Group Counselling Services
The Durham Rape Crisis Centre provides free, confidential, and trauma-informed group counselling sessions and workshops to women-identifying people who are survivors of sexual violence, live in Durham Region, and are 16 years of age or older. Please note that in order to attend DRCC groups, you must first complete an intake. To schedule an intake, please contact michaela@drcc.ca.
Some groups and workshops run during our office hours of 9am-5pm, while others may run in the evening. For our full schedule of group offerings, please visit our Events page.
You are welcome to bring a service animal to group counselling or workshops if that helps you to feel more comfortable.
Group counselling and workshops can be a good place to really understand that you are not alone with what you have experienced or with how it has impacted you. Group counselling and workshops can also support you in developing connection with others, and help you learn to build trust and a support network. Although sometimes it can be scary to join a group, try to remember that group facilitators can support you through that fear and other group members are nervous, too.
Below is a list of the groups that we currently facilitate, with a brief description of the group, and each facilitator’s contact information. If you want more general information about groups or workshops that are currently running, or to register for our group counselling or workshops, please contact info@drcc.ca.
Survivor’s Circle
The Survivor’s Circle is a monthly drop-in group held on Zoom for women 16 years and older. This is an opportunity for women who have experienced any form of sexual violence or trauma to come together and talk about the struggles or issues they deal with as a result. It is also a forum in which they can share experiences and impacts while getting support from other members. There will be some times where we discuss a particular topic, or it may be open discussion. There does not need to be any previous counselling, and no commitment to future groups is required. Members may also attend as often as they would like.
For more information about the Survivor’s Circle or to register, please contact Lynn at lynn@drcc.ca or call 647-273-0457.
Youth Survivor’s Circle
DRCC’s Youth Survivor’s Circle is a specific group for survivors of sexual violence who are 16-29 years of age. This is a dedicated judgement-free space where youth survivors can learn, grow, and heal together. Some groups are themed with specific topics, and are delivered as a psychoeducational group, facilitated by one of DRCC’s youth-aged counsellors. Other sessions are specifically created by the day-to-day struggles that are addressed by the group members. This is an ideal space where youth-aged survivors can relate and come together to receive/offer peer support, to aid with learning and mental health management. Some of the topics can include, but are not limited to: Healthy Relationships & Sex, Managing Daily Stressors, Triggers & Flashbacks, Sleep Disturbances, Anxiety & Depression, Self-Esteem & Strength Building, and Processing Trauma. DRCC’s Youth Survivor’s Circle has been designed using a feminist, trauma-informed, and strengths-based approach.
For more information about the Youth Survivor’s Circle or to register, please contact Isabella at isabella@drcc.ca or call 437-228-1862.
Supporting Secondary Survivors
The Supporting Secondary Survivors group is a drop-in group for anyone who is supporting a survivor of sexual violence, regardless of gender. This group is not intended for survivors. Supporting Survivors will be a peer-based group where support people can share experiences of what has worked for them, areas they are struggling with, and ask questions to the group and make connections with others. This is a supportive, non-judgmental space which encourages growth and perspective so participants can better support their loved one. Areas of focus in the group will include boundary work and the importance of self-care for the support person.
Please note: You must have completed an intake in order to attend the group.
For more information about Supporting Secondary Survivors or to register, please contact Michaela at michaela@drcc.ca or call 416-278-9086.
Yoga
Trauma-informed yoga with Sam is an additional holistic healing experience with sequence of movements that help to connect you to your mind and body. All levels are welcome. Participants are encouraged to go at their own pace and to take breaks when needed.
For more information about the Yoga group or to register, please contact Samantha at samanthag@drcc.ca.
Guided Healing Meditation
Guided Healing Meditation offers breath work and tapping into healing on the nervous system. In this group, you will learn various mindful techniques that aid in grounding and staying connected to your mind-body. Guided Healing Meditation may also consist of visualizations that help to bring profound healing and reflections.
For more information about Guided Healing Meditation or to register, please contact Samantha at samanthag@drcc.ca.
Journaling Through Meditation
In JTM, the focus is on connecting to your heart through your breath. Participants will be prompted with reflection questions and encouraged to connect and build on their intuition. Topics such as self-worth, shame, healthy boundaries, relationships, self-love, etc. are focused on. All you have to do is bring a pen and paper, connect to your breath, and the rest will be guided.
For more information about Journaling Through Meditation or to register, please contact Samantha at samanthag@drcc.ca.
