The Fresh Start Recovery Friends and Family: Coming Together Series

You are not alone. Fresh Start Recovery recognizes that personal healing happens when we can relate to and connect with experiences. The Friends and Family Series brings individuals who have been affected by a loved one’s addiction together. There is hope, and it is possible to begin healing the impacts in all areas of life. Together, we can find a way forward.

The Series equips you with practical tools and techniques to understand and manage addiction. Together, we create a welcoming and brave space to explore the disease of addiction, foster emotional awareness, encourage compassionate boundaries, and practice stress management through grounding, self-care, and awareness.

The Fresh Start Recovery Friends and Family: Coming Together Series is designed to be accessible to all. It is held for two hours on Tuesday and Thursday evenings for 4 weeks, making it convenient for most schedules. The fee is available on a sliding scale, and we are open to discussing financial assistance to ensure that no one is left behind.

Our team and alumni are committed to your ongoing support. Beyond the series, we host weekly alumni support meetings and events throughout the year, all aimed at fostering connection and camaraderie. You are not alone on this journey.

To find out more information and register, email comingtogether@freshstartrecovery.ca or call 403-387-6266 and ask for Kellie or Christine. If you can’t register for this series, don’t worry. Contact our Coming Together Coordinators to get on the list for the next series.

Participant Testimonials

“Throughout most of my adult life I have entered programs, counseling and seen psychologists all to figure out how better to serve the addict in my life… Not until this program did I grasp that I was worthy of healing simply because I, as a human being deserve my own care and kindness. I came to this program hurt and scared, tonight I finish this program with knowledge, camaraderie and most importantly…hope.” 

“I found the Family Healing Program to be the most helpful and informative program I have tried. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to appreciate others stories or if I would find them just too sad to listen too. However, they were so very helpful. Sad but helpful. I think it made me realize I’m not alone in my struggles with my loved one and everyone was very understanding and empathetic. I am now much stronger and have some tools to use when in conversation and dealing with my loved one. I also find it much easier to have conversations with other members of my family regarding my loved one. I would highly recommend this program to anyone who is has a loved one struggling with addiction.”

Pam M

“We are very happy our daughter recommended Fresh Start Family Healing Program. The program has given us more clarity and understanding around the issues with addiction and how it impacts family & friends. Our facilitator was an absolute godsend to this program with her insight and openness about her lived experiences and knowledge. She is so easy to talk with and eager to help everyone that needs her help. We are so grateful to know that Fresh Start continues to be with us even after the program has been completed. We are looking forward to continuing on with our healing and learning. Thank you.” 

“The facilitator was very good at backing up topics of discussion with examples of how things worked and didn’t work in her personal life. The program was eye opening to how much work I have to do personally. Going into it I thought it was his problem and my fault. I’m working on accepting that addiction affects us all and that its not my fault. The 3 ‘c’s will now be a part of my morning chat to myself. I also realize how valuable it is to have people to listen to and share with that understand what I am going thru. I’m looking forward to keeping Fresh Start in my life.”

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• Calgary Al-Anon meetings
• Nar-Anon Family Groups
• Alateen
• Co-Anon World Services