Groups + Workshops
Identities: In Bloom
Youth who are seeking community, conversations, acceptance and support around exploring identity (gender, sexuality, relationships, labels, etc.) are welcome to join us for a monthly drop-in. This includes youth who identify as 2sLGBTQIA+, and youth feeling unsure or curious about who they are. We welcome youth of all abilities and backgrounds, and in all stages of exploring and becoming. We aim to offer a neurodivergent-affirming environment and trauma-informed approach to tough conversations about gender, sexuality, the media, and safety.
Second Tuesday of every month. Drop-in anytime from 7-9 pm at Bloom Kitchener.
(690 Belmont Ave W, Unit 301, Kitchener)
January 13, February 10, March 10, April 14
Regulated Parents: Supported Kids
A 4‑week, online Mind–Body Psychotherapy Group for parents of neurodivergent children. Facilitated by Candice Fedy (RP), this group is grounded in neurodivergent‑affirming psychotherapy, emotion‑regulation frameworks, ACT‑informed values work, psychoeducation, reflective group discussion, and gentle body‑based regulation practices (breathwork, grounding, and light movement). Parents in this group will be supported with managing the stress of parenting a neurodivergent child; increasing nervous‑system awareness; building emotional‑regulation capacity; learning co‑regulation strategies; expanding tolerance for emotional discomfort (both yours and your child’s); responding in alignment with parenting values; and developing realistic, sustainable parenting intentions moving forward. Be the grounded parent your child needs.
Details:
When: 11: 45- 1pm on Fridays- May 1, May 8, May 22, May 29 (skipping long weekend)
Where: Virtually on zoom
Cost: $150 per session $600 total
*reimbursable through insurance coverage for group therapy or Registered Psychotherapist
Nature's Palette: Eco Art Adventures
Janet De Gazon (RP) and Ryan Spies present: Nature’s Palette- Eco Art Adventures These seasonal 90 minute Sunday workshops provide anxious or highly sensitive 7-11-year-olds an opportunity to create art using found materials in nature while enjoying the soothing qualities of nature where the sights, sounds, and smells are calming. This connection to their surroundings will help children to process emotions, build resilience, feel more grounded, reduce stress, and foster a sense of belonging.
Each off-site outdoor workshop is only $85 for your child to attend, reimbursable with coverage for psychotherapy services.
Spring 2025: Sunday May 3, 2-3:30pm
Summer 2025: Sunday August 23, 2-3:30pm
The Art of Being a Friend
Eveliina McKendrick, RP(Q) & Olivia Holden, MSW are running a 4-week group where youth in grades ages 11-13 will participate in creative, sensory-based activities and crafts while learning more about: understanding healthy friendships; resolving conflict; self-advocacy & boundary setting with friends; navigating the online world safely; coping with social stressors; and relationships.
Through hands on, playful activities such as Hands-on sensory based art activities such as: painting, building structures, and planting. This group is great for youth who are struggling to navigate changing peer dynamics.
Details:
When: 4:30-5:30pm on Mondays- Feb 23, March 2, March 9, March 23
Where: Bloom Kitchener
Cost: $150 per session $600 total
*reimbursable through insurance coverage for group therapy or Registered Social Worker.
Little Emotions Art Circle
In person child and caregiver group: Little Emotions Art Circle is a playful, empowering group for children ages 4–6 and a parent or caregiver to explore feelings together through art and play. Run by Janet De Gazon (RP) and Ryan Spies (RP Q), the group is grounded in art therapy principles, attachment-focused parenting, and narrative and play-based approaches. Children learn to recognize, name, and express emotions in healthy, creative ways, while parents are gently involved to build attunement, deepen connection, and strengthen emotional language at home. Together, children and caregivers explore feelings in a safe, nurturing space that supports emotional literacy, confidence, and healthy emotional expression.
Details:
When: 6:30pm-7:30pm on March 31, April 7, April 14, April 21, April 28 and May 5th
Where: Bloom Waterloo
Cost: $150 per session altogether for both caregiver and child. 6 sessions total.
*reimbursable through insurance coverage for group therapy or Registered Psychotherapist
Autism Caregivers Collective
Autism Caregivers Collective is an ongoing support group starting in 2026 for caregivers of autistic children. The facilitators, Lindsay Crickmay (MSW, RSW) and Grace Ohrling (MSW Intern) recognize that caregivers of autistic children and youth can feel misunderstood, alone, and isolated on your parenting journey. It can feel overwhelming knowing that society has a narrow idea of what success looks like and it can be hard to help your child thrive in a world not designed for them. Caregivers of ALL children with Autism are welcome- no matter how high or low their support needs are.
