Serenity Renewal for Families

Serenity Renewal for Families Supporting individuals & families affected directly or indirectly by addictions.

Serenity Renewal for Families offers ongoing education and counselling services to individuals and families directly or indirectly affected by addictions. Our programs assist a wide spectrum of clients as young as 5 to 85 and over, benefiting over 2,500 individuals each year in Ottawa and surrounding areas. Our work is made possible thanks to our dedicated professional staff and facilitators, plus more than 125 volunteers who participate in virtually all functions of our operations. In addition, over 250 partners (individuals, health and social service agencies, social workers, medical professionals) refer individuals and work with us to provide the necessary support to our clients. Serenity Renewal for Families is a registered charitable organization founded in 1983. We rely on the support of generous individuals and organizations to create happier, healthier lives in our community.

Take a deep breath. ✋February is short, but it can feel long.If you navigated a crisis this month, we see you.If you set...
02/28/2026

Take a deep breath. ✋

February is short, but it can feel long.

If you navigated a crisis this month, we see you.
If you set a boundary, we see you.
If you just kept putting one foot in front of the other, we see you.

Recovery isn't a solo mission. It is a community of people, all showing up, day after day, to build something better.

As we close the door on this month, remember: You are not doing this alone. 💙

Recovery (and life) isn't one-size-fits-all. 🧩Some days we need to vent to a friend; other days we need to lock the door...
02/27/2026

Recovery (and life) isn't one-size-fits-all. 🧩

Some days we need to vent to a friend; other days we need to lock the door and journal in silence. Both are valid.

We want to know what your toolkit looks like today!

Drop your picks in the comments:
1️⃣ Talk or Write?
2️⃣ Morning or Night?
3️⃣ Food or TV?

(Hussein is definitely Team "Comfort Food" today! 🍕)

"You are so mature for your age." compliment... or symptom? 🤔Parentification happens when a child has to step up becaus...
02/26/2026

"You are so mature for your age." compliment... or symptom? 🤔

Parentification happens when a child has to step up because the adults in the system are struggling (often due to addiction, illness, or high stress).

It isn't just about doing chores. It’s about:

🔵 Managing a parent's emotions to keep the peace.

🔵 Worrying about bills or safety.

🔵 Feeling like you have to "fix" the family.

These "Little Adults" often grow up to be incredibly capable, caring people—but they also carry a heavy load of anxiety.

Every child deserves a safe place to just be a kid.

(That is exactly what we are creating at our Youth Unfiltered workshop on March 7. A space to drop the heavy backpack for a day.).

Telling someone to "Calm Down" usually has the opposite effect. 🚫When someone we love is escalating—whether it's a partn...
02/25/2026

Telling someone to "Calm Down" usually has the opposite effect. 🚫

When someone we love is escalating—whether it's a partner, a parent, or a teenager—our instinct is to try and "fix" their emotion immediately.

But emotions need to be witnessed before they can be released.

Next time the tension is high, try one of these phrases instead. You might be surprised at how quickly the energy shifts when someone feels heard rather than managed.

(P.S. Teaching teens how to communicate their needs is a huge part of our 'Youth Unfiltered' workshop on March 7).

"Why don't they just stop?"It is the most common question we hear from families. If it was just a habit—like biting your...
02/24/2026

"Why don't they just stop?"

It is the most common question we hear from families. If it was just a habit—like biting your nails—they could just stop.

But addiction is often the solution a person has found for a problem they don't know how to solve.

They aren't just using a substance; they are using a survival mechanism to manage pain, trauma, or overwhelming emotions.

Recovery isn't just about taking the substance away. It's about building a life where they don't need the substance to survive.

If your family is navigating this, you don't have to do it alone.

"How was your day?""Fine.""Is everything okay?""Yeah."When addiction or high stress impacts a family, teenagers often go...
02/23/2026

"How was your day?"
"Fine."

"Is everything okay?"
"Yeah."

When addiction or high stress impacts a family, teenagers often go quiet. They don't want to add to the stress, or they don't know how to articulate the confusion they are feeling.

They might stop talking to you. But that doesn't mean they don't need to talk.

Our upcoming Youth Unfiltered workshop (March 7) is designed to break that isolation. It is a space where they don't have to protect anyone's feelings. They can just be real.

