Building Your Presence Practice: A Therapy Group for Conscious Living

Wednesday evenings from September 10 - October 15, 2025

Facilitated by Canadian Certified Counsellor, John Woychuk M.A. C.C.C

Imagine you are carrying a heavy backpack around and even though you are at home, or in a car or even in bed, you continue to strain under that heavy weight. That would be exhausting and unnecessarily so!

In a similar way, most of us are carrying around the burden of our heavy thought patterns and emotional pain, whether in the background or on the surface, all the time. Learning how to return to a state of presence, or Being, even briefly throughout our day, is a way of putting the burden down temporarily and even better, it is a way of recognizing through experience who we are at a deeper level. That recognition gives us access to peace, joy and wisdom.

Although there are teachers who show us how to put the burden down, the challenge is to integrate it into our busy lives. This group is about just that - using the teachings of Echhart Tolle as a foundation, we will endeavor as a group to commit to bringing more balance into our lives - to carry the backpack and carry it well when needed, but to put it down and be able to rest in our being when there is no need to carry it.  

Why this group?

This is an area of passion for me as a counsellor. The wisdom of Eckhart Tolle and others have profoundly influenced my life, allowing me to deal with hardships and find peace and ease on a daily basis. I would like to share that as well as the enjoyment of being in the energy field of a group of like-spirited people seeking deeper meaning in life and knowing the essence of who they are. 

When?

Wednesday evening 5 - 7 pm, September 10 - October 15, 2025

Where?

Bethlehem Retreat Centre, Nanaimo BC

Group Size?

10 - 14  participants

Who is this therapy group for?

This is an in-person therapy group for adults in Nanaimo and area who are interested in working as a facilitated therapy group to commit to bringing more balance into our lives and who have some familiarity and resonance with the author Eckhart Tolle. 

Participants all share the intention of practicing and learning together in a group setting. This includes the ability to listen and hold a non-judgemental space for others as well as confidentiality in regard to all group sharing. 

This group is not suitable for individuals currently experiencing a mental health crisis or severe mental health concerns that would make it difficult to participate in a group therapy environment. I welcome those individuals to contact me for individual counselling: john@jwoychukcounselling.ca  

We will use Tolle’s book, “Practicing the Power of Now” as a guiding reference point for this group. Use of this book will be helpful in providing direction and “take aways” for participants to practice and build upon in daily life, but the purpose of the group is to provide support to each participant to build their own practice of presence that helps them understand and embody a balance between being and doing in their daily lives.  

How will this work?

Parts of the book will be used to experience various presence practices, to initiate discussions, practice deep listening and to have introspective moments and optional sharing of insights or questions. 

At times, there will be moments of music and the option for gentle movement. You will be invited to have moments of reflection or journaling. 

You will always have the option of how you want to participate in each exercise.

What are the benefits of attending this group?

Practice presence and in a safe, like-minded community of people while being facilitated by a certified Counsellor. 

Reflect on aspects of the human mind that challenge our ability to stay present such as identification with thinking and the pain body and how to overcome them.

Inquire into the nature of who you are at the deepest level.

Connect to a state of peace and joy within yourself.

Practice being present while listening to others as well as while sharing insights and questions. 

Gain clarity and support on points of struggle in your daily presence practice. 

What are the risks of group therapy?

Although the facilitator will do their best to prevent the following risks, it is important to consider the potential for these to occur in any group therapy setting:

Emotional Content: Sharing personal experiences may bring up emotions.

Confidentiality: Although confidentiality is emphasized, there's a risk that another group member may not uphold it.

Interactions: Misunderstandings with other group members can occur.

Triggers: Others' stories may trigger memories of trauma or difficult experiences.

Confidentially and Consent

Participants must sign a consent and confidentiality agreement in order to participate in the group. 

Process of Enrollment

Enrollment numbers are limited and will close when the group is full. Email John Woychuk at john@jwoychukcounselling.ca and please include your full name.

You will receive a reply with an intake and consent form linked from the counselling website of  J. Woychuk Counselling and Psychotherapy.

Once your intake and consent and form are read and accepted, you'll receive an email with the next steps.

Cost 

The total fees for 6, two hour group sessions, is $300 which must be paid to complete the enrollment process in the group. Since group numbers are limited, no refunds will be available after enrollment is complete.