www.facebook.com/events/1078524922544007/

Registration is ongoing for our upcoming Educational Virtual Workshops. If you would like to register, please send an email to [email protected]. Next up? Boundaries and Relationships Monday, September 28 to Thursday, October 1 from 1:30 to 3:00 pm Facilitator: Wally Clare What is a boundary? How are they formed, shaped, damaged, or broken? How can we recognize healthy and unhealthy boundaries in ourselves and others? What do our relationship patterns and choices tell us about the health of our own personal boundaries? How does the setting of new boundaries help in the healing of our broken or empty relationship patterns?

Would you like to register for an upcoming Virtual Educational Workshop? Email [email protected] to express your interest. Here are the next two workshops: Emotion Regulation Monday, September 14 to Thursday, September 17 from 1:30 to 3:00 pm Facilitators: Marian Meade and Jessica Pershick... Our emotions help us know who we are, and what is important to us, but we don’t want them driving the bus. When our emotions are intense, we run the risk of suffering, or doing things that we may later regret. By learning how to manage our emotions, we can think and feel at the same time and make wise decisions. Join Jessica and Marian to learn what the core emotions are, and how to assess, validate, contain and express your feelings so that you can feel better more of the time and be comfortable with a wide range of emotions. Mindfulness for Mood Saturday, September 19 from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm (with a one-hour break for lunch) Facilitator: Sofie Charron Find out how mindfulness skills can help improve the way you respond to difficult thoughts and emotions in everyday situations and in times of crisis. Learn about the many different ways to practice mindfulness through walking, breathing, eating and more. See more

SERENITY IN SEPTEMBER Find your Serenity in September and gather sponsors to raise funds and awareness for Serenity Renewal for Families. ... GET INVOLVED AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE! PLEASE PARTICIPATE OR SPONSOR SOMEONE! 1) Select your activity for you to find Serenity and set your goal for the month 2) Register your contact info, activity and goal at [email protected] 3) Solicit your Friends and Family to help sponsor your activity by making a donation: For people to sponsor you, have them go on-line and fill in your name under honour: https://www.gifttool.com/donations/Donate?ID=1689&AID=1581 Or call: 613-523-5143 to process a gift through credit card Or mail a cheque to: Suite 202, 2255 St. Laurent Blvd., Ottawa, ON, K1G 4K3 All donations coming to Serenity Renewal for Families: Provides hope and support to individuals and families affected directly or indirectly by addictions through counselling and educational workshops. Helping people recover from addictions and supporting their loved ones also affected by their addictions. Serenity Renewal for Families has a guaranteed access policy, so thanks to your generosity and your sponsors, everyone can receive the support they need through counselling and workshops. FIND SERENITY AND SUPPORT OTHERS TO FIND THEIRS!!!