Soul Space is more than self-care. They offer healing within the community with others who understand the unique experience of frontline work.
Frontline street health, harm reduction, and community service and social workers often experience occupational stress. Often, these workers get lost in the fray, with their organizations stretching tight budgets to provide client service. Enter ‘Soul Space’—an Ottawa based collective of frontline workers, wellness providers and community members.
With a focus on offering secular spiritual care for workers who often have unpredictable or changing schedules, the need to make difficult decisions and the challenges of ongoing and unmet client needs. Soul Space’s goal is to increase reflection and healing for those experiencing vicarious or personal trauma, burnout, or empathic strain.
Soul Space is run by local volunteer wellness providers, a Frontline Worker Advisory Group, and a Steering Committee, all aimed at offering an accessible, diverse, safe and affirming space for all participants.
There are a number of different ways Soul Space aims to offer these supports in a holistic manner that is most impactful to the community.
Soul Space Café: Acting as a space and time to de-stress and socially engage with like-minded individuals it’s here that meaningful conversation is plentiful. Monthly, drop-in events, hosted every other Thursday take place at the Bridgehead Coffeehouse in Ottawa from 7pm to 9pm. Free to participants, these events include a beverage and a treat.
Creating with Clay: Workshops are a chance for creative expression and self-care through mindful clay activities. Working with clay requires attention to detail, and is a slow and deliberate act that can promote a meditative state which can help with reducing mindfulness. Hosted by the Earthen Vessels Clay Studio these workshops are offered for a $25 registration fee—discounted from the $115 value.
Retreats: Rooted in connecting with nature and each other ongoing retreats allowing frontline workers a chance to connect with themselves, and their peers. Activities include gentle yoga, meditation, forest bathing, healing touch, and creative activities. Meals and snacks are included and there is an effort to create ride shares among participants. Retreats can be booked for organizations or teams.
Private Offerings for Community Organizations: In an effort to increase workplace wellness, all of Soul Spaces offerings from wellness sessions, peer support programs, and day and weekend retreats can be provided privately directly to organizations. Benefits to workplaces—include increased stress management, reduce absenteeism, and less turnover.
Soul Space’s impact in the Ottawa region is clear, with their programs reaching 275 plus frontline workers from over 24 community organizations. The Soul Space framework allows them to attract diverse participants from a variety of fields, from long-term care, to healthcare and of course those who work in community and social services.
Soul Space has also hosted advocacy and awareness events such as a “Frontline Worker Appreciation Day” and an event on International Overdose Awareness Day that focused on commemorating lives lost. Another Soul Sisters Retreat focused on uplifting, and empowering black women who are wellness providers and are recognized as being overrepresented in frontline care roles.
To learn more about Soul Space, and their impact visit: https://www.soulspaceottawa.ca or
info@soulspaceottawa.ca
Photo: Soul Space Ottawa
