Catholic Family Services of Durham
Oshawa Tel: 905-725-3513 Ajax Tel: 905-428-1984 Port Perry Tel: 905-985-4221
Toll Free: 1-877-282-8932
Oshawa Tel: 905-725-3513 Ajax Tel: 905-428-1984 Port Perry Tel: 905-985-4221
Toll Free: 1-877-282-8932
Programs & Services
Individual, Couple and Family Counselling
Professional counselling services are offered to assist individuals, couples and families experiencing personal adjustment and relationship difficulties to attain an improved level of wellness and satisfaction in life.
Individuals
Counselling is offered to individuals experiencing difficulty in areas such as coping with grief and loss, managing transitional changes, work related difficulties, tendency to addiction, struggling to overcome the effects of past abuse, managing stress, anxiety or depression as well as emotional or anger management.
Couples
Counselling is offered to couples to reduce the level of conflict and distress in their relationship and to assist them to achieve a closer emotional bond.
Families
Family counselling is offered to improve family relationships and family functioning, to manage transitions such as separation, loss or blended family issues, or to help families to deal with the special needs of one or more members.
Is there a fee for this program?
Your counsellor will discuss the fee with you at the first interview. Payment is on a sliding scale according to income, the number of persons in your family and the number of sessions you will require. Subsidy is available for those who need it. No one is ever denied service because of an inability to pay.
W.A.V.E. Program
(Women Against Abuse Everywhere)
The W.A.V.E Part 1 and Part 2 Programs offer individual counselling, transitional support and a variety of group programs to women who have experienced abuse in a partner relationship or women who fear they may be at risk of abuse.
This service allows women to identify personal goals and is respectful of the choices they make regarding their relationship. Therapeutic counselling services are also available for women who have been sexually assaulted.
Appointments are offered on a rapid response basis. Group programs and therapeutic counselling services are available for children who have been exposed to violence in the home.
Violence Against Women, For Women 50+
A 12 week psycho-educational group for women ages 50+ and will examine the topics as noted aabove focusing specifically on how these issues are experienced by older women and the unique challenges they face.
Groups for Children and Teens Exposed to Violence
Communication And Relationship for Teens
The C.A.R.T Group
This is a ten week life skills program for teens ages 13-17 who have been exposed to violence.
Topics include:
Building Healthy Relationship Skills
Stress and Anger Management
Communication SKills That Work
Dating Violence: What's It Look Like?
Respecting Myself and Others
Making Choices: Thinking Before I Act
The group takes place three times a year in the Oshawa office. This is an after school program.
Stopping Abuse for Everyone The S.A.F.E Group This is a 10 week after school group program for children ages 8-12 who have been exposed to violence. Topics include understanding violence, managing anger and other feelings, cooperating with friends and family, respecting myself and others. The group uses crafts, videos, small group discussion, and role plays to explore these topics. Women abuse counselling and support groups are available to mothers of children in the program. Both programs are funded in part by the Ministry of Community and Social Services.
Parenting Programs Catholic Family Services offers a variety of group programs and workshops for parents who want to improve their parenting capacity and strengthen their parenting skills. You will have an opportunity to share with other parents and to identify your parenting goals. You will also learn how improve your relationship with your child and how to raise a happier, more cooperative and responsible child.
Children Are The Future Parenting After Violence (PAV) PAV is an 10 week evening group and is concurrent program for women who have been abused in partner relationships and for their children who have witnessed the violence. The mother's group explores strategies for parenting children who have been exposed to violence with a focus on strengthening parenting skills and sharing and supporting one another.
Children Exposed to Violence: Choices Group There are two children's groups for ages 5-8 and 9-12 that run concurrently with the PAV group and foucs on understanding abuse, learning to be safe, seperation and divorce, anger management skills, and self-esteem.
Parenting Workshop for ADHD
A 3 evening workshop will be offered in Spring 2008. This is an educational program to assist parents/caregivers of children who have been diagnosed with ADHD. Please call the agnecy for more information or to receive a registration form. Cost is $60.00 per family.
Caring Dads - NEW!
CFSD will be offering a pilot group of the "Caring Dads" program which is currently operating in other communities. It is designed for fathers who have abused or neglected their children and/or exposed them to abuse of the mothers. It is a 10 week program set to begin at the Oshawa site in February 2008. As part of the agency's Safer Families Program, this group will focus on fathers' accountability for abuse, countering the attitudes linked to abusive and neglectful behaviours and on promoting healthy and nurturing relationships between fathers and their child and the child's mother.
