Join a Work That Reconnects Group in the Cowichan Valley

Fridays, May 16-June 6th, 12:00-2:00 PM in Cowichan Bay

Sliding scale of $150-$225 for four weeks/8 hours of group time. Limited partial scholarships available. A portion of funds will be shared with a local Indigenous-led organization.  Email teddykellamtherapy@gmail.com to express interest or to sign up.

An Invitation. Are you feeling grief for the world? Anger or fear about social crises and environmental degradation, along with the suffering of vulnerable humans? Do you feel confused about who to be in the context of so much uncertainty in the world? Do you wish to be with others for mutual in-person support to find your way forward in these times of upheaval?

There is a magic that happens when concerned people gather in-person to metabolize their worry for the world into connection, resilience and energy for healing. If you feel called to an honest and nurturing experience where you can be real with others, I invite you to join an upcoming 4-week Work That Reconnects group in beautiful Cowichan Bay.

What is Work That Reconnects? Developed in the 1970s by Dr. Joanna Macy - a deep ecologist, Buddhist and systems scholar – Work that Reconnects is a process that supports people to reconnect with themselves, others, and the natural world. Over half a century now, this methodology has supported people worldwide to find solidarity and resolve to act in the face of intensifying environmental and social crises-each in their own ways, based on their own unique gifts.

The Work That Reconnects spiral is a roadmap that begins with Coming from Gratitude. According to Lydia Harutoonian of the School for the Great Turning, “It is a revolutionary act to have open eyes to what is going on in the world and still be grateful. Gratitude opens up reciprocity and it is a joyful duty. When you live in a political economy that want you to feel needy and buy things, gratitude is an act of resistance. It is a gift of enoughness.”

Then we move into Honouring Our Pain for the World. It is a rare opportunity to share our raw feelings - worries, grief, anger, shame or despair - and to receive deep listening in community. When we feel seen and heard in our vulnerability, our window of tolerance becomes wider. Can we become unafraid of our pain for the world? It will not go away, but we can we learn to walk with it, so we can be here for suffering in the most fruitful way possible?

Next we transition to Seeing with New & Ancient Eyes. This is where we wrestle with “who am I?” in these times.  We see the interdependence of all things and remember our belonging to the web of life. We clarify how social justice and environmental justice are intertwined, and we explore an expanded cosmological framework to gain inspiration and energy to move forward.

In Going Forth we ask “Now what?” At this place on the spiral, we negotiate with ourselves- what am I capable of in terms of integrating and sharing with my community? How can I move towards actions that call me? Actions are seen through a wide lens, from food gardening to supporting the homeless to courageous protest. Movement towards healing in our world varies widely, according to life circumstances, abilities, and gifts.

Learn more about Work That Reconnects here.

What is the group like? We’ll meet in-person for two hours per week for four weeks in a comfortable space in Cowichan Bay. Together in circle, we’ll journal using evocative prompts, listen deeply, laugh together, create a safe container for vulnerability, experience guided meditations and powerful poetry, and learn nervous system regulation practices. All activities are designed to support participants to develop tools for travelling a good path through these times. All are welcome-whether you have engaged in environmental or community work - or not.

Who is Facilitating the Group? I am a therapist in the Cowichan Valley trained in trauma healing, emotional resilience-building, climate psychology, Somatic Experiencing, AEDP, somatic abolitionism, Work That Reconnects, and community grief-tending. Alongside facilitating Good Grief Network climate distress groups for the past five years, I am on faculty with the Climate Emotional Resilience Institute, and I co-represent British Columbia with the Climate Psychology Alliance of North America. Most recently I have trained therapists in climate-aware therapy, and facilitated an emotional resilience group for US scientists who are facing professional upheaval. My passion is to gather people together where their hearts can open and we can realise our shared humanity.

Details. Fridays, May 16-June 6th, 12:00-2:00 PM in Cowichan Bay. Cost is a sliding scale of $150-$225 for four weeks/8 hours of group time. The sliding scale is offered to make the group accessible to people at various income levels, and for those experiencing financial hardship.  Limited partial scholarships available. A portion of funds will be shared with a local Indigenous-led organization, and I offer gratitude to my Work That Reconnects facilitation teachers: Lydia Harutoonian Violet and Adrian Villasenor-Garza.

Please email teddykellamtherapy@gmail.com to ask questions, to express interest or to sign up. I look forward to sharing space with you!