On Line Calendar and Registration
Download Our Spring Schedules
April, May, June single session classes
April, May, June Multi Sessions & Support Groups
All Recovery College Central Alberta education courses are free and offered online through Zoom. Beginning in April 2021, we are now offering a limited number of in-person spaces at our Learning Centre, 4805 48 Street, in downtown Red Deer. Please call us at 403-342-2266 if you would like to reserve one of the in-person spaces for our support groups or multi session courses.
Because of Covid, people attending in our space must call us before they attend each session for an over the phone Covid Assessment. You will fill out a written assessment the day of the class.
Please note the facilitators will start the Zoom session for each class, 30 minutes before the scheduled start time. People are welcome to join the session anytime after this.
Recovery College has its own website at https://recoverycollegecentralalberta.ca
Please visit our Recovery College Calendar Page to see our current schedule.Click on the links to register for the classes you would like to take. When you register, you will get a confirmation email which includes instructions for using Zoom. Please feel free to come into Zoom 10 minutes before the class if you need a bit of tech support. We do not provide tech support once the class begins.
At Recovery College, our educational-based approach focuses on helping people recognize and develop their own resourcefulness and awareness in order to support themselves or their loved one’s recovery journey. All of our courses are developed and delivered in partnership with our peer supporters who are experts by experience: they have their own story of a mental health or substance concern, or are supporting a loved one.
Everyone is welcome to attend our free courses and drop-in classes. No previous experience is required and with many courses to choose from, there is a course for everyone.
Our Recovery College courses are interactive and create positive learning experiences, emphasizing connection, hope and belonging. An emphasis is placed on individual’s talents and strengths. Our courses inspire optimism, encourage students to consider future opportunities, and more people towards personal empowerment. Recovery is a journey, not a destination.
Our current on line offerings:
- Join us every morning at 9am for a 30 min check in- Get your day off to a good start by doing a few small things together with like-minded people who could use a morning boost.
- Eight Strategies To Help Manage Our Stress And Emotions- A one hour, one session interactive workshop with a focus on understanding and managing our emotions and stress.
- Healthy Boundaries in a Risky World-This one-hour, one session discussion was designed to help people work through boundary issues within their family and friendship groups.
- Practising Mindfulness in our Everyday Lives- A one hour, one session interactive workshop introducing mindfulness as an everyday tool.
Self Care for Caregivers and Everyone- A one hour, one -session interactive workshop with a focus on self-care during difficult times. It is especially helpful for caregivers. - Stress or Anxiety? Both?- This one-hour, one session workshop will help you come to an understanding of the roles stress and anxiety may play in your life, especially now. You will also learn some techniques that can help you through both.
- Wellness Tools for the New Normal – A one hour, one-session interactive workshop providing an overview and some practice with wellness tools we all can use.
- Virtual Discussion- Join our Peer Supporters in our new one hour virtual discussion group as another way to socially connect with others during this time. Student can participate in recovery-focused discussions, guided activities and light-hearted games that can help us cope during physical distancing measures. Registration is required.
- Caregiver Connections: Online Support Group – The virtual version of our Caregiver Connections Support Group for family members and friends supporting individuals with mental health concerns. This groups meets every Tuesday evening 6:30pm-8:00pm
Friendship Circle: Online Support Group- The virtual version of our Friendship Circle Support Group which is focused on developing relationships, learning together and having a good time together. This group meets every Wednesday afternoon 4:00-5:30pm
Multi Session Courses
- Empowering Helpers (5 weeks) – Participants will learn to define your role as a caregiver in the family unit; demonstrate healthy boundaries for yourself; Identify self-care practices suitable for your needs; Identify community resources for yourself and your loved one(s); take responsibility for your emotions and behaviours; and set goals and actions for the future.
- Building Better Boundaries (4 weeks) – Boundaries aren’t just for maps! Building Better Boundaries involves learning how to set boundaries, talking to others about your boundaries, and showing others you respect their boundaries. This course will help you to build better boundaries, so you can feel happier and healthier.
- Conversations that Matter (4 weeks) – Sometimes it can be hard to get a conversation started and even harder to keep the conversation going! Throughout this four week online course you will learn communication tools to create meaningful relationships and friendships.
- Road to Recovery (4 weeks): The road to recovery is not always an easy one. The journey of reinventing how you think about yourself, your mental health or substance use, and your recovery can be a challenging one! Throughout this course, you will explore how to think and act in ways that move you towards a more meaningful life beyond mental health and substance use.
- Confront the Discomfort (3 weeks): Whether we like it or not, anxiety is a normal part of life. But anxiety can also get in the way of us enjoying life. In this course you will learn how to value, recognize, and react to important anxiety warning signs, and confront the discomfort in a positive and healthy way.
Starting October 21st, offered every
As of April 1, 2020 the mental health and wellness education program and our Recovery College of Central Alberta moved to our new home in the Mid City Plaza Building in downtown Red Deer. The address is #303, 4805 48 Street. We are looking forward to using our new space.
Using an educational-based approach, Recovery College offers courses to help people recognize and develop their own resourcefulness and awareness in order to support themselves or their loved one’s recovery journey. All our courses are co-developed and co-delivered in partnership with people who have their own personal experience of a mental health or addiction concern or are supporting a loved one.
Some people will take the classes at CMHA because they have a specific mental health concern or diagnosis and they are hoping that our recovery and peer focus can add that something special they are missing. Other people will become part of Recovery College because they are on a personal journey to improve their emotional wellness in much the same way that people go to gyms or rec centres to improve their physical well-being.
Regardless of why someone takes a Recovery College Central Alberta course, you can expect to learn and grow in a compassionate and respectful environment while having fun with interesting people who might even become your good friends.
Everyone – family, friends, caregivers, professionals and the general public – are welcome to attend our free courses on recovery and well-being. No previous experience or education level is required. Our courses are open to the community-at-large. We have found that some people have a better learning experience when CMHA staff can talk to them about their expectations and specific needs. We can help people choose the right course, make recommendations, and answer questions. You can call us at 403-342-2266.
See www.recoverycollegecentralalberta.ca for more details
or to register online!
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