What they will do:
✨ Connect with other teens who "get it."
✨ Learn that their family's struggle is not their fault.
✨ Eat pizza and just breathe. 🍕

Help them find their voice again.
Email familyprograms@serenityrenewal.ca for more information.

If you set a boundary yesterday and woke up today feeling guilty, you are right on schedule. 🕰️We often think that if we...
02/22/2026

If you set a boundary yesterday and woke up today feeling guilty, you are right on schedule. 🕰️

We often think that if we do the "healthy" thing, we will immediately feel peaceful. But in reality, when you stop people-pleasing, it can feel scary. It can feel like you are being "selfish" or "cold."

That guilt isn't a sign that you made a mistake. It is just a sign that you are doing something new.

Be gentle with yourself today. You are re-training your nervous system to know that it is safe to say "No." 💙

Nearly 850,000 people go to work every day to help Ontario thrive.We are so proud to be among them!As Nonprofit Apprecia...
02/20/2026

Nearly 850,000 people go to work every day to help Ontario thrive.
We are so proud to be among them!

As Nonprofit Appreciation Week wraps up, we are celebrating the heart and hustle of our sector. At Serenity Renewal for Families, our dedicated team and volunteers show up every single day to create safe, compassionate spaces for people living with substance-use challenges and their families.

It takes a community to support multiple pathways to recovery, and we are honoured to be part of Ontario’s 58,000 nonprofits doing this vital work.

Tag a nonprofit worker or an organization below that has made a difference in your life to say thank you! 💙

It has been a long week. 🌧️If you have spent the last five days managing everyone else's emotions, fixing crises, and fe...
02/20/2026

It has been a long week. 🌧️

If you have spent the last five days managing everyone else's emotions, fixing crises, and feeling exhausted—this is your sign to take a pause.

Tomorrow (Saturday), Catherine Pepper is leading a one-day workshop on Codependency.

It is a day just for you. To learn, to exhale, and to understand why you feel the need to "fix" everything.

One day can change the way you relate to everyone in your life.

🔘 When: Tomorrow, Feb 21

🔘 Time: 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM

🔘 Where: Serenity Renewal for Families (In-Person)

In recovery, this is one of the hardest words to learn. 📖We often think "Detachment" means being cold, unfeeling, or wal...
02/19/2026

In recovery, this is one of the hardest words to learn. 📖

We often think "Detachment" means being cold, unfeeling, or walking away.

But Detachment with Love is different. It means:

⚫ I love you enough to let you handle your own life.

⚫ I love myself enough not to be destroyed by your choices.

It is not about cutting ties. It is about cutting the cord that makes your mood dependent on their mood.

(If this concept feels impossible right now, we can help. Our counselling team is here for you). 💙

"If I don't fix this, everything will fall apart." 🌧️It feels like a responsibility. It feels like love. But often, it i...
02/17/2026

"If I don't fix this, everything will fall apart." 🌧️

It feels like a responsibility. It feels like love. But often, it is actually codependency.

When we over-function for others—managing their emotions, fixing their mistakes, or shielding them from consequences—we aren't just exhausting ourselves. We are often preventing them from learning how to navigate their own lives.

This Saturday, join facilitator Catherine Pepper for a deep dive into healthy boundaries.

This session explores: ✨ The difference between "helping" and "enabling." ✨ How to stop absorbing other people's moods. ✨ Learning to say "No" without the guilt spiral.

When: Saturday, Feb 21

Time: 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM

Where: Serenity Renewal for Families (In-person)

Facilitator: Catherine Pepper

To the families we were born into, and the families we have built along the way. 💙On this Family Day, we are celebrating...
02/16/2026

To the families we were born into, and the families we have built along the way. 💙

On this Family Day, we are celebrating the resilience it takes to show up for each other.

Whether you are navigating recovery together, setting brave boundaries, or breaking cycles for the next generation—we see you.

Today, we celebrate your definition of family.

Address

404 McArthur Avenue
Ottawa, ON
K1K1G8

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 3pm
Tuesday 9am - 3pm
Wednesday 9am - 3pm
Thursday 9am - 3pm
Friday 9am - 3pm

Telephone

+16135235143

Website

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