Dance Embodiment and Release
Join Sam for a guided movement session where you will be guided to connect to your body and identify where trauma is being stored. This group is for all women-identifying folks, there is no prerequisite, and it is a judgement free space – just bring yourself! This session will allow you to free any pent up emotions that are feeling heavy in your body. We will be connecting to the hips and the heart, where most of trauma is stored, and allow our bodies to be our guide through free flow movement. We will be using breathwork and affirmations to support us through this session leaving you feeling empowered, expanded, and lighter as you make more space in your body, mind, and heart to receive all things love.
This group is meant to be a space for you to come have fun and move your body. Dance is one of the number one things that bring the most joy to people’s lives. Let’s dance and heal together!
For more information about Dance Embodiment and Release or to register, please contact Samantha at samanthag@drcc.ca.
South Asian Group
Are you a woman of South Asian descent and a survivor of sexual violence? You’re not alone. Join us for a supportive therapeutic group designed to create a safe space for sharing experiences and healing. Together, we’ll explore cultural norms, boundary setting, and strategies for emotional, psychological, physical, and spiritual safety, “family shame”, cultural norms and expectations, and so much more.
We will be offering therapeutic exercises, journal prompts, and nervous system regulation tools to help you bring more safety into your body so that you can identify your own values and beliefs that feel in alignment with you as an individual.
There is no pressure to share your experience, if you prefer to come and sit in, just your presence is more than enough and welcome.
Your unique experience as a South Asian woman is honoured here at DRCC and we would love to have you a part of the community.
For more information about the South Asian group or to register, please contact Samantha at samanthag@drcc.ca.
Building a New Relationship with Your Body
The body you have is sacred and beautiful. Sometimes after trauma, it can be hard to feel safe in our body and see ourselves through a loving lens. In this workshop, you can expect to learn new ways of honouring your physical body through movement, nourishment, mindset work, somatic work, and connection to your deeper self. You will leave with tangible tools to implement into your daily life to build a new inner and outer world so that you can take up space and feel liberated in the skin you are in.
Learn about how to build a new relationship with your body on a:
- Physical Level: Cultivating Body Awareness and Self-Care
- Mental Level: Shifting Mindsets and Cultivating Body Positivity
- Spiritual Level: Deepening Connection to the Body as a Sacred Vessel
For more information about the Building a New Relationship with Your Body group or to register, please contact Samantha at samanthag@drcc.ca.
Healthy Relationships
This group explores topics such as attachment styles, boundary setting, communication, conflict and repair, and learning how to tune into your body/intuition as you explore new/current relationships. You can expect to leave with a foundation of what healthy relationships look/feel like, identify red, yellow, and green flags, how to build meaningful relationships that are fulfilling and beyond surface level, and – most of all – relationships you feel safe in.
For more information about the Healthy Relationships group or to register, please contact Samantha at samanthag@drcc.ca.
Healing Through Friendship: A Safe Space to Rebuild Trust and Connection
This group is a safe, supportive space to heal past wounds, redefine what true friendship looks like, and learn to build relationships rooted in trust, reciprocity, and emotional safety. Through guided reflection, embodiment practices, and conscious conversation, you’ll deepen your self-awareness, set healthy boundaries, and open yourself to friendships that nourish your heart.
- Heal past friendship wounds
- Learn to trust and receive healthy connections
- Set boundaries from a place of self-worth
- Call in friendships that align with your growth
You deserve friendships that feel safe, expansive, and deeply fulfilling. Join us in creating them!
For more information about the Healing Through Friendship group or to register, please contact Samantha at samanthag@drcc.ca.
YANA
YANA (You Are Not/Never Alone) is a supportive therapeutic group, designed for women and non-binary folks that are Black (African, Black, and Afro-Caribbean) and are survivors of sexual violence. Each group is dynamic in nature, meaning there are many different focuses such as themes (i.e. shame, anger, dissociation) or topics that are brough forth by participants. This group can help you to manage, cope with, and heal from trauma through building skills, sharing resources, and connecting community.
This group is currently unavailable, however please contact us at info@drcc.ca or for more information about future offerings.
Therapeutic Approach to Trauma
Join us for a 10-week closed therapeutic group that promotes trauma recovery through a combination of psycho-education and support. Learning opportunities will be focused on issues relevant to survivors of sexual violence and open discussions will be facilitated within a safe environment. Participants will be encouraged to risk sharing the challenges they are experiencing so that they may receive support and create helpful tools and strategies for themselves. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy will be the primary modality used to promote healing.
This group is currently unavailable, however please contact Lynn at lynn@drcc.ca for more information about future offerings.