This group is for family members, caregivers, and friends of individuals living with mental health and substance use challenges, including depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, psychotic disorders, and substance abuse

This seasonal group would be facilitated by the team from “Two Wheels Training”.  A team of individuals who serve to Equip Family caregivers as they provide support for their loved ones living with mental health and substance use challenges. Family Caregivers as First Responders, enhances the family’s knowledge of mental illness and addictions, offers an opportunity for peer-group support, and builds skills to manage conflict, prevent relapse, and promote recovery for themselves and their loved ones.

Is this group for you?

This program is suitable for family caregivers and friends, church volunteers, Youth, Young adult and children’s ministry volunteers, and life group leaders who are supporting individuals living with mental health and substance use challenges including depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, psychotic disorders, schizophrenia and substance use.

Learning Objectives

• Understand the signs and symptoms of major mental illnesses and addictions.
• Learn about the range of treatment options including medication, psychotherapy and complementary and alternative treatments.
• Identify the role of caregivers in recovery and learn self-care strategies.
• Develop valuable communication and problem-solving skills, mood regulation skills, setting healthy boundaries in order to prevent relapse, handle crises more effectively and support long-term recovery.
• Understand the mental health system and laws to be an effective advocate.
• The following Modules will be covered:
  • Module 1: Understanding Mental Illness
  • Module 2: Recovery and Rehabilitation
  • Module 3: Recovery as a Family Business and Parallel Process
  • Module 4: Strategies that Provide Effective Support
  • Module 5: Navigating the mental health system
  • Module 6: Continuing the recovery journey

Dates: Mondays, 7:00 – 8.30 pm, starting September 24th, 2018 (6 weeks)

Location: the bridge, A Markham Community Church

Cost: a fee of $20 is suggested but not mandatory, to cover the cost of materials.

For more information contact us at mentalhealthcaregiving@thebridgemarkham.com or call 905294671 ext 24

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The Total Money Makeover is a support group led by experienced leaders for those who would like to experience financial freedom. Using the curriculum developed by Dave Ramsey, we learn through this 10 week group experience how to change our lives in order to get out of debt, give generously and invest well.

Topics include: Debt and Money Myths, How to save, Building an emergency fund, College funds, Maximize retirement investing, Paying off Home mortgage etc.

When: 10 week series, Tuesdays @ 7 PM, Starting January 30, 2018

Where: the bridge, A Markham Community Church

Cost: a fee of $30 is suggested to cover the cost of materials

For more information contact Care Network @ the bridge, A Markham Community Church at totalmoneymakeover@thebridgemarkham.com or call 9052946716 ext 24

Life is full of emotional struggles-some small and some are big.  And while you may think you are coping fairly well, it is easy to suppress feelings, holding on to anger or resentment in the wake of rejection, hurt, injustice or abuse which can have a really tight grip on your life.  Wounds that don’t heal can contaminate every aspect of your life.

If you are suffering with emotional wounds we want to invite you to be part of this 8-week group experience. In a safe and confidential group environment, we walk together to identify the emotional wounds and learn effective strategies to begin the journey towards healing. We will be learning through live instruction, supporting each other as we share our experiences, feelings and struggles, through group discussions, and reflecting on scripture themes, each week.

Topics include: Importance of Rapid Wound Care and Healing, Forgiveness and Letting Go, Setting Boundaries, Develop Positive Energizing Thoughts, Assertiveness, Loving Your Inner Child, Loving God, etc.

When: 8 week series, Tuesdays @ 7 PM, Starting January 30, 2018

Where: the bridge, A Markham Community Church

Cost: a fee of $30 is suggested to cover the cost of materials
For more information contact Care Network @ the bridge, A Markham Community Church at emotionalhealing@thebridgemarkham.com or call 9052946716  ext 24

Anger Management is a support group for both men and women who are struggling with the impact of unmanaged anger. If you are struggling with this emotion we want to invite you to be part of this 8-week group experience. In a safe and confidential group environment, we walk together to identify the triggers that cause us to become angry and learn effective strategies to deal with this emotion and deal with the root causes in order to begin the journey towards healing. We will be learning through live instruction, supporting each other as we share our experiences, feelings and struggles, through group discussions, and reflecting on scripture themes, each week.

Topics include: Understanding your anger, Facing my anger, Effective strategies to deal with anger, How to reduce anger, The road to healing, etc.

When: 8 week series, on Saturdays @ 9 AM, Starting January 27, 2018

Where: the bridge, A Markham Community Church

Cost: a fee of $20 is suggested to cover the cost of materials
For more information contact Care Network @ the bridge, A Markham Community Church at angermanagement@thebridgemarkham.com or call 9052946716 ext 24

Divorce Care is a support group for both men and women who have gone through a divorce or separation. If you are going through this journey don’t walk alone. We want to invite you to be part of this 12-week group experience. In a safe and confidential group environment, we walk together along the path to healing – learning about Divorce from a video presentation, supporting each other as we share our experiences, feelings and struggles through group discussions, and reflecting on scripture themes, each week.

Topics include: What is happening to me? Facing my anger, The road to healing, Loneliness, Single sexuality, Financial survival, Kids, etc.

