"I appreciate the Self-Directed Peer Support group and the two facilitators who do a wonderful job of directing the group. The group is fantastic, we learn from each other. My daughter is the same, no change there, just changes with me. I know as a mom I would love nothing better than to see my daughter get to a rehab and off the alcohol but that just hasn't happened.
I try not to miss the group as it reinforces all I had learned in the 10-week program. I am diligent at self care but do slip up at times while seeing my daughter slip away from me from the girl she used to be. I really miss her. " Quote by a mom attending the self-directed peer group.
This is a participant who has shared how she perseveres with her life when her daughter is not seeing she is needing the help herself. The mom has taken control of what she is in control of - what she does, what she thinks, what she feels, what she says. How did she persevere through a challenging time?
Mom reached out for help connecting with The Thumbs Up Foundation in Airdrie to learn about The Harmonized Health project
(GO TO www.coolfamilysolutions.com under the heading "Harmonized Health" to review the report from Thumbs Up )
Mom was informed about the Cool Family Solutions (CFS) FAMILIES HELPING FAMILIES 10-week course for family members who are supporting a loved who does not see they need help
Mom reached out to CFS to learn more about the 10-week program. She learned it was about offering a new, holistic approach to family dynamics, emphasizing the strength of the family as a system rather than highlighting the weaknessess of its individual members. She would learn the tools and strategies needed to help herself to be a vital role in supporting her daughter regardless of what her daughter chooses to do or not to do.
Mom committed to the 10-week course to focus on what she could do different, hear different perspectives of how to approach her feeling overwhelmed, disempowered and underprepared for the challenges she was facing and learn more about herself in the process which had her focus on taking care of herself.
She expressed her feelings and thoughts rather then stuffing them. Being vulnerable to express this with a group of strangers at the first session of 10 was difficult yet brought relief one week at a time.
Practiced the tools each week whether it was with daughter, other family members or friends and shared what she learned by using one of the 5 tools eg. LUV - Listen, Understand, Validate . The AH HA of this, she realized she was not alone after hearing other group members sharing their experiences.
The focus was on what they could do different without expecting their loved ones to change by working through another tool ACE -Accountable to following through with doing the work to help self, Commited to making a difference "how to" approach and manage situations and Engage to have honest, healthy conversations to empower others.
The 10-weeks equiped her and the other participants with practical, actionable tools that empowered them to break from the limiting beliefs and structures by mental health system to learning how to transform their lives to feel more empowered and capable of tackling the challenges they face in their family.
The support continued after the 10-week with the mom registering for the Self-Directed Peer Support Group to drop in at her convenience at the 2 sessions offered per month.
Thank you to this Mom for sharing how she is persevering by attending the peer group to continue working on herself while helping others when they need support.
This mom and others attending the peer group have established a strong community of family supporters with the guidance of the two facilitators who completed the 10-weeks and volunteered wanting to lead the peer group. The survey has rated 94% success by the participants who have attended the peer group.
Contact Mona Cooley at mona.cooley@coolfamilysolutions.com or call 403.512.5558
for information. 10-week course is ACCREDITED program with a seal of approval from CCPC - Canadian Council Professional Certification
NEW: ACCREDITED 8-week session with Cool Corp Solutions under the umbrella of Cool Family Solutions. Organizations, Businesses can receive more information by contacting mona.cooley@coolfamilysolutions.com and how our Strength-Based Program - Roadmap to Resilience - a structured plan that shows teams how to create a cohesive strategy for managing challenges and flourish together.
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