Attend as many sessions as you would like with afternoon and evening sessions being held on the first Friday of each month. There is no pressure to commit to a series of sessions. We created this space for you, to celebrate wins, losses, share resources and stories, have some laughs, and build a community together.
Details:
When: 12:30pm-2:30pm and/or 7:00pm-9:00pm on the following Fridays- February 6, March 6, April 10, and May 1, 2026
Where: In person at Bloom Kitchener (Belmont Village)
Cost: $50 per session. Reimbursable through insurance for social work or OAP funding.
Game On! Social Skills
Does your child struggle with making friends, navigating conflict, or expressing themselves confidently with peers? This hands-on and engaging group therapy with Olivia Holden MSW RSW and Evie McKendrick RP CPT is designed to help children aged 9-11 build essential social skills for their age in a supportive and fun environment. In this 4-week group, your child will engage in collaborative games and activities that focus on:
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Building & Maintaining Friendships
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Teamwork & Collaboration
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Effective Communication with Peers
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Conflict Resolution Strategies
This group is perfect for children who find it challenging to communicate their needs, work through disagreements, problem-solve with others, or stay true to themselves while interacting with others. With guidance from our experienced and playful therapists, your child will gain the skills to build and maintain friendships in meaningful ways (or co-exist peacefully with the kids they don’t want to be friends with!)
Details:
When: 4:30-5:30pm on Mondays- May 25, June 1, June 8 and June 15
Where: Bloom Kitchener
Cost: $150 per session $600 total
*reimbursable through insurance coverage for group therapy or Registered Social Worker.
Parent With Confidence:
Virtual Workshop
Melissa Fellin MSW RSW looks forward to welcoming you to a half day virtual workshop that is interactive, real, and full of tools you can actually use.
You love your child deeply, but parenting them feels like a constant battle.
Your child is kind, empathetic, and creative—but the world doesn’t seem to see it. Instead, people notice the meltdowns, the high energy, or the moments when they seem unmotivated.
You’re tired of:
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Feeling like nothing you do is “enough.”
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Constant fights, walking on eggshells, and fear of public meltdowns.
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Worry about judgment from other parents, teachers, or family.
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Watching your child struggle with friends, school, or activities.
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Feeling lonely and isolated in your parenting journey.
After this workshop, you will: Feel more calm, compassionate, and confident in your parenting; Know how to respond to your child’s big feelings and challenging behaviours; Have strategies to prevent and de-escalate meltdowns—without losing connection; See and build on your child’s strengths and gifts; Create a relationship where your child trusts you enough to bring you their hardest problems
Details:
2 hours on zoom
When: Friday February 20th at 10am-12:30pm
Where: Virtual workshop on zoom
Cost: $200 workshop
*reimbursable through insurance coverage for social workers
Parent With Confidence:
Support & Integration Group
For those who have attended the Parent with confidence workshop above, or who are interested in the concepts but want to dig deeper and integrate skills into your real life. This online parenting support and integration group was designed to help you:
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Develop deeper emotional regulation capacity
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Strengthen parenting confidence from the inside out
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Understand how your own history, expectations and attachment patterns show up in parenting
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Increase relational safety with their child
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Reduce isolation through shared experience
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Respond to meltdowns with co-regulation instead of escalation
This group is best suited for parents who have children aged 3-12 years old who are neurodivergent (ADHD, ASD, sensory processing differences), highly sensitive, intense, or emotionally reactive.
This space is for parents who want support for themselves, not just strategies for their child. This is not just a skills-only parenting class. It is a relational, reflective, therapeutic space.
Details:
6 weeks on Zoom, for anyone in Ontario
When: Monday evenings 7:30-9pm: March 23, March 30, April 6 , April 13, April 20, April 27
Where: Virtual workshop on zoom
Cost: $160 per session, per co-parenting unit $960 total*
Attend on your own or with a co-parent.