The Safer Families The Safer Families Project, funded by the Ministry of Community and Social Services, is led by Catholic Family Services of Durham. It is a collaborative project with Durham Family Services, and Durham Children's Aid Society that launched in January 2007. The goal of the program is to provide immediate counseling and supportive services to families with children exposed to domestic violence. We aim to teach families how to live safely and harmoniously, how to communicate effectively, and how to parent so that children thrive. We anticipate that participation in this program will decrease the placement of children into care as well as reduce the rate of re-referrals to the Children's Aid Society. Families that the Children's Aid Society deem appropriate for the program will be referred to Catholic Family Services of Durham's Safer Families Coordinator. She oversees the operations of the project and ensures that family needs are assessed at either Family Services agency. Counseling services or community resources are then offered to families or individual based on their assessed needs and goals. We gratefully acknowledge the work of Peel Catholic Family Services, and Peel Children's Aid Society, the creators of the program. Their success with this program in their region is what inspired us to administer it in Durham.
Free to be Me Free to Be Me (Girls) is a five session program for girls ages 9-12. This workshop is based on the best selling book by Dr. Mary Pipher, Ph.D. entitled, 'Reviving Ophelia. Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls'. Using workbook exercises, music, art, role plays, and group discussions, the girls will examine such issues as:
the development of a healthy body image
understanding the media and how to handle the often damaging and restrictive messages from television, music and magazines girls receive on how to be a female
assertiveness, communication and problem-solving skills
creating healthy relationships with other females
understanding and challenging bullying between girls
the importance of physical activity and healthy living
how to take care of one's physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being
Throughout the program, girls are encouraged to challenge the messages that promote unrealistic body images and passive behavior and to instead celebrate their own individual selves. The development of confident and strong girls who can keep a focus on their true strengths and passions are the overall goals of the program.
Healing Hearts Healing Hearts is an intervention program designed for girls, between the ages of 8 and 12 who have disclosed sexual abuse. Counselling is provided through group format in order to break the isolation and alienation that accompanies the trauma of abuse This group is ideal for girls who are willing to meet others with similar experiences and who are able to participate within a group setting. Participants may either become involved as the first intervention to approaching their trauma or as the final stage in healing. The group is a blend of discussion and activities facilitated through experiential and written exercises. Weekly scrap booking or journaling takes place, documenting member's experiences, memories, and participation. The scrapbook is kept with the facilitators until the final week when the members are encouraged to take their scrapbook home.
**Eligible participants must attend an assessment interview; the interview is a requirement but not a guarantee of membership in the group. Those interested must have had their sexual abuse experience investigated by the police or the Children's Aid Society.
Parish Social Ministry We provide consultation and assistance to parishes committed to promoting caring community through parish based social ministry programs. To minister means to serve, to comfort, to contribute and utilize our individual gifts for the community. Parish Social Ministry is an empowerment of the parish to respond to human needs in an organized way as the parish fulfils the Church’s mission to bring love, freedom, justice and peace.
Individual, Couple and Family Counselling
Professional counselling services are offered to assist individuals, couples and families experiencing personal adjustment and relationship difficulties to attain an improved level of wellness and satisfaction in life.
Individuals
Counselling is offered to individuals experiencing difficulty in areas such as coping with grief and loss, managing transitional changes, work related difficulties, tendency to addiction, struggling to overcome the effects of past abuse, managing stress, anxiety or depression as well as emotional or anger management.
Couples
Counselling is offered to couples to reduce the level of conflict and distress in their relationship and to assist them to achieve a closer emotional bond.
Families
Family counselling is offered to improve family relationships and family functioning, to manage transitions such as separation, loss or blended family issues, or to help families to deal with the special needs of one or more members.
Is there a fee for this program?
Your counsellor will discuss the fee with you at the first interview. Payment is on a sliding scale according to income, the number of persons in your family and the number of sessions you will require. Subsidy is available for those who need it. No one is ever denied service because of an inability to pay.
W.A.V.E. Program
(Women Against Abuse Everywhere)
The W.A.V.E Part 1 and Part 2 Programs offer individual counselling, transitional support and a variety of group programs to women who have experienced abuse in a partner relationship or women who fear they may be at risk of abuse.
This service allows women to identify personal goals and is respectful of the choices they make regarding their relationship. Therapeutic counselling services are also available for women who have been sexually assaulted.
Appointments are offered on a rapid response basis. Group programs and therapeutic counselling services are available for children who have been exposed to violence in the home.
Violence Against Women, For Women 50+
A 12 week psycho-educational group for women ages 50+ and will examine the topics as noted aabove focusing specifically on how these issues are experienced by older women and the unique challenges they face.
Groups for Children and Teens Exposed to Violence
Communication And Relationship for Teens
The C.A.R.T Group
This is a ten week life skills program for teens ages 13-17 who have been exposed to violence.
Topics include:
Building Healthy Relationship Skills
Stress and Anger Management
Communication SKills That Work
Dating Violence: What's It Look Like?
Respecting Myself and Others
Making Choices: Thinking Before I Act
The group takes place three times a year in the Oshawa office. This is an after school program.
