120 Harry Walker Parkway N.
Newmarket ON, L3Y 7B2
Telephone: (905) 853-9270
Fax: (905) 853-9271
E-Mail: info@wcyr.ca
Office Hours:
Mon - Fri 9am-4:30pm
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Making Changes
Making Changes is a group life skills program that enables women to develop basic skills necessary in order move forward and become clearer and stronger decision makers on issues that affect their lives. Through this active learning program women discover more about themselves and their abilities, develop confidence and use their strengths and skills in becoming the person they would like to be. Participants also learn about accepting responsibility for choices they make in managing their lives.

Making Changes runs from September to June each year and is broken up into 3 cycles; a 12 week fall cycle on Self-Empowerment, a 10 week winter cycle on Effective Communication and a 12 week spring cycle on Managing Conflict.  Sessions are 2-1/2 hours per week and are currently offered in Newmarket on Tuesday evenings and Wednesday mornings, in Aurora on Thursday mornings and in Richmond Hill on Thursday afternoons.

Contact grobertson@wcyr.ca for more information.

Self-Empowerment: (12 Weeks - Fall 2010)

  • Orientation
  • Self-Awareness
  • The Four Parts of Self
  • Components of Self-Esteem
  • Building & Nurturing Self-Esteem
  • >
  • Risking Change
  • Recognizing Choices and Making Decisions
  • The Power of Personal Responsibility
  • Healthy or Toxic Guilt: What Is The Difference
  • Boundaries – Costs & Benefits
  • Personal Boundaries – Moving from Selfless/Selfish to Empowerment
  • Closure

More Information

Effective Communication (10 Weeks - Winter 2010)

  • Orientation
  • Sending Clear Messages
  • Importance of Using “I” Language
  • Listening Actively and Effectively
  • Benefits of Assertiveness
  • Barriers to Assertiveness
  • Learning to Say “NO”
  • Making Requests – Asking for what you need
  • Communication Boundaries – Getting More of What You Want
  • Closure

More information

Managing Conflict (12 Weeks - Spring 2011)

  • Orientation
  • Managing Stress
  • Residue of Resentment
  • Anger – Connection with Belief Systems
  • Anger – Impact of Unhealthy Expression
  • Anger – Healthy Expression
  • Boundaries for Healthy Anger
  • Relationship Boundaries – Balancing Intimacy and Independence
  • Forgiveness – What It Is; What It Isn’t
  • Conflict Resolution – The Stages of Conflict
  • Managing Conflict Effectively
  • Closure

Times and locations:

  • Tuesday evenings, 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. in Newmarket
  • Wednesday mornings 9:30 – 12:00 a.m. in Newmarket
  • Thursday mornings 9:00 – 11:30 a.m. in Aurora
  • Thursday afternoons 1:00 – 3:30 p.m. in Richmond Hill
Women's Centre of York Region gratefully acknowledges the support of Hillcrest Mall, for donating space for the Richmond Hill Making Changes group.