January 4, 2022
By Jordan Cryderman
CSFS Wellness Workers, Jaimie Poirier and Lydia Thomas, have started a new online program called the Wellbriety Co-Ed Circle Group, which will support people looking to recover from addictions.
The group will be focused on teaching wellbriety, the medicine wheel, and the 12 steps of recovery in an effort to heal as many people as possible. It will also be about meeting people where they’re at in their journey.
“A person could expect a lot of support,” says Lydia. “We’re looking to help in any way possible and hook them up with other CSFS services that they may need.”
Wellbriety is about being clean, sober, healthy, and having a balance in all areas of your life. “It’s a journey of hope and healing for everyone seeking recovery from addictions,” says Jaimie.
Jaimie and Lydia say that they would like to support people learning more about their culture, or to share what they already know.
“Strength comes from culture,” says Lydia. “We’re going to talk about culture, and how you can use culture to stay in recovery. I want to share what I’ve learned, such as going back to nature. I’ve learned to take the stress that I have and to take it back to Mother Earth. I’ve used rocks as healing tools. Using water to cleanse. There’s so many ways to heal through land. Smudging, water smudges, candlelight smudges – whatever the participants want to do. We’re learning their culture too.”
The need for a support group like this has become dire in our region, as resources are limited for people who are seeking to recover from their addictions.
“Both of us have clients who are waiting to go to treatment, and are on the list, but as you know, we don’t have a centre in the north,” says Jaimie. “Everyone is on the waitlist for treatment.”
For now, the Wellbriety Co-Ed Circle Groups will be facilitated through Zoom. Jaimie and Lydia hope that in-person meetings will be offered in the near future – however, that will depend on COVID-19 safety restrictions. They are also hoping to bring an Elder on board to help facilitate the group.
If you would like to learn more about the group, or would like to drop by for a meeting, contact Jaimie or Lydia:
Jaimie – email jpoirier@csfs.org,
or call (250) 301-9163
Lydia – email lthomas@csfs.org,
or call (250) 640-4249
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Last modified: Wednesday 03-Apr-24 12:36:29 PDT