When: Thursdays, 7:00 – 9:00 pm, starting September 27th, 2018 (10 Weeks)

Where: the bridge, A Markham Community Church

Cost: a fee of $20 is suggested to cover the cost of workbook
For more information contact us at divorcecare@thebridgemarkham.com or call 9052946716 ext 24

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Wondering how you will survive the weeks surrounding Thanksgiving and Christmas? Are you dreading these holidays, knowing that everything has changed and that happy memories from past years can’t be recreated? We want to help you.

Surviving the Holidays: Divorce Care Seminar

Our Surviving the Holidays Divorce Care seminar is especially for both men and women who are separated and divorced. You’ll learn:

• How to deal with the many emotions you’ll face during the holidays
• Helpful tips for surviving social events
• Ways to give your kids a good holiday experience
• How to discover hope for your future

Date:  Saturday, December 2 , from 3:00 to 5:00 pm

Location: the Bridge, a Markham Community Church

For more information, contact us : divorcecare@thebridgemarkham.com

This 2-hour seminar offers a safe place for men and women who have experienced a loss of a loved one to learn how to deal with all the demands and emotions the holidays can bring.

This video seminar is loaded with practical, hope-inspiring ideas including:

• Why the holidays are so difficult;
• Surviving “alone time”
• How to plan for the season, dealing with traditions and invitations
• Managing strong emotions and dealing with emotional ambushes

Date: Thursday, December 7, from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Location: the Bridge, a Markham Community Church

For more information, contact us : griefcare@thebridgemarkham.com

Building a strong blended family is a process which requires, love, forgiveness, understanding, patience, and commitment. While this process takes time and doesn’t happen overnight, through the study of God’s Word, strong family units and values can be built on solid foundations designed to weather any storm.

Remarriage and blended families is an eight-session course for couples, designed to help them to navigate the unexpected twists and turns of remarriage.

Topics covered include – God of the Second Chance, Forging Ahead, Blending with Blessing, Battleground at Home, Becoming a Family, and Sharing Hope and Help. Join with couples who are also on the similar journey you are on, and find out in Remarriage and blended families how you can keep your family together, alive and thriving through the inevitable issues of step-parenting.

When: Wednesdays @ 7:00 – 9:00 pm, starting September 26th, 2018 (8 weeks)
Where: the bridge, A Markham Community Church
Cost: a fee of $20 is suggested to cover the cost of workbook

For more information contact us at remarriageandblendedfamilies@thebridgemarkham.com or 905-294-6716 ext 24

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We’ve all been hurt by other people, we’ve hurt ourselves, and we’ve hurt others. And as a result, our life remains stuck and doesn’t move forward. Part of our human nature is to refuse change until our pain exceeds our fear – fear of change, that is. We simply deny the pain until it gets so bad that we are crushed and finally realize we need some help. Hurts, hang-ups, and habits do not develop overnight but often stem from something much deeper. Many of us live with our poor choices for years.This group will be a safe place to begin your courageous journey of digging deeper and finding freedom. Happiness and Healing are yours for the choosing.

This group will be a safe place to begin your courageous journey of digging deeper and finding freedom. Happiness and Healing are yours for the choosing. If you would like to begin your journey of Hope, Healing, Happiness, and Freedom then Life’s healing choices group is for you.

When: 8-week series, on Wednesdays @ 7 PM, Starting Sept.27th, 2017
Where: the bridge, A Markham Community Church
Cost: A fee of $20 is suggested to cover the cost of workbook
Note: Leaders who have walked this journey will be leading discussion groups for Men and Women separately.

For more information contact us at seasonalgroups@ thebridgemarkham.com or call 9052946716.

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Loss comes to all of us and it is natural, even normal, to experience complicating emotions. It may be a recent death of a loved one or it may have happened years ago. If you find yourself struggling with memories and feelings related to your loss, we want to invite you to be part of this 13-week group experience.

In a safe and confidential group environment, we journey together along the road to healing – learning about grief from a video presentation, supporting each other as we share our feelings and struggles, and reflecting on scripture themes, each week.

Topics include: Is this Normal ?, Challenges/Lessons of Grief, Why?, Guilt and Anger, Heaven, What Do I Live for Now?

Who is it for?

GriefCare is for adults who have experienced the death of a loved one and would benefit from a group experience. This group is not suitable for children but it does provide material to help parents relate to children who have lost loved ones.

When: Wednesdays, 7:00 – 9:00 pm, starting September 26th, 2018 (13 Weeks)

Where: the bridge, A Markham Community Church

Cost: a fee of $20 is suggested but not mandatory, to cover the cost of workbook

For more information contact us at griefcare@thebridgemarkham.com or call 9052946716 ext 24

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Using an interactive format, this 6-week group will learn effective evidence-based approaches for reducing anxiety and stress. Practice exercises will help participants to develop skills for quieting fears and getting anxious thoughts under control. Group learning will address multiple areas that contribute to stress and anxiety including: physical, emotional, behavioural, mental, interpersonal and spiritual.

Dates: Mondays, 7:00 – 8.30 pm, starting September 24th, 2018 (6 weeks)
Where: the bridge, A Markham Community Church
Cost: A fee of $20 is suggested but not mandatory, to cover the cost of materials.

For more information contact us at stressandanxiety@thebridgemarkham.com or call 905294671 ext 24

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