With: Melissa Fellin MSW, RSW, MA, PhD, CPT-S
*reimbursable through insurance coverage for group therapy or reistered social workers
Expression Lab
Lindsay Crickmay (MSW, RSW) and Grace Ohrling (MSW intern) welcome youth ages 9–12 who may be neurodivergent, shy, socially anxious, or exploring who they are to join in another round of the Expression Lab Group!
The expression lab is a safe and fun space for youth to experiment with art, music, movement, identity-building, and self-expression through creative activities like making slime, experimenting with instruments, building original characters and more! Together, we’ll create, connect, and build confidence in a supportive and affirming space. This group is great for youth to cultivate their individuality while understanding how they can embrace community, feel belonging, explore their senses, build self-regulation skills, and socialize with ease. Come explore your unique way of understanding yourself, the world, and others.
Bloom therapists, Lindsay, and Grace, look forward to getting groovy, and having fun with the youth in this group!
This group is for ages 9-12, and meets weekly Saturday afternoons at Bloom Waterloo.
Details:
When: Saturdays in March 2-3:30pm: March 7, 14, 21 and 28
Where: Bloom Waterloo- 7 Willow St
Cost: $180 per session. 4 sessions total.
*reimbursable through insurance coverage for group therapy or Registered Social Worker or through the Ontario Autism
The Art of Nurture
Accepting participants for our new in-person parenting group starting in winter 2026 - You spend so much time nurturing others—this is your turn. Nurture is a warm, supportive art therapy group designed to help parents tend to their own emotional wellbeing through creative expression, mindfulness, and connection with others who “get it.”
When life feels overwhelming, creativity can offer a way back to balance. Nurture invites parents to slow down, de-stress, and connect with others through gentle, guided art therapy activities. No art experience needed—just a space to breathe, create, and feel supported among other parents.
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Details:
When: Add yourself to the waitlist using the form below.
Where: Bloom Waterloo - 7 Willow St. Waterloo
Cost: $150 per session. 6 sessions total.
*reimbursable through insurance coverage for psychotherapy
With: Art Therapists: Janet DeGazon RP and Ryan Spies RP(q)
Junk Journal Collective
Junk Journal Collective is a supportive, creative group using art journaling techniques and mindfulness practices to build confidence, express yourself, discover your inner strengths, and have Fun. Junk Journalling is an art therapy approach that can be thought of as a mix of journaling, scrapbooking and art journaling while incorporating a narrative approach, and integrating mindfulness techniques and somatic art practices.
Janet DeGazon RP and Ryan Spies RPQ welcome Femme identifying 11-13 year old to create and connect through creativity and community. This 6-session weekly group (starting Feb 3) supports self esteem and confidence, self reflection, exploring personal strengths and values, and social connection.
Details:
When: Winter 2026 workshop is currently full. Add yourself to the waitlist for future offerings
Where: In person at Bloom Waterloo (7 Willow St)
Cost: $150 per session, $900 total. Reimbursable through insurance for registered psychotherapist or group therapy
Puppet Pals- Social Skills Group
Evie McKendrick RP, CPT, and Melissa Fellin MSW, RSW, CPT run a four-week expressive arts therapy group called Puppets and Pals for children who may have anxiety, shyness or any child who would like to work on enhancing social skills.
Puppet Pals will teach children important social skills such as: interacting with one another, flexibility, ability to take turns, self-awareness of their bodies in relation to others, attunement, collaboration, emotional identification, body language, voice projection, and a chance to try performing in front of a very small group.
This group for ages 5-7, and meets weekly at Bloom Kitchener. The group typically takes place Monday afternoons.
Details:
When: The Winter 2026 offering of this group is full! Join the waitlist for the next group by completing the form below.
Where: Bloom Kitchener
Cost: $150 per session. 4 sessions total.
*reimbursable through insurance coverage for group therapy or Registered Social Worker or Psychotherapist
Connected from the Start
Connected from the Start is a warm, supportive baby & me group for parents and their 3–18-month-olds, focused on building secure attachment through music, play, and mindful connection. Led by Tyler Reidy (RP, MTA) and Melissa Fellin (MSW, RSW, PhD, CPT), this 4-session biweekly group (starting Oct 7) supports bonding, emotional development, and early communication—while offering parents tools for confidence, co-regulation, and connection during the postpartum period. With gentle, creative, and relationship-focused approaches, parents will leave this group feeling more confident, knowledgeable, and connected to their babies. Babies will leave this group with more socialization, early communication, and feeling secure knowing their needs are being responded to by attuned and loving parents.
