Featuring Ottawa's fabulous drag queen, Eden Moore!
This group therapy program is co-facilitated by Eden Moore (she/her), a local drag superstar in Ottawa who is passionate about mental health and safeguarding our future gender diverse and fabulous generation! Each session is facilitated by a licensed clinician, Doro Yip (they/them), MEd, RP-Qualifying, making the program reimbursable by most health benefits.
So, what’s the scoop on this group therapy program?
Mark your calendars: the first group starts on July 8, 2024!
This 8-week group therapy program targets children and youth who are questioning their gender identity and those seeking a safe space to express their developing identities through a combination of psychotherapy, drag performance, and arts. Additionally, this group cultivates alternative ways to challenge the psychosocial and systemic factors that oppress the participants’ authentic sense of self. The program is designed for children aged 10 and older, considering their cognitive capacity for engagement and consent, and for teenagers up to 18, with exceptions made as needed.
The objectives are:
- Establishing a sense of community for participants to foster a relationally focused environment, thereby achieving self-empowerment in expressing their authentic gender identities.
- Utilizing gender-affirming and evidence-based LGBTQ-affirmative approaches, participants will learn to utilize cognitive models and engage in behavioral activation to express their gender identities.
- Through the performing art of drag, participants will gain experiential learning and interactions that are relationally centered, aiming not only to achieve a sense of sanctuary but also to challenge assumptions and oppressive gender normative discourses in our society.
Schedule & Cost
The program will run weekly from July 8, 2024, until the end of August on Mondays from 6:00 to 7:30 PM. Each session lasts 80 minutes. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to drop off their child no more than 10 minutes before the session begins and must pick them up by 7:20 PM.
Weekly Structure:
- Building Our Community: Introduction to the group, establishing trust, sharing guidelines, and setting expectations. Discussion on the importance of community in exploring gender identities. Icebreaker activities and group bonding exercises.
- Embracing Our True Selves: Guided exploration of personal gender identities and expressions. Activities to encourage self-reflection and sharing within the group. Introduction to drag as a form of artistic expression and identity exploration.
- Beyond the Binary: Psycho-education on gender diversity and non-binary identities. Discussion on breaking away from traditional gender norms and embracing individuality. Drag performance focusing on challenging binary perceptions of gender.
- Navigating Challenges Together: Introduction to coping strategies for dealing with societal pressures and discrimination. Group discussion on supporting each other and accessing external support systems. Drag performance highlighting resilience and self-care.
- Painting Our Identities: Exploration of artistic forms of expression related to gender identity. Engaging in art therapy activities such as painting, drawing, or crafting. Drag performance emphasizing the intersection of art and identity.
- Speaking Our Truths: Workshop on effective communication and assertiveness skills. Encouragement of self-expression through spoken word, poetry, or storytelling. Drag performance centered around empowerment and self-expression.
- Celebrating Diversity: Celebration of LGBTQ+ pride and diversity. Group discussion on the history of LGBTQ+ activism and milestones. Preparation for a group drag performance to be presented during the final session.
- Showcase and Reflection: Final group drag performance showcasing individual and collective expressions of gender identity. Reflections on personal growth and experiences throughout the program. Celebration of accomplishments and support for future journeys.
Important Note: While each week includes a form of drag performance and art, participants are in no way, shape, or form expected to participate in drag. It is one way of breaking down the gender binary and societal norms of gender-based expression and behaviors, but not the only way. Facilitators will provide a safe and secure space for all participants to express themselves in a way that feels authentic to them.
Session fee structure:
Cancellation policy:
Regardless of the advance notice given to our clinic, 50% of the session fee will be charged to prevent disruptions to the group.