Stopping Abuse for Everyone The S.A.F.E Group This is a 10 week after school group program for children ages 8-12 who have been exposed to violence. Topics include understanding violence, managing anger and other feelings, cooperating with friends and family, respecting myself and others. The group uses crafts, videos, small group discussion, and role plays to explore these topics. Women abuse counselling and support groups are available to mothers of children in the program. Both programs are funded in part by the Ministry of Community and Social Services.
Parenting Programs Catholic Family Services offers a variety of group programs and workshops for parents who want to improve their parenting capacity and strengthen their parenting skills. You will have an opportunity to share with other parents and to identify your parenting goals. You will also learn how improve your relationship with your child and how to raise a happier, more cooperative and responsible child.
Children Are The Future Parenting After Violence (PAV) PAV is an 10 week evening group and is concurrent program for women who have been abused in partner relationships and for their children who have witnessed the violence. The mother's group explores strategies for parenting children who have been exposed to violence with a focus on strengthening parenting skills and sharing and supporting one another.
Children Exposed to Violence: Choices Group There are two children's groups for ages 5-8 and 9-12 that run concurrently with the PAV group and foucs on understanding abuse, learning to be safe, seperation and divorce, anger management skills, and self-esteem.
Parenting Workshop for ADHD
A 3 evening workshop will be offered in Spring 2008. This is an educational program to assist parents/caregivers of children who have been diagnosed with ADHD. Please call the agnecy for more information or to receive a registration form. Cost is $60.00 per family.
Caring Dads - NEW!
CFSD will be offering a pilot group of the "Caring Dads" program which is currently operating in other communities. It is designed for fathers who have abused or neglected their children and/or exposed them to abuse of the mothers. It is a 10 week program set to begin at the Oshawa site in February 2008. As part of the agency's Safer Families Program, this group will focus on fathers' accountability for abuse, countering the attitudes linked to abusive and neglectful behaviours and on promoting healthy and nurturing relationships between fathers and their child and the child's mother.
The Safer Families The Safer Families Project, funded by the Ministry of Community and Social Services, is led by Catholic Family Services of Durham. It is a collaborative project with Durham Family Services, and Durham Children's Aid Society that launched in January 2007. The goal of the program is to provide immediate counseling and supportive services to families with children exposed to domestic violence. We aim to teach families how to live safely and harmoniously, how to communicate effectively, and how to parent so that children thrive. We anticipate that participation in this program will decrease the placement of children into care as well as reduce the rate of re-referrals to the Children's Aid Society. Families that the Children's Aid Society deem appropriate for the program will be referred to Catholic Family Services of Durham's Safer Families Coordinator. She oversees the operations of the project and ensures that family needs are assessed at either Family Services agency. Counseling services or community resources are then offered to families or individual based on their assessed needs and goals. We gratefully acknowledge the work of Peel Catholic Family Services, and Peel Children's Aid Society, the creators of the program. Their success with this program in their region is what inspired us to administer it in Durham.
Free to be Me Free to Be Me (Girls) is a five session program for girls ages 9-12. This workshop is based on the best selling book by Dr. Mary Pipher, Ph.D. entitled, 'Reviving Ophelia. Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls'. Using workbook exercises, music, art, role plays, and group discussions, the girls will examine such issues as:
the development of a healthy body image
understanding the media and how to handle the often damaging and restrictive messages from television, music and magazines girls receive on how to be a female
assertiveness, communication and problem-solving skills
creating healthy relationships with other females
understanding and challenging bullying between girls
the importance of physical activity and healthy living
how to take care of one's physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being
Throughout the program, girls are encouraged to challenge the messages that promote unrealistic body images and passive behavior and to instead celebrate their own individual selves. The development of confident and strong girls who can keep a focus on their true strengths and passions are the overall goals of the program.
Healing Hearts Healing Hearts is an intervention program designed for girls, between the ages of 8 and 12 who have disclosed sexual abuse. Counselling is provided through group format in order to break the isolation and alienation that accompanies the trauma of abuse This group is ideal for girls who are willing to meet others with similar experiences and who are able to participate within a group setting. Participants may either become involved as the first intervention to approaching their trauma or as the final stage in healing. The group is a blend of discussion and activities facilitated through experiential and written exercises. Weekly scrap booking or journaling takes place, documenting member's experiences, memories, and participation. The scrapbook is kept with the facilitators until the final week when the members are encouraged to take their scrapbook home.
**Eligible participants must attend an assessment interview; the interview is a requirement but not a guarantee of membership in the group. Those interested must have had their sexual abuse experience investigated by the police or the Children's Aid Society.
Parish Social Ministry We provide consultation and assistance to parishes committed to promoting caring community through parish based social ministry programs. To minister means to serve, to comfort, to contribute and utilize our individual gifts for the community. Parish Social Ministry is an empowerment of the parish to respond to human needs in an organized way as the parish fulfils the Church’s mission to bring love, freedom, justice and peace.