Details:
When: Add yourself to the waitlist using the registration form below
Where: In person at Bloom Kitchener (Belmont Village)
Cost: $180 per session, $720 total. Reimbursable through insurance for social work or psychotherapy.
Friendly Hearts - Social Skills
In person children’s group: Friendly Hearts (for children in SK-Grade 2). This children’s play therapy group is being led by Bloom therapists, Melissa Fellin RSW, MSW, CPT and Olivia Holden BSW, MSW, RSW and will focus on developing social skills necessary for making and keeping friends, engaging kindly with others at home and in other settings, and using their strengths to feel confident in navigating social situations.
In a play based, small group setting, Olivia and Melissa focus on the major areas of: rules; greetings; body safety; setting and respecting boundaries; kindness; and empathy. Follow up Parent sessions will be available upon request to review your child's strengths and areas of growth
Details:
When: Join the waitlist for the Spring 2026 offering by completing the form below!
Where: Bloom Kitchener
Cost: $150 per session. 4 sessions total.
*reimbursable through insurance coverage for group therapy or Registered Social Worker.
Perfectly Imperfect Art Therapy Group
Janet De Gazon (RP) and Ryan Spies (RP Q) will be running 5-week art therapy group called Perfectly Imperfect Art designed to help youth embrace the process over the product, giving them the freedom to explore their creativity, experiment with art supplies, and let their ‘growth mindset’ shine!
In a safe and supportive environment, Janet and Ryan will invite youth to participate in a variety of playful, messy art activities that challenge perfectionism and encourage self-expression.
Details:
When: 2026 dates TBD- submit the form below to be added to the waitlist!
Where: Bloom Waterloo - 7 Willow St. Waterloo
Cost: $150 per session. $750 total.
*reimbursable through insurance coverage for psychotherapy
Junior Rockers
A 6-Week Music Therapy Adventure for Ages 3–5 years old with Tyler Reidy (RP, MTA). Through playful music-making, movement, and storytelling, your child will build social skills like turn-taking, sharing, and friendship; strengthen language and communication through songs and rhythm; learn calming tools to manage big emotions, and explore creativity and self-expression in a safe, joyful space. Perfect for children with anxiety, speech delays, autism, or social challenges. Parents are welcome to join in the fun and receive expert guidance along the way. Give your child the gift of growth through music—join the Junior Rockers today!
Join the waitlist to be notified of the next offering!
Where: In person at Bloom Kitchener (Belmont Village)
Cost: $150 per session, $900 total, May be reimbursable through OAP, or insurance as “group therapy” or “Registered Psychotherapist”
Parenting with ADHD
Virtual parenting with ADHD group for parents who have an ADHD diagnosis. This parent/guardians-only group is led by Bloom therapist, Josh Rinz BSc., MA, RP, AAT.
This group is for any parents who have an ADHD diagnosis themselves and are looking for: A sense of community amongst other parents with similar experiences.
WINTER DATES COMING SOON- ADD YOURSELF TO THE WAITLIST
So Now What? A Parenting Guide to a New ASD Diagnosis
Virtual parenting workshop for parents and caregivers of children who recently received an ASD diagnosis. This parent/guardians-only workshop is led by Bloom therapist, Josh Rinz BSc., MA, RP, AAT.
This psychoeducational based workshop will answer your questions about what to do with this new diagnosis and ways to support yourselves and your child through their diagnosis of ASD.
The dates and time of this online workshop will be determined by participants' availability.
The cost for this workshop is $45+HST per couple/co-parents/guardian unit and if you have extended insurance benefits to see a psychotherapist, it can be submitted via benefits as “Group Therapy”.
Parenting Youth with ADHD
This group is for any parents who have children 4-11 years old with an ADHD diagnosis and are looking for: community and connection with parents who have similar experiences with their children; to feel validated, understood, and motivated as a parent in a group setting; and to learn the latest strategies for effectively parenting a neurodivergent child in today’s chaotic world.
This 1 hour group runs for 4 weeks over ZOOM facilitated by Josh (RP) and Olivia (MSW) . Add yourself to the waitlist to be notified when Winter 2026 dates are released!
Interested in a Group or Workshop?
Check back here and on our social media for upcoming group and workshop announcements!
If you are interested in joining a group or workshop, reach out to us and we will add you to the contact list for the future group or workshop.