Reconnecting with your Roots: Holding Loss and Legacy
A Somatic and Expressive Arts Group for the BIPOC community
Location: 1250 - 1122 4th Street SW, Calgary, Alberta
Facilitators: Deanne Arada & Kaitlyn Domingues
Thursday May 8th 2025, 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Thursday May 15th 2025, 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Thursday May 22nd 2025, 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Thursday May 29th 2025, 6:30pm - 8:30pm
A Brief Overview
This is a four-week guided group centering BIPOC community members in a space of collective healing, storytelling, and creative expression. Through art, movement, and shared reflection, we will explore how grief shapes identity, how it moves through the body, and how we can honor both loss and legacy in meaningful ways.
This group reclaims grief not as something to "let go" of, but as something that connects us—to our ancestors, our communities, and the lessons we carry forward.
$85/session
This Group is for You if…
✔️ You’ve had to suppress parts of yourself: your emotions, identity, or struggles to fit your family’s/societal expectations.
✔️ You feel the weight of generational trauma - grieving both personal losses and historical ones.
✔️ You’ve had to suppress your grief because your parents/community have “bigger struggles” to deal with.
✔️ You’ve navigated mental health struggles without family support or understanding.
✔️ You feel like you’re living in two worlds - your familial culture and the Western culture.
✔️ You want to experience a healing space where BIPOC community members can process grief collectively.
✔️ You’re looking for culturally-rooted practices that honor grief through storytelling, ritual, and art.
✔️ You’d like to explore creative and somatic methods of processing
✔️ You’d like a supportive space to witness and be witnessed in your grief journey.
The Details
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Participants are limited to 8-10
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1122 4th Street Southwest
Calgary, Alberta
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Thursday, May 8, 2025 6:30-8:30 pm
Thursday, May 15, 2025 6:30-8:30 pm
Thursday, May 22, 2025 6:30-8:30 pm
Thursday, May 29, 2025 6:30-8:30 pm
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$85 per session ($340 total)
***Please note some direct billing and insurance can be used. Learn more here.
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Some insurance plans cover group therapy! We recommend calling your insurance company to confirm.
We can currently direct bill to the following:
Alberta Blue Cross
Medavie Blue Cross
Alberta School Employee Benefit Plan
Canada Life
Canada Life PSHCP
Coughlin & Associates
D.A. Townley
Desjardins
Equitable Life of Canada
First Canadian
Industrial Alliance
Johnston Group
People Corporation
Manulife
Veterans Affairs
Green Shield Canada
SSQ
Medic Construction
*Please note that if you do not see your insurance company listed, you may still be able submit receipts for reimbursement.
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Week 1: Exploring Grief & Identity
Reflect on how grief has shaped you, challenge common myths about grief, and express grief and resilience through guided art.
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Week 2: Holding & Grounding Emotions
Learn how grief moves through the body, create a symbolic clay vessel to hold emotions, and explore grounding practices for emotional balance.
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Week 3: Expressing Grief Through Movement & Art
Use movement and art to release emotions, experience bilateral drawing for emotional flow, and share and witness each other’s journeys in a safe space.
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Week 4: Meaning-Making & Honouring What Remains
Reflect on what your grief has taught you, contribute to a collective art ritual of remembrance, and create a postcard to self as a final act of witnessing and care.
What Happens After I Sign Up?
Our Office Coordinator, Rebecca will reach out to you to confirm, set up a payment plan if necessary, and assist with insurance billing.
2 weeks prior to the group start date you will receive a welcome package including information about parking, transit and group logistics.
On the first day of group you will receive an email reminder from Jane App, as well as a text from Rebecca confirming transit, parking and building access.
Meet your Facilitators
Deanne Arada, MSW, RSW
Deanne is a Filipino-Canadian first-generation immigrant who is a Registered Social Worker serving folks in Alberta, Quebec, and Ontario. Her experience is ranging and she draws from a variety of therapeutic modalities like Emotion Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, and Visual Arts Therapy.
Deanne’s approach is rooted in humanistic values, anti-oppressive principles, and a critical social work perspective. She is ready to meet you where you are, armed with empathy and understanding.
Kaitlyn Domingues, Counselling Intern
Kaitlyn is a counselling intern, completing her practicum at The Cognitive Corner. Kaitlyn works with a range of clients, drawing from a variety of therapeutic modalities to best support your individual concerns, needs, and goals. This includes Narrative Therapy, Emotion-Focused Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.
Acknowledging her privilege, Kaitlyn is committed to fostering an open and affirming space for people of diverse backgrounds, identities, and cultural experiences. She approaches her work with humility and deep respect for the stories clients bring into the room.