Interactive Workshops
Please note: Some workshops are online and some are in person. We aim for a balance between in-person and online events so that we can best accommodate as many people as possible. All our programs are free!
Click here for general information about in-person workshops.
If your workshop is being held online via Google Meet, you will receive a direct link by email. Having trouble accessing a Google Meet workshop? Click here for tips.
Workshops start right on time–you will not be able to access them until a few minutes before the designated start time, and please don’t be late.
Do you have questions?
Call 514-486-1448
or email registration@amiquebec.org
To register for a workshop, scroll down.
For family and friends of someone living with mental illness only
These are interactive workshops and space is limited, even online–this gives our facilitators the chance to personally address your questions and concerns. They are not recorded and you must register in advance. If you register and do not attend, you may be taking a spot away from someone in need.
Aging While Caring for Others
Getting older while still having to take care of a loved one with mental health challenges can be difficult. This workshop can help.
October 8
10am-12pm
With Melanie Hughes
In person at the AMI office
5800 Decarie, Montreal
Introduction to Borderline Personality Disorder
This introductory session will provide basic knowledge on Borderline Personality Disorder: what it is, what are some of the challenges, and what can be done to reduce conflicts. You will gain a better understanding of the condition and how to cope.
October 9
6-8pm
With Sylvie Bouchard and Carl-Olivier Riambon
Online via Google Meet
Write From Your Heart
Write From Your Heart is an 8 session writing workshop in which we use writing to express feelings and then share what we wrote with the group. The workshop provides a safe and welcoming space that promotes healing, support and empowerment through writing, reading our words and deep listening. It’s about self-expression, not being a good writer.
Starts October 17 and runs for 8 sessions on Thursdays
10:30am-12pm
With Joyce Cohen
Online via Google Meet
Coping Skills
We cope all the time. Awareness of how we cope can increase our ability to notice when we engage in defensive patterns and move towards practicing new skills that will provide us with more safety, peace, and general wellbeing.
October 22
6-8pm
With Victoria Jonas
In person at the AMI office
5800 Decarie, Montreal
Caregiver Group
This group offers an opportunity to explore how caring for a loved one with mental health challenges affects the caregiver’s experience and wellbeing. Held over several sessions, it can alleviate some of the isolation and other difficulties that are often associated with family caregiving.
The November Monday group starts November 4, 7-8:30pm
The November Wednesday group starts November 6, 3-4:30pm
With Ella Amir
Online via Google Meet
Hands On Practice for Challenging Situations
If you have a loved one (family, partner, friend, etc.) who lives with mental illness and has difficulty managing their emotions, this group is for you! This is a practice group where we will practice Validation, using examples from real life. We will also introduce the practice of boundaries and limit setting.
November 6
6-8pm
With Sylvie Bouchard
In person at the AMI office
5800 Decarie, Montreal
Express Yourself!
As a family caregiver, it’s crucial to recognize that you have your own unique journey as well. This new workshop will offer you a safe space to acknowledge, express, process, and share your caregiving experience, using various types of art mediums. Importantly, no artistic, musical, or writing talent is needed.
November 14 and 21
6-8pm
With Jill Grumbache
In person at the AMI office
5800 Decarie, Montreal
Acceptance & Letting Go
Loss is an inevitable and painful part of life. In the relationship between a family and their loved one with mental illness, experiencing loss can be complicated. In this workshop, we will identify and name losses, situate participants within their own grieving processes in relation to loss, and learn about acceptance which leads to healing opportunities.
November 19
6-8pm
With Victoria Jonas
Online via Google Meet
Boundaries & Setting Limits
Caregiving relationships challenge everyone involved in discovering what’s acceptable and what’s not acceptable within the unique dynamic. The aim of this workshop is to identify these limits and learn to communicate the boundaries necessary to protect both the relationship and the caregiver.
December 10
6-8pm
With Victoria Jonas
Online via Google Meet
For people living with mental illness only
Living with mental illness? You can find help at our support groups. Click here for details.
Aging Well With Mental Illness
Aging while living with mental health struggles or illness can present certain difficulties. We will explore ways to cope with challenges and how to manage difficult emotions. People living with mental illness aged 55 years and over are welcome.
October 29, November 5 & 12
10am-12pm
With Melanie Hughes
In person at the AMI office
5800 Decarie, Montreal
We are constantly evaluating and updating our programs. If you don’t see a program on this page that suits your needs, you can always find help at our regularly scheduled support groups or our counselling for family and friends. We also offer online learning.
Coming Soon
The programs below will likely be offered again next season. Don’t miss our program announcements: click HERE to sign up for our emails.
Anger and Caregiving Relationships
Anger is an important emotion to explore and understand within the caregiving relationship. This workshop will help you build a greater understanding of anger and your relationship to the emotion and to your loved one.
Caring Kids: Expressing Big Feelings about Home
This workshop is for kids aged 5 to 12 who have a loved one who has a disability, mental health challenges, or chronic illness. We will use creative expression to explore what care means in different families, to talk about healthy coping skills and self-care, and to build confidence.
Creative Expression
It can be difficult to care for a loved one who is living with mental illness. With SoulCollage, you will use your intuition to create small collage cards and then learn how to “read” your cards to discover what personal and hidden meanings your card reveals to you.
De-escalating Conflict
This workshop explores de-escalation techniques and how to engage mindfully in conflictual situations. It will encourage self-awareness and you will develop insight into effective communication techniques in conflict situations.
Exploring YOUR Contributions in Challenging Relationships
Would you like to explore YOUR contribution to your relationship with your loved one who lives with mental illness? Would you like to explore HOW these contributions impact your relationship? Register now for our newest workshop.
How to Make a Zine
Join us to learn how to create your own Zine! Zines are self-published collections of text and/or images on a theme. This workshop is open to all young family and friends of people with disabilities, chronic illness, or mental health challenges.
Meditation
How do we gain the strength to work with life situations that are difficult and stressful? This workshop will use meditation to help family caregivers get in touch with their unknown strengths and develop their resilience.
Mindful Art: Watercolour
It can be stressful caring for a loved one who is living with mental illness. In this Mindful Art workshop you will learn a fun and easy way to create colourful watercolour artwork that promotes relaxation, mindfulness and self-care. All levels and abilities welcome; no art experience required.
Regulating Emotions
Do you care about someone who has Borderline Personality Disorder or difficulty regulating their emotions? In this workshop, you will learn a few strategies to help manage strong emotions in challenging situations. These tools will come in handy when your loved one is having a tough time regulating their emotions, and they can also help you find a better emotional balance.
Stress Management
Caring about someone who lives with mental illness can take a toll on your physical and mental well-being. Join us for some tips and resources and an interactive discussion that will help ease your stress level.
Types of Mental Illness
There is a wide spectrum of mental illnesses, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and more. Facilitated by doctors in McGill University’s Psychiatry Postgraduate Program, this workshop series went over the various diagnoses and characteristics of each mental illness and we answered your questions.
Use Your Strengths!
Research has shown that identifying your character strengths (like perseverance, kindness, and leadership) can help you manage stress, boost relationships, find purpose, and increase well-being. We will explore how our strengths can help us during tough times.
We are constantly evaluating and updating our programs. If you don’t see a program on this page that suits your needs, you can always find help at our regularly scheduled support groups or our counselling for family and friends. We also offer online learning.
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