FREE COMMUNITY DADS GROUP

Participation, Privacy & Community Guidelines

Welcome to the Kickstart Dads Group.

This group is designed to provide fathers and expectant dads with a supportive space to connect, reflect, and have honest conversations about the realities of fatherhood, relationships, stress, identity, and life transitions.

This is a free community-based support group facilitated by Kickstart Men’s Therapy.

Nature of the Group

The Dads Group is intended to provide:

  • peer connection

  • facilitated discussion

  • emotional support

  • shared learning and reflection

While the group is facilitated by a mental health professional, participation in this group does not establish an ongoing individual therapeutic relationship and may not constitute psychotherapy or formal mental health treatment.

This group is not a substitute for individual therapy, crisis services, or emergency mental health support.

Confidentiality & Privacy

Participants are expected to maintain the confidentiality of all group members.

This includes not sharing:

  • names or identifying information

  • personal stories or disclosures

  • relationship or family details

  • anything discussed by another participant during the group

Because this is a group setting, Kickstart Men’s Therapy cannot guarantee confidentiality from other participants. Attendance involves accepting this shared responsibility.

Recording, photographing, or distributing any part of the group is prohibited.

Virtual Participation

Participants are encouraged to:

  • attend from a quiet and private space

  • use headphones when possible

  • avoid participating while driving or multitasking

  • ensure others cannot overhear conversations

While reasonable efforts are made to protect privacy using secure technology platforms, no virtual platform can guarantee complete confidentiality or security

Community Expectations

To help maintain a respectful and emotionally safe environment, participants agree to:

  • treat others respectfully

  • allow others space to speak

  • avoid shaming, attacking, or hostile behaviour

  • respect differences in parenting, identity, culture, and life experience

  • speak from personal experience rather than attempting to “fix” others

This group is intended to be supportive, reflective, and collaborative.

Participation & Emotional Safety

Participants are never required to share more than they feel comfortable sharing.

At the same time, meaningful groups depend on honest and respectful engagement.

Conversations may involve emotionally difficult topics including:

  • stress

  • burnout

  • fatherhood challenges

  • relationship struggles

  • anxiety

  • emotional regulation

  • isolation

  • identity changes after becoming a parent

Participants are encouraged to step away briefly if needed

Substance Use & Conduct

Participants are expected to attend sober and able to participate respectfully.

Aggressive, threatening, discriminatory, or repeatedly disruptive behaviour may result in removal from the group.

Crisis & Emergency Support

This group is not appropriate for crisis support or emergency mental health care.

If you are experiencing:

  • thoughts of harming yourself or others

  • immediate safety concerns

  • acute mental health crisis

please contact emergency services, a crisis line, or an appropriate healthcare provider.

Facilitator Role

The facilitator’s role is to:

  • guide discussion

  • support respectful interaction

  • help maintain emotional safety within the group

  • encourage meaningful conversation and reflection

Facilitators may redirect conversations or intervene where necessary to support the group process.

Agreement to Participate

By attending this group, participants acknowledge that they have reviewed and agreed to these participation and privacy expectations.