Our Groups.
Groups for Trans Folks
Tender Hearts is for all 16 and over within the trans man or trans masculine umbrella. As well as all those looking to affirm, explore, or are questioning a masculine gender identity.
Tender Hearts focuses on growing a strong toolset around topics like self-compassion, relationships, and connection. It is about creating space for positive, healthy expressions of masculinity.
All Tender Hearts meetings are online via ZOOM.
Strong Hearts is for everyone 16 and over within the trans woman or trans feminine umbrella. As well as those looking to affirm, explore, or are questioning a feminine gender identity.
Strong Hearts focuses on finding that unwavering light inside of all of us. It is about building the capacity to truly embrace, love, and be kind both within ourselves and as a community.
1st Thursday - IN PERSON at Skipping Stone;
3rd Thursday - VIA ZOOM.
Flowing Hearts is for all 16 and over within the non-binary or genderqueer umbrella. As well as all those looking to affirm, explore, or are questioning a non-binary gender identity.
Flowing Hearts explores topics such as body image, stereotypes, sexuality, and self-pride. It is about helping us understand who we are, how we want to grow, and how we can live authentically.
All Flowing Hearts meetings are online via ZOOM.
Mosaic Hearts is for all 16 and over who are trans, non-binary and gender diverse individuals and who are a part of a racialized community.
Mosaic Hearts focuses on building community and creating a brave space through helping find autonomy & challenging Eurocentric-dominated situations to create equity. It explores self-compassion, celebration of heritage and ethnicity, and healthy ways to bridge the gap between gender identity and ethnic or racial background.
1st Wednesday - via ZOOM;
3rd Wednesday - IN PERSON at Skipping Stone.
Young Hearts is for everyone 40 over within the trans woman or trans feminine umbrella. As well as those looking to affirm, explore, or are questioning a feminine gender identity.
Young Hearts is a new group for trans women and transfeminine folks over 40. It focuses on supporting the unique needs and perspectives of older transfeminine folks, and especially those transitioning later in life.
All Young Hearts meetings are online via ZOOM.
Open Hearts is for all trans, non-binary and gender diverse individuals. As well as those looking to affirm, explore, or are questioning a trans or gender diverse identity.
Open Hearts focuses on building community and connections. As distinct from some of the other groups, this is an open format group that is casual and informal in nature. It is about creating space for individuals to share and just be themselves.
All Open Hearts meetings are online via ZOOM.
Groups for Family, Youth & Kiddos
Caring Hearts is for families, parents, and caregivers of trans and gender diverse children, youth and teens.
- In each meeting, we'll be splitting the group into 2 separate facilitated spaces:
• One for parents and caregivers who are earlier on in their journey focusing on learning, resource connection, and sharing with others families in similar spaces.
• The second for parents and caregivers who are a bit further along in their journeys and have already been connected with the initial learning, resources and support above and are looking for ongoing community connection, sharing & caring.
All Caring Hearts meetings are online via ZOOM.
Creative Hearts is for everyone (queer, trans or ally) ages 12 to 19, looking to express themselves through any sort of art form. No previous training or experience is necessary.
Creative Hearts creates space for all of these things. Each group has a variety of creative and visual art opportunities to try out. Participants are welcome to join or work on their own projects.
1st Wednesday - IN PERSON at Skipping Stone;
3rd Wednesday - VIA ZOOM.
Big Hearts is for trans, gender diverse and gender creative children under the age of 12 and their caregivers.
This group is a space for connection, curiosity, and exploration of what it means to express ourselves in healthy and affirming ways. Through playful activities and conversations, caregivers and children alike come together and build a strong sense of belonging and community. Please note, we ask that at least one caregiver attend the group with the child.
Big Hearts meetings are online via ZOOM.
Other Groups
Top Surgery Support for trans masculine & non-binary folks is for everyone 16 and over who are considering having or planning to have chest reduction, reconstruction, or mastectomy type surgeries.
Through affirmative peer-to-peer support, this meeting provides a space to discuss surgery options, surgical processes and healing, navigating health care systems, community resources, and mental health. We aim to fill the gap for support during difficult wait times and to help participants create a lasting support network.
If you’re interested in this group, you can find more info on its registration page.
We offer DBT Skills Groups for youth (ages 15-20), for adults (ages 20+), and for caregivers. We teach new skills, review previous skills, and provide opportunities to practice coping strategies to deal with the demands of everyday life.
