Sexual Assault Centre for Quinte and District

Paths of Courage

  • Sexual violence is never your fault
  • No one 'asks for it'
  • Sexual violence is about power and control

One-of-a-kind program surrounded by nature at our Paths of Courage Healing & Retreat Centre.

Talk to someone now.
Toll-free at 1-877-544-6424

If you require immediate help,
please call 911.

A Holistic Approach to Healing: The Paths of Courage Residential Healing Program

SACQD offers, free of charge, a one-of-a-kind program surrounded by nature at our Paths of Courage Healing & Retreat Centre. Week long programs provide sexual assault survivors with opportunities to heal, transform and become empowered.

Paths of Courage Residential Healing Program pioneered by SACQD

The Paths of Courage Residential Healing Program is a holistic program pioneered by the Sexual Assault Centre for Quinte & District. Our intent through Paths of Courage is to provide survivors with safe opportunities to heal from the effects of sexual violence and support their journey to self-awareness and wholeness.

A Need for “Something More”

Paths of Courage was developed after years of SACQD participants talking about the need for “something more” – beyond the typical one-hour counselling session. We learned, through feedback and informed research, that if we are solely engaging in talk therapy, we are missing out on many other healing options that may be beneficial to survivors. As helpful, and in some cases “life saving”, as talk therapy can be, we wanted to offer an alternative.

A week long healing journey in a peaceful setting

The Paths of Courage Healing and Retreat Centre is located in a beautiful and tranquil environment surrounded by nature, providing a peaceful setting to support your healing.

View our Gallery here.

To participate, please fill in the online application form or download and print the application. The application can be found at the “Apply Now” tab at the right-hand side of this page and “Paths of Courage” drop-down menu.

Currently, people may participate in men’s or women’s groups with a maximum of 10 participants per week-long program. This program is open to all residents of Ontario age 16+.

 

How Can I Help?

There are many ways to help through donating, volunteering, or by hosting a fundraising event. Learn more here on how you can help.

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Get Support

Access support here for individual counselling, support groups and our lending library.

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The Paths of Courage

The name 'Paths of Courage' refers to four paths of healing, developed out of the vision for a holistic approach to healing from sexual violence.

Path of Physical Well Being

Path of Physical Well Being

  • During the program week we will offer participants a variety of tools that they can use to experience connection with their physical self.

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    • Exercise — yoga, stretching, hiking, kayaking, snow-shoeing, challenge course, movement therapy.
    • Nutrition — plenty of nourishing food provided.
    • Relaxation — time to de-stress built into each day, plenty of time to rest in a quiet country atmosphere.
    • Connection — through physical activities, drumming, and community.

Path of Emotional Balance

Path of Emotional Balance

  • Our participants will get a chance to recognize, experience and embrace feelings and emotional states as true barometers for life experience. These are:

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    • Group process — using tools of role-playing, somatic body work, projection/reflection and boundaries.
    • Support — from peers, professionals and self.
    • Trust building — through various exercises designed to challenge individuals and build community and trust.

Path of Re-thinking

Path of Re-thinking

  • Often experiences of sexual abuse lend us distorted belief systems that diminish and influence our daily life. Cognitive re-structuring allows participants to look at the thoughts that drive their lives and re-negotiate those beliefs that negatively impact their sense of self.

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    We help to introduce you to:

    • Reframing — a process that ends or diminishes those nagging, negative thoughts.
    • Healthy communication — learning ways to assertively reinforce boundaries and resolve conflict
    • Positive reflection — being able to see self differently as reflected by peers and staff.

Path of Spiritual Connections

Path of Spiritual Connections

  • Through all the other paths of courage, survivors may be able to connect to their own spiritual understandings and their right to wholeness and happiness.

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    We do this through:

    • Connection to nature — outdoor activities, a beautiful tranquil environment.
    • Quiet and solitude — some time each day to journal and reflect
    • Creativity — through art and music making
    • Ceremony and rites of passage — honouring our time together and the sense of connection that a healing community inspires
    • Meditation — guided mediation to turn inward and encourage healing
    • Sacred Healing Fire — Facilitated by a local Indigenous Fire Keeper

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"If it was not for this program, I’m not sure where I would be today. They helped me to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Even though there are many bumps and roller coasters, we will overcome to get there."