Community Support Group

Rise Together: A Peer-Led Support Group

Wednesdays at 6:00 PM | In Person & Online

Location: YMCA of Eau Claire – 2nd Floor Conference Room, 700 Graham Ave

Free • Weekly • Inclusive • Trauma-Informed

What is Rise Together?

Rise Together is a free, weekly support group created to help build community, gain emotional resilience, and healing through connection.

Facilitated by peer specialists, this group is designed to meet you where you're at offering a welcoming, non-clinical space rooted in empathy, shared experience, and practical tools for real life.

Who Should Attend?

Rise Together is open to anyone seeking connection, healing, and personal growth in a safe and supportive space. This group may be especially helpful for:

  • Adults (18+) navigating life changes or emotional challenges

  • Individuals curious about living a more mindful and balanced lifestyle

  • Open group that is LBGTQ friendly

  • Anyone interested in learning tools for emotional resilience, healthy boundaries, and personal development

Whether you're just beginning to explore healing or have years of experience, you are welcome here

What to Expect:

  • Each 60-minute session includes:

  • Guided group discussions

  • Peer-led check-ins

  • Tools for managing stress, trauma, and emotions

  • Connection with others walking a similar path

Topics vary weekly and include:

  • Understanding trauma and triggers

  • Boundaries and healthy relationships

  • Mindfulness, breathwork, and journaling

  • Building resilience and self-worth

  • Creative expression and goal setting

  • Guest speakers and healing-focused workshops

Attend In Person or Online

Join us every Wednesday at 6:00 PM at the YMCA in downtown Eau Claire.

In Person:
YMCA of Eau Claire
700 Graham Avenue – Second Floor Conference Room
(Elevator access available)

Prefer to join virtually?
We offer a secure Zoom option for remote participation.
Join Here at 6pm CT Wednesday

Upcoming Programming:

  • Social Support Shapes Health

    Join Here at 6pm CT

    A wealth of research confirms that strong social ties protect both physical and emotional well-being. People with supportive friendships and relationships face lower risks of heart disease, slowed cognitive decline, and better immune functioning (Wikipedia).

    Case Study – Harvard Study of Adult Development:

    This 85-year longitudinal study found that close relationships in mid-life predict healthier aging more than wealth or fame (The Australian).

    Community Resilience Buffers Stress

    Following wildfires in California, researchers found that neighborhoods with active community hubs—such as churches or mutual aid groups—had residents who recovered faster, showing lower rates of PTSD and depression (SF Chronicle).

    “After the fire, our community garden became a meeting place. People came not just to plant, but to cry, laugh, and talk. That garden gave us healing soil.” — Linda, community organizer

  • What Peer Support Achieves

    Join Here at 6pm CT

    Peer support brings together individuals with shared lived experience. Research validates its effectiveness:

    • Meta-analyses indicate small but significant improvements in clinical and personal recovery (PMC).

    • Peer support enhances empowerment and reduces hospitalization risk (BMC Psychiatry).

    • Programs improve quality of life, engagement, whole-person health, and reduce system costs (MHA National).

    Case Study – GROW Program (Australia):

    In the GROW self-help network, members report that helping others in recovery strengthened their own. This “helper-therapy principle” shows that giving support is healing in itself (Wikipedia).

    “I came into group thinking I had nothing to give. But when I listened to another man’s story and he told me I gave him hope, that’s when I realized—I was recovering too.” — John, peer support member

  • Join Here at 6pm CT

    By recognizing mental health as a shared human story, not a fixed diagnosis, we can:

    • See emotional suffering as a signal, not a failure.

    • Hold space for stories—not symptoms.

    • Normalize vulnerability and seeking help.

    • Center wellness in connection, belonging, and mutual care.

    Rising up together means building communities where every voice is heard, every struggle is welcomed, and every person is empowered to heal in their own way.