The 10-week triannual program is aligned with dialectical, cognitive behavioural, and mindfulness-based models and focuses on problem-solving and acceptance-based strategies.
If you’re interested in this group, you can find more info on its registration page.
Wondering when your group meets next?
Check out our calendar for all our upcoming events.
Looking for Zoom links or passwords?
Complete this form to access the information for all our groups.
If you’re comfortable sharing any information, please do.
It helps us continue to offer the best quality groups we can.
If you aren’t comfortable sharing information, that’s absolutely alright.
Simply enter the group you want to attend and click submit with all the fields unfilled and you can still get access just as easily.
Group Guidelines
1. We practice RESPECT.
• Respect for each other. Each of our lived experiences and perspectives is different.
• Respect for what is shared. We recognize that if something is being shared or discussed, it has intrinsic value. While it might not apply or feel important to us, we acknowledge the value it has to others.
• Respect for ourselves. We honour ourselves by regularly checking in on where we are at, what our needs are and we take actions to ensure they are met, including taking breaks, eating, drinking and self-soothing as needed.
2. We PARTICIPATE however feels good to us.
• This might look like sharing and discussing out loud or in the chat and messages.
• It might look like actively listening and reflecting on the conversation around us.
• Equally as important we can not participate or pass if it makes us feel uncomfortable. This could include keeping your camera off, staying muted, or taking a break from the group as needed.
3. We ensure PRIVACY.
• How we show up and what we share in group may not be how we meet the rest of the world and what we want shared with everyone in our lives. This is why we do not share information about other participants or what they share outside of group.
• If we run into other group members outside of group, we take extra care not to share that we know them from group and not to assume that the name or pronouns they use in groups are those that they use in other parts of their lives.
4. We use INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE.
• When we share, we ensure we use ‘I’ statements instead of ‘we’. We are all only experts in our own lived experience and can only speak for ourselves.
• We avoid oppressive and harmful language. This includes language that is homophobic, transphobic, racist and ableist among others.
• We use content warnings before sharing or discussing material that might be triggering to others to allow them the opportunity to pass on participating in that part of the conversation.
5. We agree to a SOBER SPACE.
• We agree that group spaces are sober spaces and that consumption of alcohol or drugs does not occur during group.
• We agree should individuals choose to smoke or vape during group that we will turn off our cameras to do so and not intentionally make reference to it.
6. We work together to GROW.
• We all agree to take accountability for our actions and learning.
• Should a group member use harmful language, omit trigger warnings or not follow any of the other guidelines, we use it as an opportunity to help grow as a group and as individuals by addressing it with them, explaining it and, if possible, offering solutions or alternatives.
• We help each other to grow using kind but firm language. We recognize that we are all in different places in our journeys and we meet people where they are at.
Using Zoom
1. Download the ‘Zoom’ App from the App Store if you are on a phone or create your account and then download the ‘Zoom’ client here if you are on a computer.
2. Check out the groups we are offering and when they are scheduled for on our Calendar. When you find a group you would like to attend, you can get the link and password here.
3. When it is time for group, click on the link associated with your group. It’s always in the same place you used to find the group in Step 2. This will open the ‘Zoom’ App and you will be asked to put in your password.
4. You will be asked to select your video and audio settings. In most cases, the default options are the best settings. If they are not working, you can find troubleshooting tips here.
5. That is it!
You will be put into a waiting room until the group is about to start. When it starts, you will be accepted into the meeting where everyone is automatically muted at first.
6. Once you are in, open the Text Chat by clicking on the button at the bottom of your screen. This should open a side tab for the chat. This is essential because the text chat plays a large role in facilitating the group.
FAQs
1. What do I do if I want to speak? Please first press the ‘raise your hand’ button in the text chat and the facilitator will unmute you and invite you to share.
2. What if I am feeling uncomfortable?
If there are comments or subject matter that come up that make you uncomfortable and you don’t feel comfortable, please ‘private message’ the group facilitator and they will address it.
3. What if I am really struggling?
If the group has brought up some challenging emotions and you need one-on-one help to process and regulate them, please ‘private message’ the group facilitator and they will connect you with a counsellor.
4. What if I am ready to leave?
When you are ready to leave the group, simply press the ‘leave the meeting’ at the bottom of your screen. You can always go through the same login process again to return to the group if you would like.