Welcome to Mosaic!
Located in the heart of the City of Kitchener, Mosaic provides individual counselling, group programs, credit counselling and community services to children and adults. Mosaic is recognized for its wide-ranging expertise in the field of mental health, children and youth development, domestic violence prevention and service delivery, and the provision of services for new Canadians and refugees.
Mosaic News
Managing Stress for Managing Moods
Chronic stress is one of the most common challenges to our life today. On six consecutive Thursday evenings, Mosaic is providing a summer group program that examines several methods to ease chronic stress and related chronic negative mood states such as anxiety, irritability and depression. This program will help individuals to move towards building some new habits of self-care, leading to a more satisfying lifestyle.
Thursday evenings, 7 – 9 p.m.
Starts July 11, 2013 and goes to August 15, 2013
Topics include:
- Stress, relaxation and our human needs
- Dealing with Negative Thinking and Beliefs I
- Delaing with Negative Thinking and Beliefs II
- Mindfulness: Stepping Back from Negativity
- Caring for the Body to Care for the Mind
- Group Choice of Topics (i.e., self-esteem, perfectionism, procrastination, time-management, assertiveness, boundaries in relationships)
Group fees based on a sliding scale. Registration is required; please contact us at 519-743-6333 to register or for more information.
Children’s Mental Health Week
Todd Nutrbrown from kidsLINK talks to Gary Doyle about Children’s Mental Health.
Mosaic Announces 2013 Spring Group Programs
Mosaic has a wide range of group programs for men, women and children. Please click here for Spring 2013 Group Program offerings. Registration is required for all groups; please contact us at 519-743-6333 to register or for more information.
Merger strengthens ability for service delivery!
Mosaic Counselling and Family Services and kidsLINK (Notre Dame of St. Agatha Inc.) are pleased to announce today the amalgamation of these two long-standing and successful social and mental health service leaders. The Ministry of Government Services has approved the incorporation of the new organization that will operate as Carizon Family and Community Services as of April 1st, 2013.“Both kidsLINK and Mosaic are recognized for their leadership in providing a multitude of services that strengthen individuals, families and neighbourhoods,” says Carizon’s President of the Board of Directors, Rich Steinmann. “This merger will allow these two agencies to enhance their ability to contribute positively to the well-being of children, youth, adults, families and communities.”CEO Sue Gillespie, who will lead Carizon, identifies the ability of the new organization to provide a continuum of care that meets the changing needs of our community. “Combined, kidsLINK and Mosaic have the experience of providing services to our community for more than 216 years. As a leader in social and mental health service delivery,” says Gillespie, “we will draw on that expertise to leverage complementary strengths and proactively pursue an even more impactful future.”
The name Carizon, a combination of the words care and horizon, was designed to capture the nature of the services provided by the agency, as well as its hope and vision for the future of this community.
Mosaic Offers Elder Support Group Program
Funded by the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors program, Mosaic is hosting an eight week program, Empowering Seniors designed for seniors in our community on Thursday mornings 10 a.m. -12 noon from April 11 – May 30, 2013. Seniors will learn about:
- elder rights and how to maintain them
- planning around safety and setting boundaries
- resolving conflicts
- power of attorney and future planning
- community resources and support
- financial awareness and potential fraud
Registration is free, however, there is limited enrolment, so register early. Contact: Sandi Sherk at 519-743-6333, x347 or empoweringseniors@mosaiconline.ca.
CTV Investigates Dealing with Debt
CTV anchor Rosie Del Campo looks at the warning signs of financial trouble in the first part of a three part series exploring Canada’s rising household debt to income ratio. Mosaic’s Credit Counselling Manager Heather Cudmore shares her insights.
Mosaic E.D. Sue Gillespie featured as CTV’s Local Hero
On October 3rd, thanks to her successful United Way bid, Sue Gillespie got to be Police Chief for a Day. CTV followed the story and also recognized Sue’s contribution to the community, honouring her as CTV’s Local Hero. Check it out.
Theresa Karn Talks about Couples & Chores on Gary Doyle’s Show
Mosaic unveils Youth Mural Project!
Mosaic, in partnership with Reception House Waterloo Region, held a mural workshop for young refugees, ages 14 – 21. The purpose of the mural development exercise was to work with these young people in order to decrease isolation and to provide an opportunity for personal growth, self-expression, the development of teamwork skills, the discovery and development of artistic talents, and to participate in something fun and unifying. Funds for the Promise of Partnership Program are provided by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Learn more about the Promise of Partnership Program.
Naomi’s Journey and How Mosaic Made a Difference!
As far back as she could remember, Naomi recalled a childhood of physical, sexual and emotional abuse. As a young woman, Naomi struggled with panic attacks and the fear that others were watching her. While Naomi had managed to support herself, she was unable to do so in a public environment. Naomi did her work in isolation, grocery shopped at night when no one else was in the store, and avoided any non-essential activity that took her outside of her own four walls. It was an isolating and draining existence. One day shortly after Naomi’s 30th birthday, Naomi was recognized for her thorough and efficient work and was offered a new job in an office. The job, however, necessitated that she walk four blocks to her downtown office and interact with people several times a day. Naomi desperately wanted the job, but she just could not get beyond the fear. That’s when she made an appointment at Mosaic Counselling and Family Services and came in to talk to Pauline. Pauline began by listening to Naomi and helping her to deal with her childhood trauma. Pauline also taught Naomi skills to help her manage her anxiety and provided her with tools and techniques to help her to calm herself and to find emotional freedom. Naomi started by walking one block from her home and back, then two blocks, then three. From there, Naomi added other activities, like Tai Chi. It took a number of months, but Naomi eventually accepted that job. Naomi credits Pauline for “opening up her life.” Today, Naomi not only enjoys her new career, but she has joined a hiking club where she walks for miles on end, all the while socializing with others.
Naomi is one example of an individual that has overcome life’s challenges thanks to Mosaic’s Trauma Client Assistance Fund. This fund provides counselling and services to members of our community that have experienced a traumatic event and would otherwise not be able to afford or have access to these services. You can help people like Naomi.
