When Love Hurts Support Groups
a 10 week virtual support group for women survivors of abuse in relationships
You are warmly invited to join a 10-week support group for women who have experienced - or who who are questioning whether they may be experiencing - abuse in an intimate relationship, past or present.
Many women come unsure how to name what’s happening. You might just know that something feels confusing, painful, or not quite right.
When we talk about abuse, we recognize that abuse can take many forms. Sometimes it includes physical harm, but often it shows up through patterns of control, blame, manipulation, intimidation, or emotional hurt that slowly undermines confidence and wellbeing. Together, we gently explore these patterns so each woman can come to her own understanding of her experience.
Each week we gather virtually in a small, consistent group to build safety and connection. Our time together includes:
a check-in
an exercise that will teach about abuse and enable women to share their experiences and learn at the same time
a short check out
Participation is always your choice. You are free to listen quietly, share a little, or share a lot, within our time limits. Many women find deep comfort simply hearing others’ stories and realizing they are not alone.
We use the book When Love Hurts as a gentle guide throughout the group. Topics we explore include patterns of abuse, power and control, impacts on the mind and body, grief and loss, common woman-blaming beliefs, and rebuilding after abuse. The goal is not to tell you what decisions to make - it is to help you understand what is happening, the impact on you, and provide essential support and much needed connection for women who are often very isolated and confused. Our groups help women cope with the impacts of the abuse and gain clarity for the path forward.
Women often leae the group with greater insight, self trust, and a sense of steadiness. Just as importantly, they experience connection with others who understand in a way few people outside this experience can.
Our group is open to women across the province of BC.
Get in touch:
If something in this description resonates, we invite you to reach out. Shalom and Jo would be happy to answer your questions and help you explore whether this group feels right for you, or discuss insurance coverage.
Please email: shalom@shalomwiebe.ca or jo@joneillcounselling.com
The next group starts April 9, 2026
New registrations are now welcome!
Thursdays, weekly (virtual)
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
10 weeks
Cost: $500
What to Expect
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The group follows the structure of the book When Love Hurts. We will spend a week on each chapter, with topics including the power and control wheel, the cycle of abuse, the impact of abuse, relationship belief systems, dominant discourse around abuse, and grief and healing.
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Thursdays 12:00 noon to 1:30 pm, virtually, starting April 9th and going for 10 weeks.
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The group costs $500. If you have extended benefits that cover group therapy with an RCC or MSW your fees may be covered. The group is eligible for funding through First Nations Health Authority (FNHA).
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The group is capped at 10 people. The minimum number of participants is 6. In the event that the group does not go ahead, we will refund in full and keep you on the wait list for the next session.
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When Love Hurts groups are for women who are experiencing abuse in their intimate relationship. Soetimes it is obvious to a woman that she is experiencing abuse, but often it is not. Many women come to us for help because they know something isn’t right in their relationship but they wouldn’t necessarily call it abuse. If something feels wrong, then this is the right place for you.
Meet your facilitators, Jo & Shalom
Jo Neill
Jo is a Registered Clinical Counserllor in private practice with a Master of Counselling as well as specialized training in abuse and coercive control. She comes to this work as a survivor, and ex-church leader, mother of four, and immigrant.
When she is not supporting clients towards lives of thriving she enjoys singling in her choir, walking in her neighbourhood, and hanging out with her nearly all grown children.
Shalom Wiebe
Shalom is a Registered Social Worker in private practice with a Master of Social Work degree and specialized training in supporting women impacted by abuse. Her professional training includes the When Love Hurts facilitator training as well as the Protective Parenting Program and Coercive Control Clinician Certification, both developed by Dr. Cocchiola.
Alongside her education, Shalom’s work is deeply shaped by lived experience. She has navigated separation, family court, and parenting in the context of abuse, and understands how disorienting and complicated life can become in its aftermath. This perspective informs her commitment to providing support that is steady, respectful, and grounded in both trauma-informed and abuse informed care.
Shalom often draws from the work of writers such as Dr. Emma Katz and Dr. Torna Pitman, whose work helps illuminate patterns of harm in relationships and their impacts on women and mothers.
She is a single parent to two young boys, and avid swimmer, and a therapeutic musician. Shalom believes healing does not only come from insight, but also from connection, creativity, and moments of lightness alongside the hard work. Rather than positioning herself as the expert on your life, she sees group work as a place where women’s collective wisdom emerges - and she feels honoured to be part of that process.
