Oak Bay older women’s groups explore healthy aging

Victoria Women’s Transition House offers something a little different this spring. Join a small, intimate group of 10 women over the age of 50, for a free eight-week program to explore, through art, experiences and strengths as women aging.

“We go through a process of looking at how we keep ourselves safe,” says Laurie Yeo, older women’s counsellor at Victoria Women’s Transition House. “This is actually focused on women’s wellness as we get older a, to address finding voice, address finding some grace in growing older and some skills.”

The group explores boundaries and communication to explore healthy aging.

“Our self esteem often takes a hit when we get older,” Yeo says. “You hear about women being less attractive, less powerful as we get older.”

With the use of the creative process the group creates a Wellness Journal. We will share, through art and story telling, our rich inner world, perhaps making new dreams.

“We do art journaling. Each week I have an exercise for art. We share, we cry, we draw and paint. We share pieces of ourselves that maybe we’ve not had an opportunity to share before,” Yeo says.

The groups in part is to keep women from being, becoming or feeling, isolated.

“The just get more and more alone. So these groups offer community, they connect to support services so they don’t have to be alone,” Yeo says.

The program has multiple groups in Oak Bay, with a wait list for the spring program, with another scheduled for fall.

Call Yeo 250-592-2927 ext. 223 for more details.