Our Programs
All four Steady Ground programs are free, confidential, and led by trained peer supporters with lived mental health experience. No referral. No waitlist. No clinical intake required.
Peer Support Circles
Peer Support Circles are drop-in small groups of five to twelve people, facilitated by trained peer supporters who have lived mental health experience of their own. These aren't therapy groups — there's no clinical structure, no homework, no diagnosis required. They're conversation and connection, held in a consistent, confidential space.
The format is open: one facilitator guides the room, but there's no fixed agenda. You can talk or you can listen. Many participants come for months before saying much at all. Others arrive and share immediately. Both are completely fine.
Who it's for: Any adult experiencing mental health challenges — anxiety, depression, grief, isolation, burnout, or anything else that's making daily life harder. You don't need a diagnosis to attend.
What to expect on your first visit: The facilitator will introduce themselves and explain how the group works. You won't be asked to share anything you're not ready to share. The group stays in confidence — what's said in the circle stays in the circle.
Weekly Schedule
- Monday evenings, 6:30–8:00 pm — Downtown Guelph (multiple drop-in sites)
- Wednesday evenings, 6:30–8:00 pm — Centre Wellington (Fergus/Elora area)
- Friday evenings, 6:30–8:00 pm — Online via Zoom (open to all Wellington County residents)
- 8 total locations across Wellington County — call or email for your closest site
Frequently Asked Questions
No registration is required for most Peer Support Circles. You can walk in any week. The online Friday session asks for a quick email so we can send you the Zoom link — that's the only exception.
Yes. All participants agree to keep what's shared in the group confidential. Facilitators are also bound by Steady Ground's confidentiality policy. The only exception is a safety concern — if someone appears to be in immediate danger, the facilitator will follow our safety protocol.
Absolutely. Many participants attend for weeks before they feel ready to share anything. Listening and being present is a valid form of participation. You will never be put on the spot.
The circles are intended for adults experiencing their own mental health challenges, not for supporters. If a family member wants support, they're welcome to attend their own group. We can also point you to resources specifically for supporters — just ask.
One-to-One Peer Walkabouts
Sometimes it's easier to talk while you're moving. Peer Walkabouts pair you with a trained peer supporter for a walk, a coffee, or a casual conversation — whatever suits you. There's no clinical objective and no agenda. You set the pace.
You'll be matched with a peer supporter based on your location, availability, and the kind of experiences you're navigating. Matching takes care and thoughtfulness; we don't just assign the first available supporter.
Who it's for: Adults who find one-on-one support more accessible than groups, or who want a quieter, less structured form of peer connection. Particularly helpful during difficult transitions — returning to work, adjusting to a new diagnosis, coming out of hospital, managing a relationship breakdown.
What to expect: After you request a match, we'll contact you within two to three business days. You'll usually meet your peer supporter within a week. Sessions last roughly an hour, once or twice a week, for up to eight weeks. If you'd like to continue, extensions are available.
Availability
- Currently available in Guelph, Fergus, Elora, and Palmerston
- Most requests matched within one week
- 1–2 sessions per week, up to 8 weeks (extendable)
- Walking, sitting, or virtual options available
Frequently Asked Questions
Call or text 555-555-5555, or email connect@example.com and ask about Walkabout matching. We'll ask you a few brief questions to help us find the right fit — nothing clinical, just logistics and a sense of what you're looking for.
Just tell us. We'll find a better match without any awkwardness. The fit between peer supporters and participants matters to us — we'd rather take the time to get it right.
Not at all. "Walkabout" is just our name for it. Sessions can be a walk in a park, coffee at a cafe, a sit on a bench, or a video call. You and your peer supporter figure out what works for both of you.
Wellness Workshops
Our monthly Wellness Workshops are half-day Saturday sessions (10:00 am – 1:30 pm) held at our Carden Street space in Guelph. They're facilitated by trained peers, not clinicians — so the tone is practical, honest, and grounded in lived experience rather than clinical theory.
Topics are chosen based on what participants ask for. Past workshops have included: "Sleep, Mood, and What the Research Actually Says," "Navigating the Mental Health System Without Losing Your Mind," "Practical Grounding Skills for Hard Days," and "Understanding Medications: Questions Worth Asking Your Doctor."
Who it's for: Any adult who wants to learn practical skills or understand their mental health better. You don't need to be a current Steady Ground participant. Bring a friend if that helps.
What to expect: Sessions run about three and a half hours with a break. There's space for questions and conversation, but you're never required to share personal information. Light refreshments are provided.
"When Anxiety Runs the Show: What Helps and What Doesn't"
"Grief That Doesn't Look Like Grief"
"Staying Steady in Summer: Routines, Rest, and Mood"
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, workshops have limited space. Email connect@example.com or call 555-555-5555 to register. Registration typically opens four weeks before each session.
Select workshops are offered in a hybrid format with a Zoom option. When registering, ask about virtual attendance — we'll let you know if it's available for the session you're interested in.
Youth Navigation Support
The mental health system is hard to navigate. It's full of jargon, long wait lists, forms that don't make sense, and referrals that go nowhere. Youth Navigation Support exists to help young adults aged 18–30 make sense of it — with a peer navigator who has been through it themselves.
Peer navigators can help you understand what a referral means, what to expect from a psychiatrist or therapist appointment, how to advocate for yourself when a wait list feels endless, or simply figure out what your options are in Wellington County.
Who it's for: Young adults aged 18–30 who are encountering the mental health system — whether for the first time, or returning to it after a break. Particularly helpful for people who have aged out of youth services and are navigating the adult system for the first time.
What to expect: Drop-in sessions run Tuesday and Thursday, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, in person at our Carden Street office or virtually. You can also book a specific appointment time. Sessions are one-on-one and confidential.
Hours & Access
- Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
- Drop-in welcome — no appointment needed
- Virtual sessions available by appointment
- 44 Carden Street, second floor, Guelph
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Peer navigators are not clinicians, and Youth Navigation is not a mental health treatment. It's practical support — helping you understand your options, navigate systems, and advocate for yourself. Think of it as having a knowledgeable friend who's been through the system and is willing to share what they know.
Yes — the program serves adults aged 18 through 30 inclusive. If you've just turned 31 and are in the middle of a navigation process with us, we'll see it through with you. We're not rigid about cutoffs when you're mid-journey.
Sessions are intended to be one-on-one so you feel free to speak openly. That said, we can arrange a session that includes a family member if you specifically want that. Just let us know when you arrive or when you book.
Ready to find your fit?
Not sure which program is right for you? Get in touch — we'll help you figure it out together. There's no wrong answer and no pressure.
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