Brain Injury Support Groups

VCBIS offers a variety of group activities specifically designed to meet the various need and interest of our clients.

VCBIS presently facilitates the following groups:

Cognitive Development Group

The VCBIS Cognitive Development Group aims at providing its participants with the opportunity to work on the development of their cognitive skills through their participation in activities and completion of cognitive oriented material presented and facilitated by a staff member in a motivating and dynamic group environment.
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Adjustment Group

The VCBIS Adjustment Group takes place every second Thursday from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm at the VCBIS office located at 214-211 Bronson Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario. The main objective of the group is to promote cognitive development and social/emotional adjustment to individuals recovering and living with the effects of an acquired brain injury. This is achieved through the sharing of experiences among participants and their active participation in the discussion of educational material presented and facilitated by a staff member, in a non judgemental and non competitive environment.

Healing HeART

• A therapeutic form of communication for individuals who might otherwise have a difficult time expressing themselves
• A Symbolic self-expression of various thoughts, emotions, memories and feelings

Although workshops are therapeutic, we are not art therapists. Participants are there to create and express without a counsellors interpretation.

See Pamphlet for further details

Anger Management

A 16 week program, designed to explore ways to express anger constructively, debunk some common myths surrounding anger and learn effective skills and strategies to improve communication with others as well as reducing the presentation of anger.
Please contact VCBIS for additional information regarding this group at 613-234-4747

Eligibility Criteria

• Diagnosis of an Acquired Brain Injury; where an Acquired Brain Injury is defined as damage to the brain which occurs after birth and can result from either a traumatic brain injury (e.g. physical trauma due to accidents, motor vehicles, falls, assaults, neurosurgery etc.) or nontraumatic injury derived from either an internal or external source (e.g. stroke, brain tumours, infection, poisoning, hypoxia, ischemia, encephalopathy or substance abuse). However all definitions of Acquired Brain Injury exclude neurodegenerative disorders.
• Age 18 years and older, with special consideration being given to those individual 16 to 18 years of age.
• Individuals have the willingness to increase their independence and express interest in participating in a program to accomplish their goals.
• Individual assessments will be completed for persons dealing with addiction issues or experiencing significant behavioural and/or psychiatric challenges,
• Living in, or about to be living in, the city of Ottawa
• An individual assessment, INTER RAI Community Health Assessment, will be completed for all new program applicants.

Cost of Services
Participation in any groups might entail a small additional cost to defray the extra cost of supplies, food purchases on any additional expense involves in participating in a particular group.

To enroll in any of our groups please contact the main office at (613) 234-4747.