22318 McIntosh Avenue

Maple Ridge, BC

V2X 3C1

~ administrative and counselling offices ~

Tel: 604-467-9939 Fax: 604-467-5158

Women and children who have experienced or witnessed abuse in personal relationships can access professional and confidential services without charge.

	COUNSELLING PROGRAMS FOR WOMEN


	Women who come to us for help are survivors of trauma, often with a lifetime of abuse issues. Very early in life they have learned that it is not okay to have needs and feeling. Instead they have learned to focus on the needs of those around them at the expense of forming their own identity. This prevents them from reaching their own full potential. The goals of these programs are to empower women to move from the position of victim to that of survivor and to finally reclaim their identity.

	The Stopping the Violence Program


	Offers individual (long-term) or group (short-term) counselling to women who have experienced abuse.


	call 604-467-9939 local 221

	The Victims of Violence Program


	Offers short-term crisis counselling to women who have been abused. To be eligible for this program the woman should be suffering adverse psychological effects of this abuse. The abuse does not have to be physical or sexual, but may be verbal, emotional, psychological, economic, or spiritual.


	call 604-467-9939 local 221

	Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse


	Offers individual/group counselling to women who experienced sexual abuse in childhood. Referrals to this program come through Mental Health.


	call 604-467-9939 local 221

	The "I Can" Support Group


	For women waiting to access one of the above counselling programs, or those who don't require long-term counselling, an open, drop-in support and information group is available. The "I Can" is a weekly, ongoing, facilitated support group for women who have been/or who are in abusive/controlling relationships.


	call 604-467-9939 local 221

	Pattern Changing Group


	This 15 week second stage group is available to women who have a good understanding of the dynamics and cycle of abuse, and who are ready to explore their own patterns and look at possible ways to change. Pre-registration is required. Offered twice a year.


	call 604-467-9939 local 221

Come the Dawn

After a while you learn the subtle difference

between holding a hand and chaining a soul

and you learn that love doesn't mean leaning

and company doesn't mean security

and you begin to learn that kisses aren't contracts

and presents aren't promises

and you begin to accept your defeats

with your head up and your eyes open

with the grace of a woman

and not the grief of a child

and learn to build all your roads on today

because tomorrow's ground is too uncertain for plans

and futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight.

After a while you learn that

even sunshine burns if you get too much.

So you plant your own garden

and decorate your own soul

instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers

and you learn that you really endure

that you really are strong and you really do have worth

and you learn and learn - with every good-bye you learn.

Author unknown